It begins with the Webinar Orientation which is offered weekly.  If you wish, you can complete all the online modules within a month or take your time and finish in a year.  Further, you can launch your program and enroll students after the first module.

Wayne Heikkinen, Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church (Flesherton, Ontario), participated recently in the Certification Training and wrote, “To be honest, we were blown away.  There is no doubt that this is what we have been looking for in our church (discipleship) and long for in our own lives (leadership).  I can honestly say that this has been a high-water mark for me and it was exactly what I needed.”

Learn more or register for initial certification training.

The vortex of influence related to church planting has shifted considerably. No longer are denominational departments the main place where intentional church planting strategy is being pursued. Here are two of the emerging networks that are serving all types of denominational and independent church planters:

Verge is a network of churches, church planting movements, and resources related to “missional communities.” They emphasize the intentional and incarnational roles of a church as a community living out the gospel. Verge is holding the Verge Missional Community Conference in Austin, TX on February 28-March 2, 2012.

Exponential is an “aggregator” of what God is doing related to church planting. They try to find champions who are providing leadership in various channels and then position them to aggregate others who could benefit from development in those areas. Exponential is holding the Exponential Conference in Orlando, FL on April 23-26, 2012.

We are right in the midst of this vortex of influence and will have a presence at both of these conferences. In both events, we will have exhibits and be recruiting church planting apprentices. We even have a limited number of discounted registrations for the Exponential conference–email our office if you have interest in those registrations.   Also, take note that we will have an After Hours session on “Church Planting Apprenticeships” during the Exponential conference.

There are three ways that church planters can take advantage of apprenticeships with us:

1. Individuals who are called to church planting but don’t have a “home” to provide guidance and support can become part of an intensive apprenticeship program with the Ames-Des Moines CityChurch and earn certificates and degrees from the Antioch School.
2. Others who are already active in church planting but need mentoring and further training can build apprenticeship programs right where they are through the Antioch School.
3. Still others who are part of intentional efforts to reach key U.S. cities can take part in the Antioch Initiative’s Strategic City apprenticeships that includes Antioch School certificate and degree programs.

The apprenticeship concept is at the core of the use of BILD resources and Antioch School programs. We look forward to seeing how God works at these two upcoming events. It seems that we are on the “verge” of going “exponential” through apprenticeship.

by Stephen Kemp, Academic Dean

Martha Kanter (Undersecretary for Postsecondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education) last week addressed the CHEA conference.  Our Antioch School exemplifies much of what she referred to as “islands of excellence.”

On Tuesday of last week, I had the privilege to hear Martha Kanter (Undersecretary for Postsecondary Education in the U.S. Department of Education) address the conference of the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Doesn’t that sound like a fun bunch? Actually, it is a lot better than you might think.

One of the memorable phrases she used repeatedly was “islands of excellence” that highlight what we are doing right. I thought I would comment on a few pieces of her speech because of their significance to what we are doing with the Antioch School of Church Planting and Leadership Development.

Kanter said that there has not been enough differentiation in terms of quality in our institutions. This may have been a subtle reference to the lack of innovation in colleges and universities. Many institutions are looking more and more like each other while the world is getting more and more diverse. No one has ever accused our Antioch School of not bringing differentiation in terms of quality in the realm of theological education.

A common theme during the conference was uncertainty about the meaning of degrees. Kanter suggested that there may need to be more common standards in the industry so that we can be more confident about what a degree actually represents. Again, no one has ever accused the Antioch School of being unclear about what our degrees represent. The program objectives and portfolio transcript for each degree are abundantly clear.

Higher education needs to be more focused on competencies and outcomes assessment, according to Kanter. Some at the conference (not Kanter) even went as far as to say that institutions are guilty of giving degrees to people who have not learned what that degree is supposed to represent. Frankly, I was amazed to hear such a statement at a conference of accrediting agencies that are supposed to be emphasizing outcomes assessment. Our accrediting agency, the Distance Education and Training Council, requires us to prove on an ongoing basis that we are granting credit and degrees solely on the basis of outcomes assessment. The Antioch School is characterized by being competency-based and was formed because of the emphasis on outcomes assessment associated with the use of BILD resources.

Kanter also said that faculty and students need “shared reference points” so that there is better alignment in higher education. Again, the Antioch School’s portfolio transcripts and Student Competency Assessment Guide provide consistency and objectivity in assessment, an area in which “shared reference points” are often hard to find in theological education institutions.

