Earn a Certificate in Multiethnic Church Leadership
The Certificate in Multiethnic Church Leadership provides practical theology, ministry praxis, and leadership competencies in racial and cultural reconciliation, biblical justice, and intercultural development with particular insight drawn from the history of the African American church. Content will include, but not be limited to, the ministry practices and models at Midtown Covenant Church, a multiethnic and multicampus congregation in the Sacramento metropolitan area.
This certificate is intended for pastors and ministry leaders who desire to develop understandings that will lead to greater faithfulness and fruitfulness in an ever-increasing multiethnic, multicultural, and metropolitan mission field.听
Program Overview
- 12 semester hours
- 13-month program
- Fall and spring intensives are held at Midtown Covenant Church (Sacramento, CA)听
- Summer intensives are held at North Park Theological Seminary (Chicago, IL)听
- Complete as a stand-along certificate or part of a degree
Faculty Spotlight:
Rev. Dr. Efrem Smith
Efrem Smith is a pastor, consultant, speaker, and author. He is passionate about life transformation, multiethnic development, thriving churches, and community development. As a product of the African American Church, he also serves as a collaborative catalyst for African American Church Planting, Disciple Making, and Urban Empowerment Movements.
Efrem was the founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN, He served as the Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. He also served as the President of World Impact, an urban missions organization. Currently, Efrem is the Co-lead Pastor of Midtown Church, a thriving and multi-ethnic community in Sacramento, California. He is also Co-Owner of Influential LLC, a speaking, consulting, and coaching ministry. Efrem is the author of Raising Up Young Heroes, The Hip Hop Church, Jump, The Post-Black and Post-White Church, and Killing Us Softly.
Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary.听He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary. Efrem is married to Donecia and they have two daughters, Jaeda and Mireya.
Certificate Outcomes
- An understanding of the heritage of the multiethnic church in the United States of America and its theological and ministry distinctives, including the journey of the Evangelical Covenant Church in becoming a multiethnic denomination.听
- A deep understanding of how the theological distinctives and ministry praxis of the African American Church informs a more justice-oriented and disciple-making multiethnic church.听
- A practical theology of reconciliation, justice, and multiethnic diversity.听
- The art and science of preaching in multiethnic and multicultural contexts.听
- Effective ministry models for planting multiethnic churches and moving homogenous churches toward becoming multiethnic, reconciling congregations.听
Required Courses
- Peace, Justice, and Restorative Practices
- Preaching in a Multiethnic Context
- Developing and Planting Multiethnic Churches
- Black Faith Matters: The Gift of the African American Church