Church Leadership Institute (CLI)

A ministry of ABC-IN/KY in cooperation with ABC-Greater Indianapolis for growing, equipping & enriching Christians for ministry in their home churches, communities and associations.

Would you like to go deeper and mature in your faith journey?  Would you like to grow in your knowledge and skills for leadership and investing into others?  Do you desire further education for leadership in the church, but seminary is not possible?  Then, Church Leadership Institute was designed for YOU!

CLI is for Christians wanting to deepen their discipleship journey, develop their gifts and skills, and/or invest their lives to serving Christ, the church, and the world.

MISSION:                                                                                                                                                                

The Church Leadership Institute shall assist the churches of the American Baptist Churches of Indiana-Kentucky & Greater Indianapolis and to identify, educate, and encourage lay persons as they respond to God’s call into new areas of church leadership.

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE: 

• Enrichment Participation for class credit for class topics of interest
• Continuing Education for class credit (Continuing Education Units available upon request)
• Program Participation for credit towards the program of your choice
• Auditing a class and forfeiting your eligibility to earn class credit
• Spouses of a registered student may join classes free of charge, if space is available
• Any of the above with the option to participate electronically via Zoom Live Video Streaming

SPECIFIC PROGRAMS:

• The Certificate of Christian Leadership program includes eight (8) introduction level class topics that introduce you to the core subjects that you might find in many seminary curricula.  In addition, you will receive practical instruction in leadership and teaching skills. It is highly recommended (but not required) that each certificate student work with a mentor such as a pastor or respected layperson.
• The Certificate of Ministry program includes a total of thirteen (13) classes, which includes the eight (8) classes of the Leadership Program and six (6) additional classes that are practical growing opportunities.  A majority of our lay leaders participating in CLI earn the Certificate of Ministry. If you meet any of the criteria below, you are encouraged to do the same.

• serve in a leadership position in your church–Officer, Deacon or Leadership Board, Bible Study Leader, Sunday School Teacher, Ministry Leader, Youth Ministry Volunteer, etc

• support your pastor in ministry

• supply for your pastor in the pulpit

• serve as a bi-vocational pastor

• seek “local church ordination” or “ordination by association standards”

CLI Brochure-In Color to print, use legal paper 8 1/2 x 14)

CLI Brochure-In grayscale (to print, use legal paper 8 1/2 x 14)

For more information please contact Jennifer Greene at jennifergreene@abc-indiana.org or 317-635-3552, ext. 221