Special reference was made by Kanter to one particular situation in which higher education needs to become more competency-based. She said that higher education needs to work more closely with industry-recognized credentials, such as how to convert competencies developed during military experience into credit. This is exactly what we do in the Antioch School through our Ministry Practicum which are a required part of every program and can be used extensively to satisfy free electives in our B.Min. program.

Well, what does all this mean? At the risk of patting ourselves on the back, I think it is reasonable to conclude that the Antioch School and its partner churches are “islands of excellence.” We may not be on Undersecretary Kanter’s radar screen, but we seem to be an institution that exemplifies many of the most important things that she is looking for in institutions that differentiate themselves based on quality. Pretty good stuff coming from an accreditation conference, isn’t it?

by Stephen Kemp, Academic Dean

We have identified 7 key questions for leaders to be considering about the ideas, topics, and discussions that will be taking place before, during, and after the Exponential Church Planting Conference.  In this post, we unpack the perspective and provide some subsidiary questions to ask as you listen to speakers during Exponential (or elsewhere).

Key Question #6: What is the author’s intention for the passage being cited?

Most of us are concerned about being “biblical,” but this can mean many things, such as being aligned with biblical truth or using the Bible as a point of reference. As you listen to someone claim biblical support from a passage, are they even considering the author’s intention for the passage (or is it just a good verse that alone seems to support a particular idea)? Few of us would say that it is proper to pull verses out of context, but many do it anyway. A good question to ask when thinking about the use of a passage is whether the biblical author would recognize it as being a legitimate use of the passage. Is the speaker really using the text to bring some other picture to mind on which his emphasis really relies? Is the passage itself a controlling force in the use of the text?

Key Question #7: What is the global significance of what is being said?

We hear much about the relativism of the postmodern world (even though relativism has been strong for a long time). What are the universal principles that undergird what is being said? On what truth should the claim be judged regarding its legitimacy? In light of how many churches have become focused inwardly, it is good to consider how their emphasis relates to the priority of churches focusing outwardly. How does this teaching relate to church planting and God’s spontaneous expansion of the church? It is also good to think in terms of the global church (as a teacher, not just a mission field). How does this speaker draw on lessons learned through the massive movements of God elsewhere in the world in the last 100 years?

During the Exponential conference, follow our blog and Steve Kemp on Twitter for updates. Please leave your comments below and check back tomorrow for the next question in the series.

We have identified 7 key questions for leaders to be considering about the ideas, topics, and discussions that will be taking place before, during, and after the Exponential Church Planting Conference.  In this post, we unpack the perspective and provide some subsidiary questions to ask as you listen to speakers during Exponential (or elsewhere).

Key Question #4: Where do they focus on leadership development?

Perhaps the question of where should be preceded by the question of if. Do they even have leadership in view? In the trend to focus on good things, such as community life and giftedness, some have intentionally or unintentionally disregarded leadership. If they do address leadership, where do they see leadership being developed? Is a formal institution like a seminary or Bible college assumed to be the normal place for leadership development? Or do they focus more on forms of on-the-job-experience? Further, is leadership something that can be developed in nearly anyone? Or is leadership development something that is construed primarily in terms of other things such as giftedness and fruitfulness?

Key Question #5: What do they mean by discipleship?

When someone refers to discipleship, they usually have some core things in mind. Are those core things mostly about knowledge, character, or behavior? Are they mostly about rules, principles, or worldview? They also usually have some core Scripture passages in mind. What are those passages and do you think that these are passages that the biblical author’s intended to be normative regarding discipleship? In other words, would the apostles recognize their emphasis as fitting with their imperatives about “passing on the deposit” or “the teaching?” You may also want to think about the process of discipleship. Does it lead to spiritual maturity in an explicit manner that measureable and attainable?

During the Exponential conference, follow our blog and Steve Kemp on Twitter for updates. Please leave your comments below and check back tomorrow for the next question in the series.

We have identified 7 key questions for leaders to be considering about the ideas, topics, and discussions that will be taking place before, during, and after the Exponential Church Planting Conference.  In this post, we unpack the perspective and provide some subsidiary questions to ask as you listen to speakers during Exponential (or elsewhere).

Key Question #3: How do they picture Jesus?

