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DISCIPLES SEMINARY FOUNDATION - Supporting the formation of emerging theological leaders
The DSF Certificate Program – Pastoral Leadership in a Divided World is a one-year, ten-course online program designed to equip lay leaders, emerging ministers, and pastors with the theological depth and practical skills needed for ministry in today’s complex world. Currently offered in English and Spanish (and open to expanding language offerings, particularly among our NAPAD communities, based on interest and need), the program reflects DSF's commitment to inclusive, multicultural, and accessible theological education. Participants engage in courses that explore faith and vocation, scripture, theology, church history, pastoral care, preaching, stewardship, and ethics, all through the lens of building bridges in divided communities. Each course follows a flexible three-week guided learning structure with a fourth week of group conversation via Zoom, allowing participants to study from anywhere while connecting in meaningful dialogue. Learners may complete all ten courses to earn the Certificate in Pastoral Leadership in a Divided World or may take individual courses for Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to support ongoing growth and development. Whether you’re discerning your call, strengthening your ministry, or seeking renewal, the DSF Certificate Program offers a transformative path toward faithful leadership grounded in hope, justice, and community.
The educational requirements for commissioning and/or ordination in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) can be met via two separate tracks, an apprentice track and a seminary track. In either track, the expectation is that candidates for ordination or commissioning demonstrate competency in 16 areas of ministerial practice. (Click here for the list). The DSF Collective Certificate Program assists candidates in acquiring the competencies necessary for ministry.
If you are considering ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), you should first contact your regional minister. They will discuss the process for commissioning and/or ordination in your specific region.
Scholarships are available for both the entire Certificate Program and individual courses.
Have more questions? Reach out to us at info@dsf.edu and we will be happy to help.
The Courses:
Explore what it means to embody liberative leadership in the church by confronting biases and oppressive structures while cultivating practices that promote inclusion, justice, and faithful collaboration within and beyond the congregation. More info...
This course invites you to reflect on why you have entered this program and what is shaping your sense of vocation at this moment. Together, we will explore your understanding of faith, discipleship, and personal values, as well as what it means to feel called to ministry. You will consider whether your calling feels individual or communal and identify the questions and concerns you bring with you as you continue discerning your path. More info...
This course invites you to reflect on why you have entered this program and what is shaping your sense of vocation at this moment. Together, we will explore your understanding of faith, discipleship, and personal values, as well as what it means to feel called to ministry. You will consider whether your calling feels individual or communal and identify the questions and concerns you bring with you as you continue discerning your path. More info...
In this introduction to the Old Testament/Hebrew Bible, we will explore its major sections — Torah, Prophets, and Writings — and key themes such as salvation, redemption, justice, and righteousness. We will consider the prophetic invitations of the text and practice interpreting scripture by connecting ancient contexts with the contexts in which you serve, whether for spiritual formation, preaching, or other community needs. More info...
In this introduction to the New Testament, we will examine its main writings—Gospels and Letters—and what falls outside the canon. By studying both canonical and non-canonical gospels and comparing the portraits of Jesus in the Synoptics and John, we will explore how his boundary-crossing compassion informs Christian practice. Students will learn to interpret New Testament texts by connecting ancient contexts with their own ministry settings, whether for spiritual formation, preaching, or other community needs. More info...
This introductory course in church history looks at where the Church has been and how its past shapes future directions. We will examine the Church’s development in the Americas, in Korea, and in the United States, focusing on how missionary movements, Manifest Destiny, migration, and colonization have shaped Christian communities. We will also consider how this history informs Christian education today. More info...
This course surveys the history, polity, theology, and ethos of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) from its beginnings to its present expressions, including NAPAD, Obra Hispana, and National Convocation. We will explore the movement’s cultural roots and examine how the church continues to evolve in response to social, ethical, and theological needs. More info...
This course explores how the church lives out its mission, including the issues it addresses and how these shape ministry. We will consider hospitality, inclusion, stewardship, and leading with integrity and creativity. The course also examines managing conflict and sustaining the church’s mission amid differing opinions. More info...
This course explores sharing the gospel in local communities through preaching, worship, teaching, and pastoral care. It emphasizes storytelling, worship planning, and leading liturgical occasions — like weddings, baptisms, and funerals— within cultural contexts. More info...
This course explores how pastoral leaders sustain themselves and their communities while pursuing justice and change. It introduces spiritual practices to ground and energize ministry, helping leaders clarify their values, guide their congregations, and care for themselves along the way. More info...