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Calvary Baptist Church; Williamsport |
The Lay Pastoral Institute, now known as the Church Leadership Institute, was born out of the desire that American Baptist Churches have competent lay leadership. Of special concern was that small churches have the opportunity to secure trained lay pastors. In 1987, a small committee of the Ten Mile and Monongahela Associations, in cooperation with the American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware (ABCOPAD), designed a program to meet these needs in western Pennsylvania. The initial site was at the First Baptist Church, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, where twelve persons graduated in 1990. In 1993, through the cooperative ministry of the Pittsburgh Baptist Association and ABCOPAD, in conjunction with Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary, the program expanded to three instruction sites - Wesleyville, Monroeville and Waynesburg. In February, 1996, twenty-nine lay men and women completed the second cycle of the program and graduated from the three sites.
In October 1996, the Coordinating Council for the Church Leadership Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania was formed, and began to adapt the original program from the western Pennsylvania sites to meet the needs of the North-Central Pennsylvania area. Our first two-year course of study began in September, 1997, and completed in May, 1999. Since that early beginning two full cycles have been completed with many graduates and currently the program will be completing its third cycle with a graduation on May 18th, 2003. Classes were originally held at the First Baptist Church of Williamsport and are currently being held at Calvary Baptist Church, 42 Washington Blvd, Williamsport, PA.
The American Baptist Church Leadership Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania is a ministry of the American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware. Our purpose is to train and educate:
- those feeling a call to become a Certified Lay Minister
- those desiring a Certificate of Christian Studies
- those who desire self-enrichment
- pastors desiring continuing education
by offering Christian educational opportunities for lay leaders and continuing education opportunities for pastors. We want to encourage life-long learning and ministry.
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CLI Northeast 2001 Graduating Class |
Two program tracks are offered, Certified Lay Ministry Preparation and Certificate in Christian Studies. Students in both tracks must complete all ten courses offered. The tracks differ in that Certified Lay Ministry Preparation students are also required to complete the Supervised Ministry program and are thus eligible for certification as Lay Ministers. These programs are not intended to diminish the value of or replace seminary training, but rather to offer a different opportunity when seminary training is not an option because of life circumstances.
Classes are open to all who are interested in learning. Individual courses may be taken for self-enrichment or continuing education without enrollment in a program track. All students should be committed to excellency in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ.