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Church Planting Training at TEDS

A church planting movement is rapidly growing in the U.S. and around the world. TEDS is committed to providing cutting-edge instruction and learning experiences to prepare students for church planting ministries in various settings. Specialized training in church planting is offered through its core courses and wise choice of electives.  

Church planting field education and internship experiences are also available. The TEDS Placement Office can connect students to opportunities that abound in denominational, nondenominational, and cross-cultural mission settings.

Church Planting Week

Each spring semester a special focus is given to church planting on the TEDS campus during Church Planting Week. The week features a leading church planting speaker in chapel services and training seminars where students learn firsthand from experts about current trends and strategies in church planting. Recruiting interviews also provide opportunities to identify future church planting placement.

EFCA District Church Planting Scholarship Program

The EFCA District Church Planting Scholarship Program provides each District Superintendent within the EFCA with a minimum of one prospective Church Planting Scholarship Program nomination per year. More information can be found under the Financial Aid section of the website.

MDiv Curriculum

The Master of Divinity (MDiv) with congregational: pastor-teacher focus is the recommended degree program for prospective church planters. Intercultural church planters should consider the MDiv cross-cultural ministry focus.

Core courses provide in-depth biblical and theological study. Courses in biblical studies, evangelism, preaching, leadership, worship, missions, social and cultural exegesis, counseling, church history and Christian education are all vital to effective leadership in church planting ministry.

Church Planting Related Course Offerings

Students preparing to become church planters are urged to consider the following courses which may be taken as electives in the MDiv or other degree programs:

Click here for course descriptions

Internship and Field Education Opportunities

The growing metro areas of Chicago/Milwaukee/Northwest Indiana offer numerous opportunities for firsthand experience in a church planting setting.  Many of these are cross/multi-cultural. Internship and field education experiences may also be completed at distant locations or internationally.

Students preparing for church planting ministry should consider these options for guided ministry experience:

Find out more

For more information contact Associate Professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies Dr. Craig Ott at cott@tiu.edu.