Pastors

The New England Calvary Chapel School of Ministry (NECCSoM) is a two year program that is both academic and practical, believing that ministry can be both taught while sitting in a class and caught while serving in a church. NECCSoM is unique in how it delivers this experience, with each Calvary Chapel serving as a hub of live learning and living out what was learned without the pastor himself needing to take on the teaching responsibilities. Classes (two per night) are in person at all Calvary Chapels on the same night and time every week for seven or eight weeks, with teachers teaching via video from one location while students join from multiple locations.

Our goal is to work to fulfill both parts of Ephesians 4: 12. We want to assist pastors and churches in “the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry” by working together to raise up the next generation of church planters, missionaries, pastors and other staff here, and, Lord willing, across the country and around the world. We also want to assist you as the pastor in “the edifying of the body of Christ”, coming alongside you to strengthen and support you as you seek to deepen the walks and level of service of the servant leadership that you currently have.

In all of this, we believe that you have much to offer, not just as the pastor to your church, but as a teacher to the greater body of Calvary Chapels in New England.

As such, pastors of Calvary Chapels have several opportunities to directly influence the student’s experience at NECCSoM.

Teach a class: the two year program offers a total of 20 required classes for students that pastors can choose to teach. Commitment is one hour of teaching per class for 7-8 weeks, depending on the module. Get involved by teaching a book of the Bible, even one you have taught your church already, or by tackling a topic from the list of classes that is a topic that appeals to you.

Lead a Saturday Seminar: the two year program offers a total of 10 Saturday seminars, one roughly halfway through each module, that covers important stand alone topics. Saturday seminars are open to all Calvary Chapel congregations and are required for NECCSoM students.

Commitment is 4-6 hours on a Saturday. The location of Saturday Seminars will rotate between supporting Calvary Chapels.

The goal for both teaching a class and leading a Saturday Seminar is not to add to your teaching load, but to encourage you to share the teachings and topics you really enjoy teaching (or ones you are currently studying with your church) with the greater New England Calvary Chapel body of Christ.

Pastoral Practicum:

Biblical Teaching 101– Calvary Chapel pastors are asked to give each student a monthly opportunity with a small group (or larger) to teach the Bible at the arrangement and discretion of the pastor or someone they designate. With this practice, the students will learn to share insights from God’s Word in a group setting while also learning how to present the gospel as a standard closing. Pastors are asked to critique the student in writing (form provided) for their personal growth.

Ministry 101– each student must be serving in some capacity on at least a monthly basis in their home church. This service will be at the discretion and direction of the pastor or someone he designates. A monthly Minstry Report will be filled out by the student and signed off on by the pastor or whomever they have designated.

Select a proctor: proctors will serve as the in house person for the weekly classes. This person, who does not have to be the pastor, is responsible for making sure the technology is ready and for giving individual direction to the gathered students at each location. Proctors will also be responsible for checking any required work that students submit.

Recommend a student: While anyone can apply to NECCSoM, acceptance is based on the recommendation of the pastor of their home church (non Calvary Chapel students will not be considered).

To sum up, the vision for NECCSoM is for it to be a place that supports Calvary Chapels in the present and supplies servants to Calvary Chapels in the future.

How would you like to be involved?

There is plenty of opportunity for you to use the structure of NECCSoM but add to it things that you believe you would like to see the students from your church would benefit from.

Here are some suggestions to get you thinking, things that either other Calvary Chapel Schools of Ministry are doing, or have been suggested by others:

-A trip to Israel sometime during their two year program
-An expanded required reading list with books of your choosing as students build their own library
-Two related series by Pastor Chuck: A Servant’s Heart & A Chosen Vessel
-An extended prayer and fasting retreat
-Add a seminar that fits your specific ministry: urban, rural, cross- cultural, etc.