7 Christian Leadership Courses to Take in 2024
When I first stepped into church leadership, I often felt like I was learning everything the hard way. If you’re like me, navigating leadership can feel overwhelming at times. Not having access to church leadership courses can make things tougher:
- You find yourself constantly putting out fires instead of leading with vision.
- You struggle with burnout because you're trying to manage everything on your own.
- You miss out on developing the skills to guide your team effectively.
These challenges crop up when we don't invest in our own leadership growth. I experienced these issues because I didn’t have the right training and support in place.
That’s why I’ve put together this list of church leadership courses—to help you grow as a leader, avoid burnout, and lead your church more effectively. Here's a breakdown of some of the best options available and how they can benefit you.
Best Christian Leadership Courses Shortlist
Here's a shortlist of the best Christian leadership courses I recommend for 2024 that are worth your time:
- Christian Leadership: Discipleship, Coaching, and Mentoring (Udemy)
- Unity Church: Christian Leadership Academy (Udemy)
- Pastoral Care and Leadership (Biblical Training)
- Graduate Certificate in Christian Leadership (Liberty University)
- Kingdom Leadership (Udemy)
- Church Leadership 101 (Udemy)
- Biblical Leadership: What Makes Great Leaders Great (Udemy)
Find more details about each course below.
Overview Of The Best Christian Leadership Courses
1. Christian Leadership: Discipleship, Coaching, and Mentoring (Udemy)
This course by Stan Belyshev focuses on developing leadership skills through discipleship, coaching, and mentoring in the context of following God. It aims to equip leaders with practical tools and strategies rooted in the teachings of the Bible and Christ. Participants who enroll will also engage in hands-on activities designed to apply these principles in real-life leadership situations.
- Who It’s For: Aspiring and current Christian leaders
- Topics Covered:
- Are leaders born?
- The heart of a leader
- Leadership characteristics and qualities
- It all starts at the cross
- Mentoring Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Online Exam Required? No
- Duration: 5 hours and 3 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 5 hours and 3 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Udemy
2. Unity Church: Christian Leadership Academy (Udemy)
David Youngblood and Patrick Bentley offer this leadership training course to provide a comprehensive understanding of Christian leadership within the Unity Church framework. The course focuses on equipping leaders with core leadership principles while integrating decision-making and spiritual practices unique to the Unity tradition, drawing insights from the New Testament.
- Who It’s For: Unity Church members and leaders
- Topics Covered:
- Unity Church principles
- Leadership skills
- Community building
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 31 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 31 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Udemy
3. Pastoral Care and Leadership (Biblical Training)
This online course from Biblical Training covers essential aspects of pastoral care and leadership, focusing on practical and theological foundations. It also provides valuable insights into biblical interpretation, managing church dynamics, and guiding spiritual growth within a local church, with considerations for those pursuing ordination.
- Who It’s For: Pastors and church leaders
- Topics Covered:
- Introduction to pastoral care and leadership
- Pastoral care and caring for yourself
- Pastoral care and connecting with people
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 17 hours and 2 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: Self-paced
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Biblical Training
4. Graduate Certificate in Christian Leadership (Liberty University)
Liberty University offers this graduate certificate program, which can also be a stepping stone toward a master’s degree, to provide advanced education in Christian leadership, integrating academic and practical training centered on the teachings of Jesus Christ. This 100% online program can be completed in just one semester, focusing on biblical leadership principles, team building, and conflict resolution while exploring the traits and habits of history’s greatest leaders.
- Who It’s For: Graduate students and professionals
- Topics Covered:
- Advanced leadership theories
- Practical ministry skills
- Biblical studies
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Both
- Exam Required? Yes
- Duration: 8 weeks
- Eligibility Requirements:
- A bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 2.0
- Price: $50 application fee
- Take The Course: Liberty University
5. Kingdom Leadership (Udemy)
Wayne Back's leadership program focuses on leadership principles from a Kingdom perspective, guiding church and business leaders in bringing the Kingdom of Heaven through their work. This ministry training course challenges traditional Christian leadership assumptions and offers a fresh approach to align leadership with the mission of releasing Heaven on Earth in their communities and organizations.
The course also integrates practical aspects of bible study and evangelism, equipping leaders to effectively minister in their respective fields.
- Who It’s For: Christian leaders and influencers
- Topics Covered:
- Kingdom principles
- Leadership development
- Community influence
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 2 hours and 32 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 2 hours and 32 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $9.99 (discounted)
- Take The Course: Udemy
6. Church Leadership 101 (Udemy)
Bob Whitesel PhD offers this introductory course on church leadership, covering fundamental principles and practices for effective church management. The course also emphasizes strategic planning and leadership skills tailored to the unique challenges of church environments.
- Who It’s For: New and aspiring church leaders
- Topics Covered:
- Church management
- Leadership principles
- Practical strategies
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour and 16 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour and 16 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: $9.99 (discounted)
- Take The Course: Udemy
7. Biblical Leadership: What Makes Great Leaders Great (Udemy)
Bob Whitesel PhD offers this introductory course on church leadership, covering fundamental principles and practices for effective church management with a biblical foundation. The course also emphasizes strategic planning and leadership skills tailored to the unique challenges of church environments, while integrating a Christian ministry worldview. This course provides a strong foundation for those looking to lead with a clear and effective biblical approach in their ministry.
- Who It’s For: Christian leaders and students
- Topics Covered:
- Biblical leadership examples
- Leadership qualities
- Practical insights
- Online, In-Person, or Both? Online
- Exam Required? No
- Duration: 1 hour and 6 minutes
- How Many Hours Of Instruction: 1 hour and 6 minutes
- Eligibility Requirements: None
- Price: Free
- Take The Course: Udemy
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