Thriving in Ministry

Research has shown that our pastors of today are more diverse than ever before, and yet with that comes a more complex array of challenges facing those in ministry. The multi-faceted challenges facing today’s pastors often lead to feelings of isolation, stress, being overwhelmed, and being personally depleted.

Funded by a $1M grant from the Lilly Endowment, North Park Theological Seminary is developing programs to serve our students and ECC pastors to help address these challenges through three crucial aspects: Thriving Spiritually, Thriving Prophetically, and Thriving Vocationally.

Thriving Spiritually

We are strengthening our Spiritual Direction program through providing scholarships to individuals in need of assistance with the goal of making the program more diverse. We are also developing continuing education opportunities for trained Spiritual Directors.

Thriving Prophetically

We are seeking to connect individuals who are working in justice-related areas of ministry and equipping them through peer-led, group mentoring cohorts. Another initiative of Thriving Prophetically is to further develop the “Seminary in Prison” model by creating cohorts of free and incarcerated students to learn from each other and alongside each other.

Thriving Vocationally

We are developing peer-led, group mentoring cohorts around the country for women currently serving in ministry. Our goal is to bring women clergy together from different ministry settings to help them equip and resource each other in their ministry areas.

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Meet Our Team

David Kersten

Grant Director,
Vice President for Church Relations and Dean of the Seminary

More About David

Ellen Kogstad

Oversees Thriving Spiritually Programs,
Director of the Center for Spiritual Direction

More About Ellen

Michelle Clifton-Soderstrom

Oversees Thriving Prophetically Programs,
Professor of Theology and Ethics

More About Michelle

Deb Auger

Oversees Thriving Vocationally Programs,
Dean of Students and Community Life, Assoc. Professor of Ministry

More About Deb

Education encompasses everything from study of the Bible, theology, history, and ministry to mastery of the tools and understanding vocational and lay ministers need to be competent across cultural, economic, geographic, and gender boundaries.

Our Admissions Office will be glad to work with you personally to complete your application, arrange a campus visit, and estimate your costs. If you think the Seminary might be right for you, we urge you to get in touch. We will be glad to help you every step of the way.

North Park Theological Seminary offers 4 traditional degrees, 6 dual-degree combinations with Business and Nonprofit Management, and 8 graduate certificate programs. We interweave theology, bible, ministry, spiritual formation, and diversity courses into each degree.

Field Education is a companion to classroom work at North Park Theological Seminary, that helps develop: Practical individual preparation for ministry Interpersonal and communication skills in a ministry context.

At North Park Theological Seminary, we prepare you to answer your call to ministry through our academic curriculum and the spiritual and practical formation that comes with participating in the community here.

North Park Theological Seminary offers academic and formational events throughout the year, providing students with access to prominent scholarship, relevant conversations, and a full community experience.

Thriving in Ministry