IFD Certification in

From the melody of the Psalms to the music of our favorite hymns, music inspires and speaks to us of God’s power, presence, and glory. The Certification in Music Ministry addresses the Biblical, theological, and practical elements of music ministry that will equip music leaders and musicians of all varieties to serve well in their local congregations or ministry settings.
Develop tools to make a big impact in your ministry and gain a network of others in Music Ministry from around the country!
Certification Details
The IFD Certification in Music Ministry requires just four 6-week courses of $125 each — a total of $500.
- Certification courses must be completed in order. Courses will be taught on a yearly rotation.
- Once you begin, you can complete all the courses you need for certification in just one year!
- First courses in the certification cycles are offered in either January or August, with some certifications relaunching at both times.
- This program is taught online via Blackboard Learn. Courses are mostly asynchronous, meaning you can complete the work at the time most convenient for your schedule. Daily engagement on the Discussion Board with peers, required reading, and assignments ensure a quality learning experience. Some courses offer a required or optional live video-based session – see individual course descriptions for more details.
2023 Course Schedule
January 16 – February 24, 2023
March 13 – April 28, 2023 (No class during Holy Week)
August 21 – September 29, 2023
October 9 – November 17, 2023
Certification Course List
Add a Denominational Emphasis
You can add an Emphasis in United Methodist Studies to your certificate by taking just one additional 6-week course:
Enroll in the first course!
If the first course is full, or is not currently enrolling, you will be able to sign up for course opening notifications.
Meet the Instructor
Jeffrey Seeley
Dr. Jeffery Seeley recently retired as the Associate Professor of Church Music at the Mercer University Townsend School of Music and as the Director of Music at Vineville United Methodist Church in Macon, Ga. He holds a D.Min. degree in church music from Emory University, an M.M. in choral conducting from Mansfield University, an M.Div. from Drew University, and a B.A. in music from Lycoming College. Prior to his appointment at Mercer, he was the Director of Choral Activities and Instructor of Music at Elmira College. Dr. Seeley, an ordained minister, has held music ministry positions in churches, often accompanied by pastoral and worship development responsibilities, for more than 40 years.