Pastoral Leadership Certificate Program (PLP)

Curriculum | Schedule | Eligibility | Doctor of Ministry | Faculty and Spiritual Coaches |
| Our Recent Graduates | Financial Resources | How to Apply | Contact PLP

Whether you have been a minister for decades or are newer in ministry,
this program can be revitalizing. 


Upcoming Information Sessions:
Tuesday, April 24th - 9:00-10:30AM
Student Center 130
Seattle University campus

Please RSVP to: stm@seattleu.edu /  (206) 296-5330
 

Can Excellent Pastoral Leaders Survive and Thrive? Yes!

The Pastoral Leadership program began out of a deep desire to support ministers and their vital work in a rapidly changing world. A holistic program of ongoing ministerial renewal, we offer proven and promising Catholic priests, Protestant clergy and lay ecclesial ministers an opportunity to learn practical leadership skills, renew their passion for ministry and form lasting bonds across denominational lines.

Designed to fit the schedules of busy leaders, participants meet two-three days for nine months, from September through May, for a total of 20 class days.

 Hallmarks of the Program

• Spiritual Depth 
• Personal Integrity 
• Effective Leadership

Benefits of the program

• Academic and experiential coursework led by nationally recognized faculty 
• One-on-one spiritual coaching
• Regular peer groups 
• Ongoing connections with pastoral leaders from diverse cultural and faith communities 
• A curriculum designed for pastoral application to critical issues in ministry 

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Curriculum 

The Pastoral Leadership Program is framed by the School of Theology and Ministry's distinctive model integrating the intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral aspects of theology and ministry within an intentionally ecumenical and multicultural context. This program focuses on:

• Envisioning Leadership
• Creating Effective Teams in Ministry 
• Creating Healthy Systems in Ministry 
• Leading from Spiritual Depth 
• Sustaining Pastoral Excellence 
• Forging Diversity with Integrity

Graduate Credit

Participants earn a Certificate of Graduate Studies in Pastoral Leadership
and 15 hours of graduate credit.

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Pastoral Leadership Program Schedule

Class Days:    Tuesdays and Wednesdays 
                           (Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Sept. and Apr.)
Class Times:   8:00 am - 5:00 pm (Class times varied in September.) 
 

Eligibility

Due to the collaborative nature and academic rigor of this program, it is important that each participant possess the following set of minimum qualifications:

• Demonstrated ability to do graduate academic work.  
• Minimum of five years of substantive pastoral leadership experience.
• Demonstrated commitment to ministry in a local congregation. 
• Master's Degree in Theology and Ministry preferred. Evidence of an earned four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.

Early application strongly encouraged due to limited space.

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Doctor of Ministry--Partnership with San Francisco Theological Seminary:

Graduates with a Master's in Theology and Ministry that desire a Doctor of Ministry degree have a direct route through a relationship between Seattle University and San Francisco Theological Seminary. The 15 hours of graduate credit earned from the PLP fulfill one-third of the requirements for this Doctor of Ministry degree.

Further requirements for the completion of a Doctor of Ministry through SFTS include: 

• Attending a 6-week summer session at SFTS 
• Completing a dissertation project in one's own local area

Arrangements with other institutions for similar credit transfers are being pursued.

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Faculty and Spiritual Coaches

