Pathways Online Courses

Pathways Online Course Program

Pathways Online Courses are offered to provide educational preparation toward leading a congregation as a Commissioned Ruling Elder (CRE) or Commissioned Lay Pastor (CLP).  The program is taught by faculty of Union Presbyterian Seminary and experienced practitioners. Courses are open to all, regardless of denomination affiliation or role in the church, and one does not need to be working toward becoming a CRE or CLP in order to participate. Courses aim to enhance knowledge and discipleship, and each course includes live (synchronous) class meetings as well as asynchronous (at-home) assignments. Class meetings will not be recorded.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR OUR 2025 COURSES.

ONLINE COURSES:

The Five Foundational Courses

  • Biblical Interpretation – Register here. 
    • Led by Rev. Dr. Megan Fullerton Strollo, on Tuesdays, February 18 – March 25, 2025, from 7-9 pm ET.
    • This course has as its primary goal the equipping of Christian leaders to interpret biblical texts faithfully. The course provides an overview of the ways in which the church has approached the work of biblical interpretation and then offers a practical guide for close reading of passages.
  • Reformed Theology – Register here. 
    • Led by Dr. Rachel Baard, on Thursdays, January 9 – February 13, 2025, from 7-9 pm ET.
    • This course is designed to provide students with knowledge of and appreciation for the Reformed theological tradition in which the PC(USA) is rooted. The course will explore the central tenets of the Reformed tradition, its contemporary significance for the life of the church, and its relationship to the broader ecclesial and social contexts.
  • Church History – Register here.
    • Led by Dr. Christine Luckritz Marquis, on Tuesdays, April 22 – May 20, 2025, from 7-9 pm ET.
    • This course is designed to provide an overview of and an appreciation for the history of Christian traditions, the broader contexts in which they are developed, and their continued significance for the life of the church. Participants will study select crucial historical moments (e.g., early Christian movements, church councils, Reformation, Christianity in America).
  • The Christian Life – Register here.
    • Led by Dr. Cindy Kissel-Ito, on Thursdays, February 20 – March 27, 2025, from 7-9 pm ET.
    • This course is designed to provide knowledge of Protestant perspectives on the Christian life. Participants will explore biblical and theological foundations that shape an understanding of the Christian life. Reflection on focused experiences of spiritual practices will engage students in critical analysis of their own spiritual lives and nurture opportunities for congregational ministry and leadership. Through assignments, online discussion, and class lectures, participants will engage in vital components of the Christian life.
  • Mission & Evangelism – Register here. 
    • Led by Rev. Dr. Aram Feinberg, on Mondays, April 28 – June 2, 2025, from 7-9 pm ET. (Asynchronous only on May 26)
    • The overarching goal of this course is to develop a contextual framework to understand mission and evangelism. Students will re-imagine the contours of mission and the task of evangelism, involving a theologically based approach to mission and evangelism and considering the impact of the growing demographic of the “unaffiliated” (or Spiritual But Not Religious) across the religious landscape of America. Students will examine an approach to mission and evangelism that addresses the needs of society, reflecting ways in which a local church continues its commitment to the gospel message (love God and love neighbor) and to the great commission (go and make disciples).

The Five Practical Ministry Courses

  • Polity and Administration
    • Led by Rev. Carson Rhyne, on Mondays, August 26-September 30, 2024, from 7-9 pm ET. (Asynchronous Only on Labor Day)
    • This course will examine the Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order, its underpinnings, and its implication for mission and ministry. As part of the course, participants will review administrative tasks which grow out of the Book of Order (e.g., session meetings, committee meetings, stewardship season, personnel matters and policies, financial matters, presbytery meetings, annual statistical reports).
  • Teaching the Bible
    • Led by Dr. Cindy Kissel-Ito, on Thursdays, October 17-November 21, 2024, from 7-9 pm ET.
    • This interdisciplinary course examines selected approaches to Bible teaching from the perspectives of biblical scholarship and Christian education. The purpose of this course is to equip participants to develop planning, implementation, and evaluation skills for teaching the Bible.
  • Worship and Sacraments – Register here.
    • Led by Rev. Dr. Donna Giver-Johnston & Rev. Dr. Diane Walton Hendricks, on Thursdays, May 1 – June 5, 2025, from 7-9 pm ET. (Asynchronous only on May 29)
    • This course will examine the history, theology, and practice of worship and sacraments. While rooted in the reformed tradition, the goal is to deepen appreciation for a variety of worship services and liturgical practices. Through reflections on readings and discussions of observed liturgical rituals, the course will seek to cultivate enlivened worship leadership practices and their theological impact within the particular ecclesial context for each person. At the end of the course, participants will be equipped and inspired to craft and lead worship that is lifegiving for them and their worshiping congregation.
  • Introduction to Pastoral Care – Register here. 
    • Led by Dr. Rubén Arjona, on Tuesdays, January 9 – February 11, 2025 from 7-9 pm ET.
    • An introduction to the theories of pastoral care and counseling. The course offers various theological and psychological perspectives and tools to help participants develop confidence in responding to circumstances of pastoral care and counseling in the context of parish ministry and other institutional settings. Topics include the art of listening, loss and grief, pastoral care with couples and families, and the pastoral function of worship and the sacraments.
  • Preaching
    • Led by Rev. Dr. Donna Giver-Johnston, on Tuesdays, October 22-November 26, 2024, from  7-9 pm ET.
    • In this course, students will be introduced to the theology and practice of preaching. They will focus on exercises in the art and craft of preaching faithful sermons that are biblical, contextual, theological, intentional, and embodied. By developing, delivering, and receiving feedback on a sermon preached in its context, this course will provide students with the tools to help them become the preachers God has called them to be.

