CBC Leadership Development - Equipping Aspiring Men

For all the qualifications applied by the Apostle Paul to the office of elder (1 Tim. 3:1-13), the first and arguably most overlooked is aspiration, or desire: “The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (v. 1).

Our aim is to cultivate a congregational culture in which it is normal and good for all kinds of men to desire spiritual leadership. Yet, bare aspiration is not enough. Scripture likewise teaches that an overseer must be above reproach in his character, spiritually mature, a leader in his home, able to teach the Christian faith, and a willing shepherd.

The CBC Leadership Development Program aims to guide aspiring men from assessment to affirmation with a focus on confessional study and pastoral training.

Designed for working men with families, the program is broken up into two main parts: 

  • Education: The Education portion of this program lasts for 9-12 months and aims to build a strong confessional foundation. We envision future deacons and “gifted brothers” emerging from this particular stage.
  • Participation: Some men may demonstrate the aspiration and gifting for the office of elder and continue to the latter stage for another 6-12 months for further, pastoral development.

No man-made program ultimately creates leaders. God does. While not every man may be gifted to serve the church as an elder, every willing man can grow in godly influence and ministerial competency. We pray God is pleased to use this program to create a clear path for aspiring men to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ and be equipped for a lifetime of ministry in Christ’s church. May our Lord be pleased to bless it to that end!

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Getting Started:

  • Men who are interested in the Pastoral Cohort must make their intentions clear by taking the “Scripture Knowledge Test” and emailing it to Pastor Jeff.
  • Following this test, each man will meet with Pastor Jeff to assess his fit for the upcoming Cohort year. Some will be ready. Others may require more time to build their biblical foundations and/or enter a season of life more conducive to intense study.

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Deadline to Apply for the 2026-2027 Cohort: May 1st

 

To view the whole leadership development packet, click here.