First class of Certificate graduates -- January 2003

The Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest is showing the church a better way to train youth ministers and Christian educators. Its successful Certificate Programs in Youth Ministry and Christian Education has enhanced ministries throughout the country and boosted collegial bonds among lay professionals who often feel ill-prepared and isolated.

That was the goal veteran educator Molly Bennett envisioned when she crafted the certificates program more than three years ago. A benchmark was set earlier this year when 14 educators graduated from the program. "Our students are a rich mix of beginners and old hands, men and women, old and young, liberal minded and conservative. The one thing they all have in common is lots of creative energy and a devotion to bringing the Gospel to God's people," said Bennett, program director.

The Certificate programs offer week-long sessions twice a year taught by Seminary of the Southwest professors and other faculty in scripture, theology and practical skills for ministry. Upon completion of both beginning sessions, students are awarded a Basic Certificate. Building on the Basic coursework, Associate and Advanced sessions are offered in consecutive years and the Basic sessions are repeated each year.

Members of the program's first graduating class to complete all three levels - 14 professionals from ten dioceses spanning the country as well as Panama - celebrate their energized ministries and network of fellow educators.

Luke Gilbert, youth minister at St. Mark's, Little Rock, Ark., likened the Certificates program to the Anglican faith - "you take what you need because every parish is different. Instead of insisting 'Here's how to do it,' the professors said 'Here are the resources, take what you can.'"

"Every aspect of my ministry has been enlightened by the Certificates program," said Gilbert, one of the ten recent graduates. "I felt the presence of God with everyone in the program from the first class I took," he said.

Gilbert stressed the importance of collegial bonds formed within the group. "I was the only youth minister in my diocese when I started at St. Mark's about four years ago. It's like being thrown to the wolves. It's real easy to burn out. You can play a lot of basketball with the youth in your parish but how can you learn to design a solid educational program or talk about spirituality, sex and our culture with no guidance?"

Gilbert was turned off with youth conferences he attended that "were rah-rah, offered no skills and promised success if you bought their stuff."

He met people in the seminary program "who have experience they enjoy sharing. Certificate students have each other to lean on, bounce new ideas off of and share success stories with. Half my email every day is from the Seminary of the Southwest group," Gilbert said.

"I was blown away by the caliber of the professors and the material they shared with us," said Mary Beth Emerson, another recent graduate who is youth minister at St. Mary's Church, Alexandria, Va. "I got a great education in youth ministry with a solid theological underpinning. This has been my best learning experience," said Emerson, who holds a master's degree and attended four undergraduate colleges.

The intensive six weeks the group spent together over three years "was unbelievably transcendent and grace filled - not one of we graduates want to leave the program. The community we built is amazing," said Emerson.

"The professors are invigorating and there's a deep level of learning," said Trudy Ardizzone, child and young family minister at St. Peter's Church in Del Mar, Calif. "It's definitely not like learning 20 things to do with a paper plate."

Ardizzone, who has completed four of the program's six sessions, used last summer's group to critique an education program she developed prior to publication by Leader Resources. The intergenerational game "Wizards and Wonders" invites players to explore their own hero journeys much like Harry Potter does.

Episcopal dioceses represented in the first class of Certificate graduates include Arkansas, Dallas, Florida, Kansas, Louisiana, North Carolina, Northwest Texas, Panama, Texas and Virginia.

The Certificates next first session will take place this June 22-28, followed by the second from January 11 to 16, 2004. Classes are held at Camp Allen, the rural conference of the Diocese of Texas. Each program level balances instruction, discussion, theological reflection, practical ministry skills, worship and spiritual formation. Regular worship is an important part of each session. The interplay of study and prayer is integral to the intent of the program.