The CALLED program is designed to assist Seventh Day Baptist churches in developing the leadership abilities of their members. To accomplish this purpose, the basic modules provide a broad background for local church lay leadership development. The first five modules were developed by Rodney L. Henry while he served as Dean of the Seventh Day Baptist School of Ministry. The sixth module emphasizing the unique teaching function of the lay leader was developed by Dr. Ernest K. Bee, Jr. while he served as the Executive Director of the Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education.The modules focus upon home study guided by a workbook which contains daily learning goals, reading assignments from the textbooks and questions for the student’s written assignments. The cost of the textbooks will be billed to the local church. Workbooks, evaluation forms and certificates will be provided by the Board of Christian Education.The student is asked to spend five hours each week in home study. Each module is composed of six weeks of home study, a weekly review meeting with the pastor and a final two-hour seminar.
Module Description
- Introduction to Seventh Day Baptist Church Life – An understanding of the purpose and organization of Seventh Day Baptists as the people of God and the body of Christian examination of our covenant with God and each other. Texts for the module are:
- The Emerging Seventh Day Baptist Church by Rodney L. Henry;
- A Manual of Procedures for Seventh Day Baptist Churches-Section H by Rodney L. Henry;
- Baptism: Ordination to Christian Vocation by Ernest K. Bee, Jr.;
- and The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer.
- Seventh Day Baptist Distinctives – This module traces the Biblical and theological themes which formed Seventh Day Baptists; the historical rationale for our existence as a distinct people of God, with particular emphasis on the Sabbath as a sign of our covenant; and the development of our General Conference and its agencies. Texts for this study include:
- Conscience Taken Captive by Don A. Sanford;
- Greater Than Its Parts by Don A. Sanford;
- The Sabbath: Symbol of Creation and Re-Creation by Herbert E. Saunders;
- and The Sabbath: God’s Creation for Our Benefit by Rodney L. Henry.
- Practical Theology and Ministry – This course is a study of the implications of the Christian Faith as present in the Biblical doctrines and daily witness and ministry of the Christian. Texts for this module include:
- Theology for Ordinary People by Bruce L. Shelley;
- Tools for Active Christians by Herb Miller;
- and The Salvation Message by Rodney L. Henry.
- Biblical Interpretation – This module is foundational to the student’s development as a Christian leader. This challenging experience focuses on the prospective leader as an interpreter of Scripture. Stress is laid on how to interpret narrative (story) and discourse (instruction, description or explanation) texts of the Bible. The text is:
- Bible Interpretation by Rodney L. Henry.
- Small Group Bible Study – This module aims to give the lay leader an understanding of principles for leading small group Bible studies. The lay leader will review the dynamics of a small group and sample skills and methods associated with being an effective Bible study group leader. The texts for this module are:
- How to Lead Small Groups by Neal F. McBride;
- and Small Group Bible Study by Rodney L. Henry.
- Teaching in the Church – This six-week module focuses on a Biblical theology for teaching and learning in the church. The goal is to help the lay leader to think through the Biblical clues and keys to know, understand and practice our Christian faith. The student will develop an understanding of the shared concept of leadership-Christ’s model. The texts for this study are:
- Christian Education in the Small Church by Donald L. Griggs and Judy McKay Walther;
- Seventh Day Baptist Youth Fellowship Handbook by Matthew G. Olson;
- and The Teaching Leader by Ernest K. Bee, Jr.
Eligibility and Application
The applicant must:
- Be a member in good standing of a recognized Seventh Day Baptist Church.
- Be at least 19 years old.
- Complete the Enrollment Form, obtained from his/her pastor.
- Complete the 6 six-week modules.
The local church pastor must:
- Serve as the training administrator.
- Sign and mail the Enrollment Form to the Board of Christian Education.
- Serve as or oversee a church member serving as the module teacher.
- Certify the student’s completion of each module to the Board of Christian Education.
Required Module Sequence:
- Introduction to Seventh Day Baptist Church Life
- Seventh Day Baptist Distinctives
- Practical Theology and Ministry
- Biblical Interpretation
- Small Group Bible Study
- Teaching in the Church