EPA&GNJ’s Leadership Academy has launched its first online courses for training church leaders, using Teachable, one of the nation’s top online learning management systems. The multimedia, fully accessible digital platform enables creation and hosting of a variety of instructor-led courses using videos, quizzes, text and PDF files.

Five initial courses are available—the most recent being a trio of basic courses for Church Councils, Trustees and Staff-Parish Relations Committees. In addition, there are courses to train churches in facilitating Pastoral Transition and Safe Sanctuaries.  

(You can access the free courses here.)

Ideal for training new leaders and continuing church leaders

The EPA&GNJ collaborative Leadership Development Team, led by the Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, who serves as Assistant to Bishop John Schol for Leadership Development, sent a letter to pastors January 9 to introduce the academy’s three new online courses as a convenient option for training both new leaders and continuing church leaders.

The Leadership Academy basic courses, which have been in development for months, are funded by both conferences’ Shared Ministry giving and are offered free of charge. They are designed to help strengthen local church leaders in their roles, and assist pastors in advancing discipleship. 

“In the future, we plan to develop further courses on a variety of subjects, including Transformational Leadership, Organization and Ministry in the Church, Ending the Sin of Racism, and Congregational Vitality,” announced the letter. “If there is a subject that you believe would be helpful to your leadership, please let us know.”