Who should consider the GCPM program?

Pastors, elders, ministers, and church leaders who are interested in and/or engaged in church leadership or church planting will gain tools and strength in the art and practice of ministry. Those seeking to become commissioned pastors in the RCA.

Do I have to hold a Bachelor’s degree to enter?

Normally, WTS requires a Bachelor’s degree to enroll in courses. In some cases, students who have not yet completed a Bachelor’s degree are permitted to enroll as GCPM students. Interested persons should contact Jill English  or Rev. Joseph Ocasio to discuss their particular situations.

Can I take courses at night? On weekends?

Class sessions are often held in intensive format (one week of class all day at a specific geographic location) that can include weekends. Others are taken online or a combination of online and in-person.

What are the professors like? Are they actively involved in ministry?

The professors for the GCPM program are a diverse group, including both ministers who serve primarily as pastors and those ministering primarily as seminary professors. For the emphasis in church planting and multiplication stream, some professors are themselves successful church planters within the Harbor Churches network.

Will I have access to professors, the library and other services?

Seminary offices and the library are open during the times when GCPM courses are held so students have access to the services they need to succeed in their studies.

What if my own theology is different than that which WTS embraces?

WTS is an institution which values its identity as ecumenical and evangelical, welcoming students from a number of Christian theological traditions. While WTS is Reformed in its theological identity, many current students in the GCPM and other study programs hold membership in non-Reformed denominations.

Is financial aid available?

Financial aid is available to students accepted into the GCPM program who demonstrate financial need through application. Students interested in financial aid should request a financial aid application.

Are classes in the GCPM program graduate level courses?

Yes, each course in the GCPM program at WTS is taught at the graduate level and earns students three Master’s level credits.

Are the credits transferable into a Master’s program?

Each successfully-completed course earns the GCPM student three credits, which may be transferable into Master of Divinity programs at accredited seminaries. Students who complete the entire GCPM will earn 24 Master’s credits, which can then apply to the credit requirements for the Master of Divinity (96 cr) or Master of Arts (48 cr) programs at WTS.

How do I apply?

Click here for the WTS application forms (choose “Non-degree and Grad Certificate Application”). With the application, you must submit: • $50 application fee • Transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended, whether or not you received a degree • A one page, double spaced description of how you hope theological education will enhance and/or empower your ministry. Call or write Jill English for more information on applying, at jill@westernsem.edu, or 1-(800) 392-8554, ext. 135.

The previous iteration of the GCPM program was called the GCUPM, or Graduate Certificate in Urban Pastoral Ministry.

Gretchen Avila Torres ‘17

“For ten years, I had been praying for an opportunity to further my biblical and theological training at a graduate level to provide a better learning experience for our students at Ebenezer Bible Institute, a ministry providing ministerial training for Latino/a students in Spanish. The GCUPM program not only provided the tools to better serve the community, but it also gave me the confidence and skills necessary to continue toward a master’s degree at WTS.”

Judy Tiemeyer ’08, ’12

“I attend a church whose mission is to become multicultural. The Certificate in Urban Pastoral Ministry Program at WTS provides cross-cultural ministry training. This training has equipped me to help my church achieve its multicultural vision.  I completed the urban ministry program in 2008 and went on to earn my Master of Divinity in 2012.”

The previous iteration of the GCPM program was called the GCUPM, or Graduate Certificate in Urban Pastoral Ministry.