Everyone points to Jesus as our model, but what does that Jesus look like? Here are some common recent images of Jesus, even though they aren’t always labeled as explicitly: Jesus CEO is like a business owner using lots of modern business and entrepreneurial skills; Jesus Servant-Leader with the emphasis mostly on the servant side; Jesus the Radical who is characterized more by the dynamic of stirring things up than any particular substance that is worthy of stirring things up for; and more. What form of biblical support do they use for their images of Jesus? How much is really just proof-texting? Ironically, one’s image of Jesus is really a mirror of one’s own values more than the product of careful Bible study. Here are a few biblical points of reference to help you compare how they picture Jesus. How does it compare with the description of Jesus that we get from the kerygmatic sermons of the apostles in Acts? How does it compare to the four portraits we are given in the Gospels?

During the Exponential conference, follow our blog and Steve Kemp on Twitter for updates. Please leave your comments below and check back tomorrow for the next question in the series.

We have identified 7 key questions for leaders to be considering about the ideas, topics, and discussions that will be taking place before, during, and after the Exponential Church Planting Conference.  In this post, we unpack the perspective and provide some subsidiary questions to ask as you listen to speakers during Exponential (or elsewhere).

Key Question #2: How do they treat the Pastoral Epistles?

All of us recognize the Pastoral Epistles (the letters from Paul to Timothy and Titus) as legitimate parts of our Bible, but not everyone uses them in the same manner. It seems that they are being given less attention these days in the books being written about how to do church. As you listen to people give instructions about how to do church, do they consider the Pastoral Epistles as normative instructions for how to do church in all times and all places? If they are something else, such as artifacts about what the early church did from which we can find principles, on what basis can we conclude that the principles are normative? It may also be informative to think about what they mean by the “Paul/Timothy” model of 2 Timothy 2:2. Is it just about an older guy mentoring a younger guy (talking about whatever the older guy likes or dislikes?) Or is it about a training process that sustains the exponential growth and health of a Great Commission church planting movement?

During the Exponential conference, follow our blog and Steve Kemp on Twitter for updates. Please leave your comments below and check back tomorrow for the next question in the series.

We have identified 7 key questions for leaders to be considering about the ideas, topics, and discussions that will be taking place before, during, and after the Exponential Church Planting Conference.  In this post, we unpack the perspective and provide some subsidiary questions to ask as you listen to speakers during Exponential (or elsewhere).

Key Question #1: What do they mean by “church?”

Most of us have assumptions in mind when we use the term “church.”  Some may think of local churches while others think of the universal church.  Some may think of denominations.  While most of us don’t define church as a building, we still tend to talk about “where we go to church” as if church is a location or event.  In the midst of the criticism of what is wrong with contemporary churches, there is a growing tendency to define church with the term “community.”  However, is it just an amorphous spiritual community?  What does it look like in local manifestations?  Does it have organization, membership, and leadership?  As you listen to people refer to church, consider from where are their definition or assumptions coming, particularly what parts of Scripture are being used and which parts are being neglected?

During the Exponential conference, follow our blog and Steve Kemp on Twitter for updates. Please leave your comments below and check back tomorrow for the next question in the series.

We’ve compiled 7 key questions for leaders to be considering about the ideas, topics, and discussions that will be taking place before, during, and after the Exponential church planting conference.  As you listen to speakers at Exponential (or elsewhere), ask yourself these questions:

1. What do they mean by “church?
2. How do they treat the Pastoral Epistles?
3. How do they picture Jesus?
4. Where do they focus on leadership development?
5. What do they mean by discipleship?
6. What is the author’s intention for the passage being cited?
7. What is the global significance of what is being said?

Leading up to Exponential 2011 on April 26-29, we will be expanding on one of these questions each day.  Even if you aren’t going to Exponential, we invite you to join in the conversation with us.

Ways to join the discussion:

Follow along here on the Antioch School blog.  Leave your comments and engage in the discussion!

Follow Steve Kemp on twitter for real-time updates during Exponential.

Rotating Feature Section

Instead of the old single image that we had on the center of our website, we’ve replaced it with a rotating section that will feature some important aspects of the Antioch School site, or bigger news items that we want to bring you up to speed on.

News Blog

Our news blog (that you’re currently reading) received a major facelift and we’ve listed along the left hand side of this page the ways that you can choose to subscribe and follow our content, including RSS, Facebook, and Twitter.

