Practical Church Leadership

Lead your church with confidence

Randy Gehring Preaching

“Any pastor who is looking to strengthen their administrative skill set should give this program serious consideration.”
– The Rev. Randy Gehring, senior pastor, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church; Sioux Falls, S.D., program graduate

Accelerate change and transform your leadership skills with Dakota Wesleyan's Practical Church Leadership (PCL) program.

PCL is an online, certificate program for working ministry leaders that builds confidence in financial development, governance, talent management, project management and communications, with 12 months of professional coaching and coursework that offers significant ministry impact. 

Here's what to expect: 

  • 1 year 
  • Online
  • 7-week courses
  • Applied project that leads to major church transformation
  • Professional coaching to help you understand material and execute projects
  • 3 face-to-face, two-day accelerator workshops designed to connect and learn 

Apply Now

Testimonials

Bill Lewis

“In the case of PCL, the students are not alone. With the coach, they have a safety net. A place to discuss application, a place to be mindful of the realities they face day-to-day as church leaders, a place to consider the possibilities, personally and professionally in their development.” 
– Bill Lewis, PCL coaching coordinator

 

The Reverend Jeff Otterman“Pastors that need a fresh approach to administrative ideas - this is the place to come. Money well spent. I am now Senior Pastor and a graduate of DWU with an MBA. The Senior Pastor role was directly impacted for me because of my one year in the program. I wouldn’t be the senior pastor without it.” 
– The Rev. Jeff Otterman, senior pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church; Yankton, S.D., PCL and MBA graduate 

 

 

"Dakota Wesleyan's program equips pastors and deacons to confidently lean into the complex realities of adaptive leadership needs."
– The Rev. Constanze Hagmaier, Bishop, South Dakota Synod Assembly

 

 

“Dakota Wesleyan’s church leadership program is a great opportunity for our churches. It is preparing bold, confident spirit-led leaders who are helping our congregations adapt to their constantly changing mission fields.”
– The Rev. Bruce Ough, former Resident Bishop, Dakotas-Minnesota Area of The United Methodist Church 

Women smiling at the camera

 “The Practical Church Leadership program came at just the right time in my ministry. This was an incredible journey into learning more about the business aspects and administrative roles that we have as pastors while also helping the church develop a strategic plan and vision for the future. As a bonus, it lead me to earning my MBA!”

- The Rev. Lane Cotton Winn, St. John’s United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, La., PCL and MBA graduate    

Women speaking with a microphone

"So many times we go to conferences, we take classes and the information is put into a folder and never looked at again. This program is one that is in the moment. We live into it and grow with it. And everything that we did in the certification was used immediately.”

- The Rev. Jo Ann Cooper, Gretna United Methodist Church, Grenta, La., PCL graduate

Calendar Overview

The calendar for the PCL program begins in July and runs a full calendar year.

The first session is a 2-day in-person orientation in July, on campus at DWU, followed by three weeks of onboarding and getting to know your coach, the learning management system, and more. 

The first 7-week course begins in August.

Classes have live guest lectures with experts at noon (Central Time) on 4-5 Mondays throughout each term.

The applied project, and associated processes and procedures to help manage the applied project, are also set up similar to a course in our Learning Management System and students will have access to that from start to finish as well.

DWU will host an in-person event with live speakers for 2 days in mid-January (in regional locations) and one additional in-person event at DWU in mid-July at the conclusion of the program in order to engage in some additional learning, worship together, and celebrate.  

The Practical Church Leadership program is an ecumenical program tailored to meet the unique needs of churches across denominations. 

Scholarships may be available through denominational continuing education grants, foundation support, local church funding, DWU financial aid or payment plans. 

Certificate to MBA: 18 of the 21 credits can be applied toward DWU's MBA in Nonprofit Administration for church leaders who wish to continue post-certificate. 

Courses:

This program includes 21-graduate credits.

NPA600: The Path of Stewardship 1

Information and materials used during the initial gathering and subsequent orientation weeks.  ** Please note that this course is open for 4 weeks at the start of the program and will house both information about our in-person event in July as well as other information about the program that is relevant to your onboarding experience.**  

NPA610: Financial Resource Development

This course will discuss the current state of giving within the church, examine the underlying tenets of giving from a scriptural and a human perspective, and explore different approaches for cultivating giving within the church that will enable short and long-term sustainable resource development.

NPA615: Financial Resource Management

Financial Resource Management will provide students with fundamental knowledge about processes and procedures for financial planning and financial management. Students will develop skills and techniques through analysis of financial documents and practical application of contemporary financial management tools and techniques.

