Ministry Profile

About this course

This course is an immersive retreat designed to help participants clarify their ministry identity and name their primary ministry function for the current season of life and leadership. Through guided reflection, peer conversation, spiritual practices, and discernment exercises, participants identify the kind of ministry they most readily inhabit—prophetic truth-telling, pastoral care, teaching, counseling, evangelism, chaplaincy, organizing, administration, mentoring, worship leadership, spiritual direction, advocacy, or community building—along with other identities that may be emerging as gifts grow and circumstances change. Ministry identity is approached as a faithful point-in-time reading of how a person is presently wired and called, not a permanent label; participants are invited to mature across the full range of ministry responsibilities while learning to lead from their strengths with humility, clarity, and accountability.

The retreat also helps participants translate identity into ministry function by expanding their imagination for what Commissioned Ruling Elder service can look like in a particular context. Participants explore the many ways Christian leadership can be expressed through and beyond congregational life—equipping elders and ministry teams, developing discipleship pathways, strengthening governance and systems, cultivating prayer and care networks, guiding Bible study and formation, supporting schools and community institutions, partnering with local nonprofits, walking with those in crisis, serving neighbors experiencing poverty, or mobilizing mission in a neighborhood. Ministry function is framed as a provisional vocational focus—what is most needed, most fitting, and most sustainable right now—subject to revision as communities change, opportunities open, and God’s guidance becomes clearer. Because CRE ministry is not a single, uniform model, FORM 101 equips participants to articulate a clear ministry identity, discern an appropriate ministry function for their setting, and take concrete next steps toward faithful, integrated service.