If you want to lead ministries of social change in areas such as racial injustice, economic injustice, the climate crisis, war and violence, and more, consider the Certificate in Peace and Justice Ministry.
Central Seminary offers two certificates in Peace and Justice: the Graduate Certificate and the Professional Certificate. Students in the Graduate Certificate earn 12 graduate credits upon completion of the certificate. Students in the Professional Certificate engage in a program designed for continuing education and professional development.
Coursework for both certificates can be completed fully online. Ministry experience hours may require in-person service depending on your placement.
The curriculum of each certificate is designed to develop and strengthen competencies of faith leaders, community leaders, and activists serving in ministries of social change for peace and justice. This program integrates spiritual practices with biblical and theological understandings and hands-on peace and justice work through the use of critical pedagogy techniques (such as dialogue, reflection, and praxis), as well as contextual learning in a setting or within an issue(s) each student is passion about.
Certificate in Peace and Justice Ministry Learning Outcomes
Graduate Certificate in Peace and Justice
The student who successfully completes the certificate will be able to:
Integrate spiritual practices with ministries of peace and justice
Describe and construct theological and biblical claims for ministries of peace and justice
Interpret, apply, and develop theories and tactics of social change
Demonstrate appropriate communication skills (public and/or interpersonal) to lead ministries of peace of justice
Professional Certificate in Peace and Justice
The student who successfully completes the certificate will be able to:
Integrate spiritual practices with ministries of peace and justice
Describe theological and biblical claims for ministries of peace and justice
Explain theories and tactics of social change
Graduate Certificate Courses & Schedule
Languages Offered In: English
Program Length: 12 credits - Two academic terms or more
Calendar: Three 12-week terms per academic year. New students can begin in any term. Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry offered each August. Peace and Justice Ministry Praxis offered each January.
Program Requirements:
The student must complete 12 graduate credits including:
Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry (4 credits, offered in Ordinary term)
Peace and Justice Ministry Praxis (4 credits, offered in Lent term) - Prerequisite: Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry
Any 2 of the following courses:
Creativity in Public Ministries (2 credits, offered in various terms)
Interpersonal Skills (2 credits, offered in various terms)
Media for Ministry Development (2 credits, offered in various terms)
Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry
Course Description: This 4-credit graduate level course provides students opportunities for spiritual formation and discernment toward ministries of social change, as well as theological, biblical, and historical foundations for philosophies and tactics of social change work and movements for peace and justice. Course requirements include a total of 120 hours of supervised ministry experience within a context oriented toward peace and justice in a faith-based setting.
Peace and Justice Ministry Praxis
Course Description: This 4-credit graduate level course focuses on the application of theological, biblical, historical, and philosophical foundations within contexts of ministries of peace and justice. Ministry praxis (action-reflection-action) is facilitated through a total of 120 hours of supervised ministry experience within a context oriented toward peace and justice in a faith-based setting and course content such as leading just organizations, preaching and teaching for social change, and conflict transformation. (Pre-req: Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry)
Students in the Master of Divinity program are eligible to apply one or both of these courses to their contextual learning requirements (Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry for X-CL501; Peace and Justice Ministry Praxis for X-CL521) in consultation with the Director of Contextualized Learning. This may require an additional assignment to demonstrate the learning outcomes of the contextual learning courses.
Professional Certificate Courses & Schedule
Languages Offered In: English
Program Length: 8 credits
Calendar: Two 12-week terms. Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry offered each August. Peace and Justice Ministry Praxis offered each January.
Program Requirements
Successful completion of 2 courses composed of 10 units each
Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry (4 credits, offered in Ordinary term)
Peace and Justice Ministry Praxis (4 credits, offered in Lent term) - Prerequisite: Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry
Participation in 120 hours of supervised ministry experience over the course of the program (or average of 5 hours/week in both terms)
Completion of a final integrative project
Units of Study
Composition of units (per week)
3 hours of synchronous class time
2 hours asynchronous content with discussion boards
5 hours of supervised ministry experience
Formation for Peace and Justice Ministry Units
Discernment for Peace and Justice Ministry Vocation Part 1
Spiritual Practices for Justice Ministers Part 1
Biblical and Theological Foundations for Peace and Justice Ministry
Conflict Transformation
Theories and Tactics of Social Change
The Bible and the Mental Terrain for Social Change in the U.S.
Transforming Personal and Social Traumas
Historic and Biblical Foundations for Nonviolent Strategies of Social Change
Histories of Struggles for Freedom
Understanding Issues of Peace and Justice
Peace and Justice Ministry Praxis Units
Discernment & Spiritual Practices for Peace and Justice Ministry Part 2
Education for Social Change
Conflict Transformation
Preaching and Worship for Social Change
Leading Just Organizations
Reading the Bible with the Oppressed
The Bible and the Mental Terrain for Social Change in the U.S. Part 2
Reflective Practice on Theories and Tactics of Social Change
Arts and Culture in Peace and Justice Ministries
Sacred Listening in Peace and Justice Ministry
Certificate in Peace and Justice Ministry Tuition & Fees
Graduate Certificate
Tuition - $365 per credit
Registration Fee - $250 per term
Graduation Fee - $200
Professional Certificate
Tuition - $700 for full program - includes registration fee of $250
(Amounts shown are for academic year 2020-2021 and only represent basic costs. Consult the current academic catalog for complete financial information.)
Combine Certificate with a Graduate Degree
Combine the Graduate Certificate in Peace and Justice Ministry with one of our Master's degrees to get the best preparation.
Get Started on your Certificate in Peace and Justice Ministry Today
If you are interested in more information about this program, please contact us. If you are ready to apply, please start your application and a Central team member will be in touch with you shortly about next steps.