We also added a display of several of our recent news items to our homepage (see image).

Upcoming Events Calendar

A calendar of upcoming Antioch School activities has also been added to our homepage.  Use this list to stay on top of when and where opportunities come up for you or others in your network to take advantage of opportunities to attend training opportunities or connect with us in person in your area.  Registration links are provided below all events that require attendees to register in advance.

ePortfolio Access

Many students and faculty have requested that we add a link to the ePortfolio System to our website.  Now, on the left hand side menu of all pages you’ll find a button that links you directly to the ePortfolio.  We hope that this will provide many of you with more convenient access.

At Exponential 2011 we are focusing our message around two key ideas:

4 Ways to Equip Everyone in Your Church

These 4 programs form an integrated strategy (or allow you to use parts of your choosing), using BILD materials and Antioch School Degree Programs to help church leaders establish everyone in their faith and train existing and emerging leaders.

Learn More »

4 Ways to Earn Degrees and Credit

Through the Antioch School, these are the 4 options that are available to earn academic degrees and credit for learning that is taking place in, for, and by church leaders.

Learn More »

Connect With Us During Exponential

If you will be at Exponential 2011, please drop us a line via email.  We would love to have you stop by our booth and interact with us about the Antioch School and the programs mentioned above.  We are looking forward to the new connections that will be made at Exponential this year and how the Antioch School can play a role in accelerating the church-planting efforts of churches across North America.

If you will not be there, but are interested, follow the Antioch School blog and/or follow Steve Kemp on twitter for reflections during the conference.

See you there (or online)!

Antioch School Presentation @ RCC from BILD International on Vimeo.

Watch as Pastor Scott Treadway of Rancho Community Church in Temecula, CA interviews two members of their Antioch School Degree Program.

The Antioch School allowed his vision of the church being a training center that would prepare the next generation of church leaders for their church and a network of churches to be fulfilled more than 5 years ahead of his projections!

Their first cohort was a young group that will be the backbone of their church planting efforts. The second cohort (and more to come) are serving both emerging and existing leaders in the church, including elders and seminary graduates.

In our effort to enhance our service to partner churches, the Antioch School now offers 4 Ways to earn degrees and credit.

4 Ways to Earn Degrees and Credits:

• Start a Degree Program
• Start a Certificate of Ministry Program
• Earn Credit for Individual Courses
• Complete Your Degree

Launch Your Program This Fall

If you want to launch Antioch School degree programs this fall, but are not already certified to do so, you have several upcoming opportunities:

• Hartford, CT – August 16-18
• Ames, IA – September 13-15
• Seattle, WA    - September 27-29

If you are already certified (or cannot participate in a scheduled certification training), please call 515-292-9694 or email us to address how you can launch a program this fall.

eLuncheons, Webinars, and eTraining

Learn more about the Antioch School (or share it with others) by taking advantage of our daily eLuncheon introductions and weekly Webinar orientations.

• eLuncheon-a 40-minute multimedia conversation that explains the basic features of the Antioch School.
• Webinar-a 4-hour multimedia conversation that carefully explores the biblical and practical distinctives of the Antioch School.

Register for an eLuncheon or Webinar

We also offer ongoing training for our Certified Leaders and others using BILD resources.

• eTraining–September 7-8,  Old Testament Theology: The Law

Register for eTraining

Accreditation Announcement in Christianity Today

The accreditation of the Antioch School was announced in an ad on page 63 of the August 2010 issue of Christianity Today.

We were granted accreditation on June 4.  This means that we are the first truly church-based and competency-based institution to receive accreditation by an agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE).

Benefits of Accreditation:

• Third party assurance of the quality of the Antioch School. Although we are unique in many ways, we have been recognized for the quality of our programs and integrity of our operations.
• Transfer credit and recognition of degrees by other academic institutions has been streamlined.  Every school can decide for itself how it wants to recognize credit and degrees of other institutions.  However, most rely on a book called Directory of Higher Education Institutions published by CHEA.  The Antioch School will be listed in the next edition this fall.

The Accrediting Commission of DETC

The Antioch School is the first truly church-based and competency-based academic institution to receive accreditation by an agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and the U.S. Department of Education (USDE). We are very proud of this accomplishment because DETC does not grant accreditation quickly or easily. Our process took several years that included extensive Self-Evaluation Reports, a thorough Curriculum Review, an intense Site Visit by a six-member team, and specific Progress Reports.

