Boston Future Students

  • Get In Touch

    Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
    90 Warren St.
    Roxbury, MA 02119
    (617) 427-7293
    cumeinfo@gcts.edu
    Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. M-F
     

  • Degree Programs »

    Get the specifics about our degree programs.

  • Course Syllabi »

    Get the most recent course syllabi.

Where are you? Home | Boston Future Students | Lay Ministry Training

Ministry Diploma and Certificate Programs

Gordon-Conwell—Boston seeks to serve the larger metropolitan community by offering a variety of non-degree diploma and certificate programs for clergy and lay leaders.

Diploma Programs

Typically, our diploma program requirements involve taking 10 courses over a one to three-year period. The diploma is awarded upon the completion of 10 courses. Many of our students who have not completed their undergraduate degree work take advantage of the diploma program to matriculate into a master’s level degree program. Certificate and Diploma programs include the following.

Diploma in Practical Ministry
This is an off-site program for area churches outside of Boston. The Diploma in Practical Ministry provides the student with a range of practical training for ministry and leadership in the church. The program consists of ten courses. Courses successfully completed in the Diploma in Practical Ministry may be applied toward required coursework in the Master of Arts in Urban Ministry Leadership or the Master of Divinity degree upon acceptance into the degree program near the end of the diploma program. Students wanting more information about this program should contact the Admissions Office for more information.

Diploma in Urban Ministry
The Diploma in Urban Ministry focuses on the essentials and practical training of benefit to the urban practitioner, and seeks to provide the urban practitioner with theological and biblical reflection on his/her call to ministry and the nature of that ministry. Five courses comprise an urban theological core. Four courses are taken in a particular concentration area with the remaining one course taken as an elective. Particular emphasis is given to the equipping of these men and women for a holistic ministry in the city.

Features of Our Diploma Programs:

  • Affordable tuition rates
  • Convenient course scheduling
  • One-day-a-week program
  • Peer group or individual learning formats
  • Practical ministry focus
  • Credit and non-credit courses
  • Matriculation into a M.A. degree program

Certificate Programs

The certificate programs are designed for clergy and lay ministry leaders and may span from a half-day session to a full-year period. These certificates include a special topics and training to equip church pastors and/or men and women in their outreach to address individual, children, youth and family issues in the city.