Hello from your friends at CMLT, Friend

The CMLT Update

Hello from CMLT,

What a joy it is to greet you on behalf of the Center for Ministry and Lay Training! I am grateful for each of you who make up this learning community. Whether you are a student, alum, continuing education user, supporter, and friend with us for years or are just beginning to explore, you are part of the CMLT family, and I am excited to continue this journey with you.

As we step into a new season, I’m energized by all that is happening at the CMLT. Our eight-week Certificate in Pastoral Ministry courses remain a cornerstone of our work, offering practical training and rich formation for ministry leaders and laypersons alike. These courses bring together learning, community, and spiritual growth, equipping participants to serve with confidence and faithfulness.

I’m also thrilled to again share a brand-new option: on-demand learning modules. These fully asynchronous courses allow learners to move at their own pace while diving into timely and important topics for ministry today. The first of these features Rev. Dr. Bruce Barkhauer and focuses on Stewardship and Financial Literacy for Ministry Leaders. This new resource is designed to give both clergy and lay leaders clarity and confidence around the vital work of financial leadership in the church.

At CMLT, our commitment remains the same: to equip leaders for today’s church and community. Whether you are continuing a long path of study or just beginning to explore what’s possible, there is a place for you here. Thank you for the many ways you support and shape this community. I am truly grateful for you.

Blessings,

Leslie LeSieur

Senior Director

Phillips Center for Ministry and Lay Training

leslie.lesieur@ptstulsa.edu

918.270.6471

CMLT Announces New Staff Member!

Please welcome Teresa Spear as she joins us in the position of student worker for the Center for Ministry and Lay Training at Phillips. Teresa is an alum of CMLT and is a current MTS student at Phillips Theological Seminary.

Teresa was ordained in the Disciples of Christ denomination in February of 2024! As a CMLT alum, she brings valuable experience and a unique perspective to our work.

Teresa will help support our students as they navigate through our certificate program and help ensure our continuing education offerings run smoothly as students continue their ministry journey.

New Continuing Education Learning Series

At Phillips we believe deep learning should continue throughout ministry. This is why we’re offering new, online short-term courses starting this fall.

Current topics include:

Disciples History & Identity for You
Four Women Who Changed Christian History
Crisis Communication
Stewardship and Financial Matters in Ministry

With our newest flexible, online format, you can learn at your own pace, anytime, anywhere. Enrollment is open year-round, so you can start whenever it’s convenient for you or your group!

Courses are delivered through web and mobile platforms where you will also find an online learning community.

Click to Register for Continuing Education Series

Exciting News!!

Stewardship and Financial Literacy for Ministry Leaders is now available. You can access the course today and be part of this very first offering!

25/26 Session 3 Course Offerings

October 13-December 7, 2025

NOTE ***Registration Deadline: September 29, 2025 ***

Introduction to the Hebrew Bible

Instructor: Rev.Dr. John Bracke

Students will explore the content of the Hebrew Bible and its theological perspectives; they will also learn about the historical and cultural background of the Hebrew Bible and some of the issues involved in the critical engagement of the Hebrew Bible. The biblical materials will be approached from an academic/critical perspective with insights into how these insights can be used in ministerial practice.

The online course is from October 13 - December 7, 2025. The price of the course is $100. Click here to register.

Proclamation of the Word

Instructor: Rev. Dr. Bill Tenny-Brittian

The course provides a foundational understanding of the nature and purpose of preaching, (from the standpoint of both theology and communication theory) and aims at developing a working understanding of the fundamentals of effective sermon preparation and delivery by guiding participants step-by-step through the actual creation and delivery of a course sermon. Students will be exposed to a variety of sermon preparation paradigms.

The online course is from October 13 - December 7, 2025. The price of the course is $100. Click here to register.

Pastoral Care

Instructor: Rev. Charla Gwartney

Pastors provide care in every ministry setting: leading worship and preaching, one-to-one conversations, hospital rooms, hallway visits, even on their social media pages. This course will offer a theological lens through which to view care offered in these settings and in support of many life situations. At the end of the course, students can expect to have a deeper understanding of what parishioners receive from care that is uniquely "pastoral." In addition, students can expect methods of self-reflection that encourage healthy boundaries, realistic expectations, and deeper spiritual formation in their role as pastor. Finally, students can expect a brief overview of topics relevant to pastoral care (i.e., mental health and fitness, addiction, grief, sexuality, family dynamics, etc.)

The online course is from October 13 - December 7, 2025. The price of the course is $100. Click here to register.

Disciples History and Polity

Instructor: Rev. Jeff Gill

This course will present an overview of the history and practices of the Stone-Campbell movement as foundational to its current forms of Disciples worship, missions, and ministry: denominationally, ecumenically, and culturally.

***Please note this course week runs from Sunday-Thursday. The start date for class will be Sunday, October 12.***

The online course is from October 13 - December 7, 2025. The price of the course is $100. Click here to register.

Communications

Instructor: Kurt Gwartney, MDiv/APR

Students in this course will discover tools and techniques for understanding the need for media literacy and developing their own media literacy skills. They will also explore the theological underpinnings of the use of digital media in the sharing of the church’s message. Students will be expected to understand the pitfalls and promises of digital tools and their use in a variety of ministry settings for communications. Students will be challenged to demonstrate effective use of communication tools in ministry through a practical project. They will also develop the skills necessary to evaluate emerging communication techniques and tools for their effectiveness and how to promote ministries through targeted marketing and communication.

The online course is from October 13 - December 7, 2025. The price of the course is $100. Click here to register.

25/26 Session 4 Course Offerings

January 5 - March 1, 2026

NOTE ***Registration Deadline: December 15, 2025***

Christian Ethics

Instructor: Rev. Dr. George Flanagan

This is an introduction and exploration of the basic concerns and issues involved in ethical reflection, the Biblical and theological foundations of Christian ethics, and the response of the Christian to perennial and contemporary social and moral issues, with a view to equipping the student for ethical reflection in preaching, teaching, and pastoral leadership.