The Sovereign Hope Pastoral Residency Program is an 18 month program helping men who aspire to pastoral ministry form a biblical understanding of themselves and ministry.
“The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.” 1 Timothy 3:1
Program Goals
The goal of the Residency Program is to produce men who embody a:
Humble View of Self
Humble View of God
Humble View of Ministry
Program Structure
The residency program is an 18 month program broken up over the course of two years (generally meeting September-May with summers off). The residency is a part-time program designed to be flexible enough to work around your current full-time job.
The program is made up of three primary components: study, discussion, and shadowing.
Study: The program curriculum generally requires residents to read one book a month, and write a short reflection paper on each book. These papers help summarize what was learned, critically engage with it and synthesize it into the context of their own lives. You can find a sample reading list here.
Discussion: Following each month’s reading, all the residents will meet with Pastor Tyler (or other elders) for an hour and half discussion. In these meetings residents will engage in discipleship of one another, receive additional teaching, and discuss the topic and its practical implications in ministry (ex. Theology, counseling, discipleship, expository preaching, ecclesiology…etc.).
Shadowing: Over the course of the residency program residents will be able to shadow and participate in certain aspects of the pastoral ministry at Sovereign Hope. Residents will attend elder meetings, sit in on counseling sessions, participate in the Sunday Service Leader rotation, and occasionally have teaching opportunities in the youth bible study or even GCF. At the end of the program the elders will present each resident with areas of strengths that they have seen in each of them, and some potential places of future development as it pertains to pastoral ministry.
Program Emphasis
The Residency Program seeks to develop our goals by addressing knowledge in four specific areas:
Personal: Who am I as a Christian? Pastoral: What is a pastor and what is the nature of pastoral ministry? Propositional: How does the Bible shape our understanding of theology and ministry? Practical: How do we apply these things in the context of the local church?
Residents must commit to keeping pace with the program in terms of readings, assignments and meetings.
Residents must be approved by the elder board at Sovereign Hope Church.
Residents must at least begin the program “in residency” at Sovereign Hope. Exceptions will be made for those who move or accept positions during the program provided they continue to participate in distance education.
There is no cost to participate in the Residency Program but residents are required to purchase their own books (books for the full 18 months will total around $250, books can be purchased as we go). Depending upon schedules and availability, residents will receive discounted admission and travel to relevant conferences.
Testimonials
The Pastoral Residency Program was a season of tremendous spiritual growth for me. It was the first time I got to "peek behind the curtain" of pastoral ministry, and begin to learn what it is like to shepherd for the flock set before you (1 Peter 5:2). It is a great introduction to ministry, and I would not be as equipped to be an elder candidate at my church, nor the husband and father I am today if it were not for my time in this residency. I would highly recommend it for anyone considering pastoral ministry, vocational or lay.
The residency provided me with tremendous insight into ministry while also challenging me in ways that have humbled me and helped me grow in my own spiritual health. Through the readings, discussions, and exercises of the residency, I can see more clearly not only what church leadership should look like but also how I can better be leading my family and discipling those around me. I’m grateful for the ways God worked in my heart through the program and would highly recommend it.
Apply
Application for the Residency Program is closed while a cohort is active.
If you are interested in joining the next Residency cohort please contact Tyler.
