United Methodist Studies is a companion course to the paraprofessional certification courses offered by BeADisciple, fulfilling the mandate that such specialties include “knowledge of the United Methodist Church’s structure, polity, resources, program, and mission.” If you have completed a specialty certification program and want the additional UMC-emphasis credential, this course is for you.
Each specialty program includes an overview of the Bible and Christian theology as they relate to the ministry. This course goes more deeply into Wesleyan theology, mission, and modes of leadership in the specific context of your own call and ministry setting.
Assignments around resources and program will be tailored to your specific certification interests, as well as your local congregation and annual conference. It aims to be helpful and relevant both now and the future, whatever your ministry context is and will be, by emphasizing core principles that have formed Methodist peoples’ practice. It will also touch on United Methodist – Global Methodist concerns.
In addition to daily discussion topics, a weekly one-page “paper” assignment is designed to help you prepare if you choose to go before your district or conference credentialing body for official recognition of your specialty or other status. An optional “mock DCOM interview” style Zoom may be scheduled toward the end of the course, if participants desire.
Learners are required to have the following books for this class:
- Grace to Lead: Practicing Leadership in the Wesleyan Tradition by Kenneth L. Carder & Laceye C. Warner*
- Three Simple Rules: A Wesleyan Way of Living by Rueben P. Job*
- Quick and Easy Guide to United Methodist Polity by Anne L. Burkholder and Thomas W. Elliott Jr.*
The following book provides a compact summary of Wesleyan theology, and is recommended for anyone who has not completed a course in Methodist beliefs:
- The Way to Heaven: The Gospel According to John Wesley by Steve Harper*
This course is eligible for 3.0 CEU.
*Using the Amazon Affiliate link further supports our ministry. Thank you!
Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 6
Price: $125
CEUs: 3.0
Required books?: Yes
Live video session?: No
Part of a certification or series of courses?: Yes (IFD Certifications)
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Price: $125
About the Instructor
Rev. Beth Galbreath is a United Methodist deacon in the Northern Illinois Annual Conference, and received NIC recognition of her professional specialization in spiritual formation. She mentors multiple candidates going through the processes of candidacy in ministry, both at the district committee on ministry and the conference board of ordained ministry levels, and has served on her conference’s residency committee. She also authored an online training course for candidacy mentors. Here at BeADisciple, she teaches United Methodist theology, and polity and other courses in church administration.
