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BY RODERICK MILLER
SPECIAL TO THE UMCONNECTION

The Discipleship Academy, a new initiative to equip church leaders, will kick off Saturday, Sept. 27, at two sites in each region of the Baltimore-Washington Conference.

The purpose of the Academy is to call, equip, send and support spiritual leaders to "equip the saints for the work of ministry for building up the Body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12).

"The Discipleship Academy has some unique and important features. Its design takes into account the need for leaders to dig deeper in their knowledge and application of spiritual leadership in the congregations in which they serve today," said the Rev. Louis Shockley, of Asbury UMC in Washington, who is serving as dean of the Academy.

The courses for spiritual leaders will be offered weekly for six weeks, beginning Sept. 27.

"Having time to delve into the topics will give participants the opportunity for practical learning in a seminar type setting in which principles and concepts are melded with practical learning and experience," Shockley said. "The practice of concepts will be key to learning."

The schools in the fall semester are Certified Lay Minister Module 1, and the School of Church Leadership.

Among the classes in the Church Leadership school, which were the most requested in conferencewide surveys, are: Challenges for Churches, Stewardship, Spiritual Leadership, Christian Formation, and Developing Your Faith and Evangelism (two of the elements of the Discipleship Adventure).

The Certified Lay Minister Module 2 and second semester classes for the School of Church Leadership will kick off Feb. 7 and will also include a one-day training class for congregational leaders serving in specific church roles and responsibilities.

Classes in the Discipleship Academy will be kept to a maximum of 25 participants in order to facilitate connection and mutual resourcing with class members.

Continuing education credits will be offered to those who have attended five of the class sessions.

For registration and further information go to: www.bwcumc.org/academy.