Additional Course Info:

  • Early Registration for our 2024-2025 courses is $170 per course
  • Standard/Late Registration: Within two weeks of the first class meeting date, tuition increases by $25 per course
  • CEUs: 3.0 per course
  • In addition, we offer a self-directed New Testament Bible Survey course, which is online with pre-recorded lectures and quizzes, as well as an Old Testament Bible Survey course (see below for details)

Course sizes are limited. If a course reaches maximum registration capacity, a waiting list will be started. Tuition cost per course is $170. Each course may include a required text, not included in the course tuition. Note: Within two weeks of the beginning of each course, the tuition increases by $25 per course.

After you register for a course and as it is shared with us by the instructors, the syllabus will be sent to participants, usually in advance of the first class meeting. The online class meeting link will be shared within the course syllabus and/or by way of email.

 

Bible Survey Courses – Self-paced to complete at your convenience on your own timeline within a year of registration. After you register for one of the Bible Survey courses, you will be sent a login and password to begin the course for which you registered.

  • New Testament Bible Survey course – available now – Click here to REGISTER for the NT Bible Survey Course only
    • This course introduces students to the writing of the New Testament, the cultural environments in which they arose, and appropriate methods for interpreting them in English translation. By listening to a series of ten lectures and studying both the New Testament and an accompanying textbook (not included in course tuition), students explore the historical setting, literary features, theological message, and contemporary significance of the New Testament writing. Students assess their mastery of course material by completing a set of quizzes.This online course is asynchronous–that is, pre-recorded lectures, resources, and quizzes may be accessed online at one’s own pace. At the end of each of the 10 sessions, there is a quiz to test understanding of the material. For this course, a score of at least a 75% on each quiz must be achieved in order to move on to the next session. Quizzes may be retaken as often as necessary.The tuition grants a one-year access to pre-recorded lectures for each of the 10 sessions, outlines or presentations from those lessons, and quizzes. One required textbook must also be purchased.
  • Old Testament Bible Survey course – available now – Click here to REGISTER for the OT Bible Survey Course only
    • This online course offers a general introduction to the Old Testament. It surveys the major themes of the Torah, Prophets, and Writings. The lectures and the readings unpack the literary features of the different genres found in these Scriptures. They discuss the meaning of these texts in their historical context, and they reflect on how the theological witness of the Old Testament relates to contemporary issues.This course is asynchronous, which means you may access the lectures, resources, and quizzes online at your own pace. At the end of each of the 11 sessions, there is a quiz to test your understanding of the material. You must achieve at least a 70% on each quiz to move on to the next session. You may retake the quizzes as often as necessary.The course tuition grants a one-year access to pre-recorded lectures for each of the 11 sessions, outlines or presentations from those lessons, and quizzes. One required textbook must also be purchased.
  • Cost per online Bible Survey course is $170

 

Why Pathways? The Leadership Institute desires to assist presbyteries to train men and women to be Commissioned Ruling Elders or Commissioned Lay Pastors, AND to offer quality educational opportunities for church members and lay leaders in an affordable and accessible way.

  • We do not regulate how many courses are taken within an academic year.
    • Even though the courses are divided by type (foundational and practical ministry), you are welcome to take the courses in any order.
    • Many try to go through the program in a two-year period by taking five courses each year, others stretch it out longer, and some have even been known to go through all ten courses in one academic year.
  • Please consult with your presbytery on their particular requirements, as these courses should be taken in consultation with your presbytery or denominational office to provide educational experiences toward becoming a CRE or CLP.
  • Church members and lay leaders interested in taking any or all of the courses offered are welcome to do so.

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