Candler School of Theology
Religious Education
The Program in Religious Education coordinates Candler School of Theology efforts to equip students to teach in faith communities and school settings, to provide leadership for educational ministries, to advocate for the strengthening of education in religious communities and society, and to facilitate conversations on religious education in and among academic and ecclesial contexts. The program includes courses that meet requirements of The United Methodist Church for certification in youth ministry and in Christian education. Students seeking UMC certification should consult with the program director about meeting these requirements in conjunction with the Candler Certificate in Religious Education Ministries.
Through the Center for Ecumenical and Multicultural Education, the program maintains a collection of curriculum resources for use in United Methodist congregations and with culturally diverse constituencies.
Certificate in Religious Education Ministries
The Certificate Program in Religious Education Ministries seeks to equip persons for ministries related to teaching and learning in faith communities, schools, and the wider society. It is designed for Candler MDiv and MTS students who see some aspect of Christian religious education as central to their vocational identity, primarily in relation to three distinct but related tracks: (1) Christian Congregational Education; (2) Christian Ministries with Youth; or (3) Religion and Academy. The first track includes students seeking to complete the academic requirements of The United Methodist Church for certification in Christian education, as well as students desiring to prepare more generally for the educational dimensions of congregational ministry. The second track, Ministries with Youth, enables students to meet United Methodist Church requirements for the youth ministry certificate and/or to prepare for a range of ministries with youth in and beyond the congregation. The third track, Religion and Academy, prepares students for campus ministry, academic teaching, or other ministries in academic contexts.
Requirements for the certificate may be met within a student’s program of study and include participation in at least one professional conference sponsored or approved by the religious education program, participation in a least one religious education program retreat, an annual advising conversation with the program director, and nineteen credit hours, allocated as follows:
All certificate students are required to complete RE501, Religious Education as Formation and Transformation (3 hours), and an approved contextual experience of educational ministry (ordinarily CE503 for MDiv students or an internship for MTS students).
Additional course requirements, according to focus, include twelve hours of coursework with some work in each of the following areas (students must consult with the program director regarding specific course offerings that can fulfill these requirements):
Christian Congregational Education
- Theology and Education
- Pedagogy or Educational Theory
- Bible and Education
- Congregational Leadership
Christian Ministries with Youth
- Theology and Education, or Bible and Education
- Ministry with Youth
- Youth and the Contemporary World
- Pastoral Care and Counseling
Religion and Academy
- Pedagogy or Educational Theory
- Comparative religion or study of at least one religious tradition other than Christianity—may be taken in the religion department
- Elective area in RE fitting to vocational goals
- Pastoral Care and Counseling
To participate in the program, interested students must complete an application for certificate enrollment with the Candler registrar and a declaration of intent with the director of the religious education program.