The Certificate in Lay Leaderships is program designed to support and equip church members and elders who play a vital leadership role among us. As the church lives into the current historical moment, and approaches the future creatively, lay leaders have such an important role to play. Through preaching, prayer, administration, and mission, elders and non-ordained leaders serve vital roles for the flourishing and renewal of the church. The Certificate in Lay Leadership is a program to equip these leaders, today!
This Certificate program involves the following 3 main components and is intended to be completed over a 2-year period.
The certificate program also requires attendance at an in-person conference (three days) in Montreal in the month of May. This conference and retreat overlaps with our pastors’ conference, and will provide unique programming to lay leadership students. The focus of the programming will be consistent with the four areas of the Attendance at a 3-day conference at the College, held in the Spring. The inaugural conference for lay leaders will be held May 19-22, 2026.
In Spring of 2026, the Certificate in Lay Leadership will role out its new Mentoring Program for lay leaders. These will be online groups (modeled on our successful Mentoring Program for pastors) that will provide a context for continued learning, sharing, and prayer. For more information, please be in touch with Dr. Adrian Langdon, who is Director of Programs in our Leadership Centre.
This study is designed to equip leaders in the offering of prayers in worship. The study explores what it means for the church to pray together in the presence of God, and also looks at various types of prayer that are offered n worship—adoration, approach, confession, lamentation, pastoral, intercessory. We also touch on seasonal prayers for the church year.
The second study in the program is designed to help members of the church build awareness and skills for leadership—oriented toward engagement with the world God loves. This study helps leaders build awareness and skills around communication, introducing change, leading groups, and addressing situations of disagreement and conflict. Throughout, the emphasis is placed on mission; on the fact that our leadership in the church is so that the good news of a renewed world and renewed creation may be placed at the centre of a congregation’s life and work.
In many congregations without an ordained minister, and many with an ordained minister, lay people engage in care for one another in formalized ways. This study will help lay leaders to provide meaningful and prayerful care to member of a congregation. This study will focus on building core pastoral skills including care-full listening, sharing scripture, and prayer for God’s presence and care. For local congregations that are large or small, this study will strengthen existing capacities for mutual care and support.
The bible remains at the heart of the church’s life—it is God’s good and gracious word to us, centred on Jesus who is the hope of the world. Sharing that Word is a gift and privilege, and one that all of us are called to. Lay leaders have increasing opportunities to share God’s word through preaching, which is a wonderful gift to the church. This study will help to hone skills and competencies for preaching—reading the text for proclamation, connecting the message to the congregation, thinking about preaching as mission, and linking God’s word with our daily lives.
COST STRUCTURE
The cost for this program is the cost for each specific online study. At present, the cost for participation in each study is $135, and this will be adjusted modestly in each subsequent year. We acknowledge the support or the Ewart Endowment and of Presbyterians Sharing in helping to cover the costs of this program.
The cost of the three-day conference in Montreal will be $300, with participants also covering the cost of travel. We encourage participants in the certificate program to seek sources of financial support from their congregation, presbytery, or synod. Some bursary support will also be available through the Leadership Centre.
INSTRUCTORS
Rev. Dr. Karen Petersen is Professor of Pastoral Leadership at The Presbyterian College and teaches in the areas of Reformed Tradition and Leadership. She also has a keen interest in the ecumenical nature of the church, and expressions of ecumenism at the grassroots level.
Ms. Erin LeBrun has over 10 years of experience in working in public hospitals as a spiritual care practitioner or chaplain. Erin loves working with clients and family members as they walk through times of treatment and uncertainty. She will bring deep insight to our lay leaders program, as we think about what it means to visit, listen, and pray with those who are struggling in our congregations.
Rev. Dr. Roland De Vries is Principal of The Presbyterian College, and previously served for 10 years in pastoral ministry in Montreal. In addition to serving as Principal, he teaches in various areas including Preaching, Global Christianity, and Theology.
MORE INFORMATION
For more information on this program, please be in touch with Dr. Adrian Langdon, Director of Programs in the Leadership Centre of the College. Email him at [email protected].