Discerning and Equipping In 2004 Northwest established the Northwest Centre for Leadership Development (NCLD). Because we had a vision for equipping emerging ministry leaders in the church, we had to create a platform within the Seminary that would support and sustain this training as it took root in local churches. Dr. Lyle Schrag is the director of NCLD. Within local churches many different people are pursuing God’s calling in their lives as they lead small groups, serve as elders or deacons, lead children’s groups, oversee mission activities, oversee facilities, guide women’s ministries, or spearhead evangelistic outreach. I would identify such people as the middle tier of ministry leaders within a local congregation. For some their current involvement represents their first experience in leading a ministry, while others look back on many years of fruitful and satisfying engagement. But if you talked with them for very long, most would admit, perhaps even yearn for an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Bible, to expand their Christian understanding , to discern good principles for leading ministries, and to become more skilled at offering spiritual care or sharing their faith. From time-to-time their church may offer a workshop or seminar, but rarely is there a sustained and intentional process. The church may say it is committed to developing people or discipling leaders, but who has the time or energy to get it going and keep it moving forward? So there is a significant gap between our desire and intentions and what in fact actually happens. NCLD’s mandate is to fill that gap. Northwest, in collaboration with various groups within our denominational family, has initiated two strategies to address this equipping deficit. First, we have developed Best Practices for Church Boards. This is a series of workshops that introduces people who fill the roles of deacon or elder or ministry leadership team to the spiritual and legal responsibilities that such leaders carry on behalf of their churches. We offer three levels: the first is for the person who is considering such a role or is new to it. The second level requires the involvement of the entire church leadership board and the lead pastor. This one day workshop involves plenary sessions, times of worship, and also a working session in which the church board, assisted by a facilitator, is able to address a key issue that they are facing. The third level is an advanced workshop, offered once a year, that considers more specific issues, such as strategic planning, or dealing with conflict, or discerning God’s will collectively. The second initiative is the Christian Ministry Training Program. This is designed to be implemented as an in-church leadership development process. Ten separate, mentored learning experiences incorporate readings, assignments, interactions, and ministry involvements. Areas covered include biblical and theological foundations, as well as mentoring, evangelism, ministry leadership, communications, and discernment of God’s calling and gifting. One course, Heart for Ministry is already available. We anticipate four courses being ready for implementation in September 2007 and the remainder being ready the following year. We are also seeking to finalize arrangements so that a person who has two years of post-high school university or college-level education, who completes the diploma, and who desires to pursue vocational ministry, might be able to apply for admission to the Seminary’s Master of Art in Christian Studies. This is part of our commitment to be a primary leadership development resource for our denominational family of churches. To receive more information about these opportunities, please go to the NCLD section of our website.