Accreditation means that the quality of the Antioch School’s degree programs has been affirmed by a rigorous peer review process of a respected, independent agency. The Antioch School will be listed in the next edition of the Directory of Accredited Post-Secondary Institutions published by CHEA. This will greatly facilitate transfer of credit and acceptance of prerequisite degrees by other academic institutions.

However, DETC accreditation is just the most recent form of affirmation of the quality of Antioch School programs. We have already been endorsed by leaders of churches, church planting movements, and church networks, as well as other high profile ministry leaders.

Please rejoice with us in the news of this great achievement.

Ongoing Certification e-Training is a series of web-enabled conversations with Antioch School certified leaders about the design and use of core Leadership Series courses and the implementation of partner programs within the boundaries of the church-based paradigm. If you have a web-enabled computer, a mic-enabled headset, and availability between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. CST on the first Monday and Tuesday of any month, then you can participate in Ongoing Certification e-Training.

Beginning in December 2008, the following Ongoing Certification e-Training will be available to certified leaders:

• December: Pauline Epistles
• January: The Church Doing Theology in Culture (PTP-II)
• February: Essentials of Sound Doctrine
• March: The Church as Missions (PTP-III)
• April: Leaders and the Early Church
• May: The Church as a Hermeneutical Community (PTP-IV)
• June: Interpreting the Word I
• July: The Church as Christian Education (PTP-V)
• August: Theology in Culture
• September: The Law
• October: Theology in Civilization

Certified leaders can register for any Ongoing Certification e-Training through our WebEx web conferencing center. Each e-Training will be limited in number and limited to registrants who commit to both 4-hour sessions on Monday and Tuesday at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. CST. Each registrant will receive a set of PDF documents to read in preparation for the e-Training and will also be expected to acquire the actual course material in advance of sessions involving a Leadership Series course.

At the beginning of the e-Training, each registrant will be required to verify that their equipment is capable of seamless two-way voice communication. It is absolutely essential for each participant to use a fully functional headset, without exception! We recommend the Logitech Premium Notebook Headset or an equivalent.

For more information, please e-mail us or call our office at (515) 292-9694.

E-Luncheons are 40-minute online versions of what we do when we come to specific locations to introduce the Antioch School to groups, often during a luncheon. Sorry, but there is no food served at an e-luncheon. Register for an e-luncheon.

Webinars are 4 hour online versions of our more comprehensive Antioch School introductory seminars. Like the e-luncheons, webinars are interactive, using online video segments and live interaction with Antioch School staff. Register for a Webinar.

E-Workshops are 1 hour online events for leaders of Antioch School programs addressing issues of general importance, such as Student Finance (what do you do when someone says he wants to enroll in the Antioch School, but can’t afford it right now?). These include presentations by Antioch School staff, but also shared wisdom from partners with first-hand experience with Antioch School programs in their churches. E-Workshops are intended exclusively for certified leaders of Antioch School partners. If you are a certified leader and aren’t getting invitations or if you have suggestions for e-workshops that would serve you, please contact us.

On average, training with the Antioch School costs 80% less when compared with the cost of campus-based programs.

On average, training with the Antioch School costs 80% less when compared with the cost of campus-based programs.

Students in the Antioch School are not paying for ivy-covered walls on elaborate campuses or expensive faculty research unrelated to ministry. Much of the cost of education for Antioch School programs is built into its unique relationship with churches. Tuition primarily supports the mechanisms necessary to sustain assessment and validation of academic quality in order to ensure that Antioch School degrees are trustworthy. This includes costs associated with accreditation and other innovative assessment tools, such as the e-portfolio.

Further, Antioch School students don’t have to pay all their tuition up-front or at the beginning of each semester. Rather, they are able to pay $100/month for four years. If you don’t think you can afford the tuition, you may want to ask yourself the following questions:

• What is the real problem? Is it really a matter of finances or it financial priorities? Is it really that I’m fearful of the workload or academics? Am I really committed to church-based leadership development?
• How might I find the money? Have I let the need be known to family and friends, particularly those who are keen to fund ministries such as mission trips? Have I pursued opportunities with my employer or in my community?
• How could my church help? Do they know about my situation? Are they making it a matter of prayer? Are there funds in the church budget or privately with church members that could be used as a loan to get started?