	Rev. Dr. Julie Josund serves as lead pastor at Edmonds Lutheran Church, Edmonds, Washington as well as deployed staff associate in Contextual Leadership for Luther Seminary. Julie studied family systems for pastoral leaders and congregations with Dr. Peter Steinke and is the coordinator of the Healthy Leaders, Healthy Congregations Initiative for the Northwest Washington Synod (ELCA). Julie has an M.Div. from Luther Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota and a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Leadership from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She has taught in the Pastoral Leadership Program since 2005.
	Dr. Marianne LaBarre is an STM faculty member and currently serves as the Director of the Pastoral Leadership Program. A member of the STM faculty since 1986, Marianne served for more than a decade as Director of the Master of Divinity and Formation Director for the school. Following her doctoral work in Leadership she was a founding member of the interdisciplinary Executive Leadership Program at Seattle University. She served as its director and on the faculty for six years prior to accepting the position of Director of the Pastoral Leadership Program. She teaches the year-long synthesis course entitled Sustaining Pastoral Excellence for the Pastoral Leadership Program and is author of God Knows Your Job Gets Old: 12 Ways to Enliven It.
	Rev. Dr. Eldon Olson is an ordained minister with the Lutheran (ELCA) church. In addition to his years as a pastor, for 11 years he served as the Director of Consultation to Clergy for the ELCA and LCMS of the Northwest. Though officially retired since 2004, he is a Consultant to Denominational Systems (Episcopal, Methodist, and Presbyterian) focusing on healing historically troubled and traumatized congregations, clergy sexual boundaries, and pastoral care to clergy. He serves as a spiritual coach for the Pastoral Leadership Program and a facilitator in the Healthy Systems in Ministry course.
	Dr. Sharon Daloz Parks is an associate director and member of the faculty of the Whidbey Institute. She was formerly a professor of faith formation and pastoral practice at Harvard Divinity School and at the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. She is the co-author of Common Fire: Leading Lives of Commitment in a Complex World and her other publications include: Big Questions, Worthy Dreams. She serves as faculty for the Executive Leadership Program at Seattle University and her most recent book is Leadership Can be Taught. Sharon teaches the Envisioning Leadership course for the Pastoral Leadership Program.
	Dr. Patricia C. Repikoff is entering her 40th year as a lay ecclesial minister in the Roman Catholic Church. Currently she is the Coordinator of Eastside Catholic Hispanic/Latino Ministry for 14 Catholic parishes. Patty earned her B.A. from Gonzaga University, M Ed. from University of Puget Sound, M. Div. from SU/STM, Post-Graduate Certificate in Pastoral Leadership from SU/STM, and D. Min. from San Francisco Theological Seminary. She is the author of Dashed Dreams and Diamonds: Dangerous Memories, Impatient Truths--Stories of Seven Women from the Gospels.
	Rev. Suzanne Seaton is an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church. She has served as a parish minister, campus minister, spiritual director, spiritual formation teacher, and retreat leader for lay and clergy persons. Suzanne is the retreat leader for the Western jurisdiction Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation sponsored by the Upper Room of the United Methodist Church. She is the co-author of Pilgrimage of the Soul: Thresholds to the Mystery. Suzanne is a spiritual coach for the Pastoral Leadership Program and facilitates the Companions in Leadership course.
	Rev. Dr. Linda Smith is an ordained minister in the American Baptist Church UA and also serves as spiritual director. She is currently serving as the Pastor for the Church of Mary Magdalene and is also providing Pastoral Leadership at the SKY Center for Spiritual Living. Linda has an M.Div. and a Post-Master’s Certificate in Transforming Spirituality from the School of Theology and Ministry at Seattle University and a Doctor of Ministry in Transformative Leadership from ABSW-Bakke, San Francisco, CA. Linda is a spiritual coach for the Pastoral Leadership Program.

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Information Sessions

Please join us at one of our upcoming information sessions to meet the program director along with current and past participants.

Contact the office at (206) 296-6977 or via email at stm@seattleu.edu to find out about the next available session.

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Participant Demographics

Participants are from diverse ethnic and multicultural communities. We welcome Catholic priests and Protestant pastors, ordained and lay ecclesial ministers, and pastoral leaders. Our program is defined by excellent and experienced pastoral leaders who are reflective of ecumenical and multicultural diversity.

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What Our Recent Graduates Are Saying

“This program was exactly what I needed for the next step in my life. One significant thing I learned in the program was I cannot fix others, only change myself. To do this I need to know and be honest with myself. Of all of the programs that I have been a part of in my life, this is the one that has far exceeded my expectations.”
~Deacon Bill Batstone, ‘08

 “The program provided a rich time of coming together with colleagues in ord

er to be nourished spiritually and physically. It opened me up so I could do my work more easily. It’s like if you exercise in the morning it makes the rest of your day better. This program makes the rest of your life better. That’s what this program was like for me.”
~Rev. Kevin Pearson, ‘08

“Meeting with colleagues two days a month was a gift. Having two days dedicated to growth, development, and wisdom-gathering was so challenging. I looked forward to each time and was sorry to see it go so quickly. I also appreciated meeting with a spiritual coach who understood both my prayer and my life and gently invited me to not take myself too seriously while holding sacred the life I lead.”
~Shannon O’Donnell, ‘09

“The tools and approaches I have gained and discovered are invaluable in both my personal life and professional life. The program has given me confidence, strength, wisdom and a spirit of calmness/acceptance for whatever lies ahead--again both personally & professionally.  This is a well-rounded program.”
~Rev. Donna Vande Kieft, ‘07  

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Financial Resources and Payment Options

Need based scholarships – through Seattle University, School of Theology and Ministry
Click here to download a financial aid form

Use this form to apply for STM criteria-based tuition aid for participants in the Pastoral Leadership Program. Please submit this form with a copy of your  current 1040.

Other financial resources candidates may explore: 

Denominational Resources
Ministerial Education Funds for continuing education or advanced degrees
Grants/scholarships from denominational groups
Local Church/Professional Education Budgets
Continuing education budget item for pastors and lay pastoral leaders
Local church scholarship funds
Sabbatical funds
Professional/Educational Resources
Personal Resources

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How to Apply   

1.  
   Apply Online 
   Click here to apply online. Along with your online application and official transcripts, you must also submit the following:
   a. Letter of Recommendation:  Submit one letter of recommendation from your endorsing official. Letter may arrive separate from application. 
   b. Personal Essay:  A brief essay is required to provide information about your personal goals in completing the program 
   c. Ministry Statement    
    
2.  
   Admissions Interview
   Upon review of the application material, the applicant will be contacted for an interview with the Director of the Pastoral Leadership Program. A meeting with the director is scheduled for the applicant to share his or her goals related to attending the program and to learn more clearly the goals, expectations and requirements of the program. Early application is encouraged due to limited space.
    

Contact PLP

For further information contact:
Colette Casavant, MAPS
Student Community and Admissions Coordinator 
(206) 296-5333 |  casavant@seattleu.edu 

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