Overview

The Foundry is committed to ministry formation that is church-centered rather than school-centered, and uses holistic models of learning. Our ministry training cohorts are for leaders who are actively serving in the church. Our curriculum has a dynamic core that centers on Scripture, theology, ministry skills, personal spiritual formation, and cultural engagement. Every subject is approached from a formational and contextual lens.

Learning Format

While there may be similarities to a classroom setting, these courses center on learning together. They are participatory in style and less formal than traditional school settings. They take a hybrid approach with in-person meetings typically once every other week for approximately 3 hours, supplemented with other resources and learning opportunities online. This pace enables sustainable involvement in ministry and in the learning cohort. Each course is typically 8 weeks long.

Evaluation and Assignments
Learning is evaluated through reflections, discussion, written assignments, and ministry-related assignments. Our main question is “Are participants being equipped for ministry in the local church?” Not “Have participants mastered the intellectual content?” So our assessments are based on demonstrated competency in a particular area.

Typical Course Sequence

Year 1

The Missional Story of Scripture

This course focuses on understanding the overarching biblical story from Genesis to Revelation,
as well as understanding the various cultural stories that shape our contemporary world so that
we can better understand the way that people in our culture and churches inhabit these stories
in their everyday lives. These stories are compared and contrasted with the big story of the
Bible in order to equip participants to better understand and communicate God’s mission for his people in our contemporary culture.

Spiritual Formation

This course introduces the biblical and theological principles of spiritual formation with a focus on cultivating a biblically balanced and healthy practice of spiritual rhythms.

Interpreting the Bible

This course focuses on cultivating the skill and art of biblical interpretation with a view toward both the exegesis of Scripture and Spirit-filled application of the text today.

Preaching and Teaching the Old Testament

This course builds the skill of preaching and teaching from the Old Testament in today’s context. Students will learn core skills of preaching and teaching while also learning how to preach the Old Testament in a Jesus-centered way.

Foundations of Christian Theology

This course explores several of the foundational teachings (“doctrines”) of the Christian faith. The focus primarily centers on the topics related to studying theology (Prolegomena), the Triune God (Theology Proper), the Person and Work of the Messiah (Christology), and Aspects of Salvation (Soteriology).

Year 2

Preaching and Teaching the New Testament

This course builds the skill of preaching and teaching from the New Testament in today’s context. Students will develop core skills of preaching and teaching while also learning how to preach the New Testament in a Jesus-centered way. Note: Preaching & Teaching the NT is a bit shorter than OT because Preaching & Teaching the OT will include foundational material on preaching and teaching in general.

Distinctives of Reformed Theology and Practice

This course surveys key distinctives of Reformed theology and practice, including ecclesiology and polity, worship and the sacraments, and eschatology.

Spiritually Healthy Leadership

This course explores the spiritual, mental, and emotional challenges that face shepherds of the church and aims to cultivate practices of life and behavior that will sustain effective ministry.

Pastoral Care and Counseling

This course defines and explores the character and competencies of good leadership in the areas of pastoral care with a view toward building skills and discerning one’s role in the ongoing counseling and care process.

Church History for the Church

This course explores key points of church history with a view toward how the church’s response to questions and struggles in their day can help us better respond to questions and struggles of our day.

Cost and More Information

The cost for an individual is $500 per student per course. The Foundry also works with churches to calculate an appropriate maximum cost when they have four or more students in a course. Each course typically has 15-25 learners with a maximum of 30. This best facilitates the kind of interactive learning that will serve the learners and their ministries.