ABOUT PASTORAL TRAINING INSTITUTE

Why was PTI started?

Traditional theological education and training requires the student to enroll in a full-time institution, often requiring the student to seek new housing, new employment, and pay high tuition. While this style of learning certainly has it’s advantages, PTI was started to fill the gap for those who would find it challenging to move and/or afford this style of learning.

PTI was started in 2018 and is being used to place men into the ministry.

What are the advantages?

  • The only cost to students are the required books and their time and effort, and the cost of traveling to class three times a year (zoom attendance may be permitted under special circumstances). 
  • Students do not relocate in order to participate in PTI, allowing them to keep their jobs and homes.
  • Students continue to serve in their local churches under the leadership of their pastors.
  • Teachers are all experienced pastors who are still in the ministry. Because they are not required to live in a certain geographical area, pastors are carefully selected from across North America to teach students.

How does it work?

PTI is a four year program of three in-class sessions a year. Typically classes are held in winter, summer, and fall, at different local churches of like faith and practice. Each week two classes are taught, 20 hours each. Classes run from 8-12, and 1-4. Meals and housing are provided by the hosting church.

Prior to meeting in class, students are required to read 500 pages for each class. After the class, students are given assignments, typically a 10-15 page paper for each class.

Students remain under the leadership of their pastors and may be given more assignments and/or responsibilities to further prepare them for the ministry.

The goal is that by the completion of the program each student will have the necessary foundation of theology to be ready to be ordained and take a pastoral position.

Although it is called Pastoral Training Institute, it is certainly welcomed to have students enroll who simply want to gain a deeper understanding of the Bible to serve better in their local church as a lay member.

More Information for Pastors

Entry into the program requires a full endorsement from the senior pastor of a church of like faith and practice.

The PTI program is designed to respect and seek to give autonomy to the local church and pastoral authority. With this understanding in mind, the list below is a list of recommendations, not requirements, for the discipling of the student in the PTI program.

The pastor is recommended to set up an apprentice-like program that would include one-on-one training of the various aspects of the ministry. Have the students learn how to invest in people, not just in programs, by bringing them along to hospital calls, visitation, and conflict resolution, for a few examples.

  1. Have the student prepare and teach Sunday School lessons for different ages.
  2. Have the student preach through a book encouraging expository exegetical preaching.
  3. Have the student regularly preach throughout the four-year program.
  4. Have the student prepare messages for the following types of services, and to develop a file on each of these on the order and details of conducting them:
    1. Wedding
    2. Funeral
    3. Baptism
    4. Communion
  5. Have the student organize AND run the following programs/activities:
    1. Youth retreat or activity
    2. Elderly fellowship outreach
    3. Vacation Bible School
  6. Have the student organize a yearly activity calendar, including items such as fellowship meals, communion, & holiday events.
  7. Have the student organize and plan a yearly curriculum for the Sunday School program for at least one age group.
  8. Have the student participate in a baptism.
  9. Have the student attend deacons’ meetings.
  10. Have the student develop a plan to grow one section of the church family (example starting a Sunday School class with teens and developing relationships with the goal of growing the class by outreach).
  11. Have the student work through discipleship material and mentor a new convert.
  12. Have the student prepare an ordination statement of faith and train them for their ordination.

Click here to download the PTI brochure (pdf).