NPA620: Governance, Personnel, and Volunteer Management

Evaluate different leadership and governance structures for nonprofit and church oversight. Assess best practices for human resource development and management. Understand methods for volunteer recruitment, development, engagement, and retention. 

NPA630: Applied Project

Scholars will participate in a year-long applied learning experience where they lead the design and delivery of one or two comprehensive projects with the objective of making measurable and positive impacts on administrative functions of the organization. During the course students will be coached by a qualified and trained applied professional who will also provide instruction and support in principles and practices of project management.

NPA640: The Path of Stewardship 2

Engage in oral presentation, reflection, and analytical skills by presenting your applied project during the second in-person gathering. Reflect on strengths and challenges, and connect with mentors and other church leaders.

NPA650: Vision, Strategy and Evaluation

Compose vision, mission, values, and purpose statements. Understand elements of strategic planning, program design and evaluation.

NPA661: Communications and Community Outreach

Explore a variety of mediums and communication strategies to design (or modify) methods of internal and external communication, develop skills in marketing and messaging to and for their church, and evaluate and engage strategies for effective outreach.

NPA680: The Path of Stewardship 3

Engage in oral presentation, reflection, and analytical skills by presenting your applied project during the second in-person gathering. Reflect on strengths and challenges, and connect with mentors and other church leaders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the PCL program for?

The Practical Church Leadership program is designed for practicing clergy and ministry professionals with at least two years of experience. Because this program is steeped in relevant and applicable learning and provides expert coaching and support, participants can immediately impact and navigate the realities of the church today.

What are the benefits of the PCL program?

Benefits for YOU and the ministry you serve: 

Financial Resource Development
Grow the current state of giving within your church, examine the underlying tenets of giving from a scriptural and a human perspective, and explore different approaches for cultivating giving that will enable short and long-term sustainable resource development.

Financial Management
Develop fundamental knowledge about processes and procedures for financial planning and financial management and strengthen skills through analysis of financial documents and practical application of contemporary financial management tools and techniques.

Governance, Personnel, and Volunteer Management
Evaluate different leadership and governance structures for nonprofit and church oversight. Assess best practices for human resource development and management, and your capacity for volunteer recruitment, development, engagement, and retention. 

Vision, Strategy and Evaluation
Compose or refresh vision, mission, values, and purpose statements while you develop competency for strategic planning, program design and evaluation.

Communications and Community Outreach
Explore a variety of mediums and communication strategies to design or modify methods of internal and external communication, develop skills in marketing for your church, and evaluate strategies for effective outreach.

Applied Project
Make measurable and positive impacts on administrative functions of your organization with a comprehensive applied project. You’ll be coached by a qualified and trained applied professional who will also provide instruction and support in principles and practices of project management.

What should I expect for a time commitment?

The average amount of time participants devote to the program each week is 4-6 hours. This varies by week, and the program is very sensitive to needed flexibility during important seasons such as Advent and Lent.  

Three in-person gatherings will be held, and include two days of worship, learning, and connecting. In-person gatherings help form relationships with peers, learning from one another and from guests, and connecting with coaches. 

Live class sessions are typically held from 12-1 (CST) on Mondays during the 7-week, online classes. The 7-week classes are full of content in respective subject matter areas and will require some reading, discussion and/or applied assignments. 

How does the coaching work?

Coaches are matched with students through a process that engages discerning mutual interest areas, professional experience, personality and strengths assessments. 

Each coach completes training and development as a professional coach. Many of our coaches have professional endorsements from the international association of professional coaches or international coach federation. 

Coaches meet with students bi-weekly, during normally scheduled work weeks, for 45 minutes to talk through applied project and more. 

What is the ROI?

The return on investment is distinct. Participants in the PCL program have:

  • Grown giving units by as much as 65%;
  • Directed transition from multiple committee governance to a single board;
  • Decreased time dedicated to meetings by more than 50%;
  • Improved financial management practices;
  • Redesigned volunteer systems that resulted in increases in volunteers with less burnout and less turnover;
  • Launched new discipleship ministries that impact hundreds in their communities.

PCL Confidence Level Survey

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NOW enrolling for July!

Want to learn more? Let's connect! 

Alisha Vincent

Alisha Vincent

Director of Practical Church Leadership Program | Associate Professor of Nonprofit Administration


Phone: (605) 995-2933

Missy Leuthold

Missy Leuthold

Adult & Online Enrollment Coordinator | International Student Services Coordinator


Phone: (605) 995-2688