The Centre for Christian Studies offers courses and circles for students in our Diploma (Diaconal Ministries) and Certificate programs, as well as for Continuing Studies students. Some courses and circles have prerequisites.  Visit the Tuition page for course and circle fees, and the Admissions page to apply for the Diaconal Ministries or Continuing Studies program.  (If you’ve already been accepted into a program, you can register for specific courses here.)

Circles and Courses for 2024-2025

Course and Circle Descriptions

• LEADERSHIP and DISCERNMENT COURSES
• THEME LEARNING CIRCLES
  • SPIRITUAL CARE CIRCLES
  • SOCIAL JUSTICE CIRCLES
  • CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & WORSHIP CIRCLES
• PRAXIS
• FIELD EDUCATION
• ACADEMIC COURSES (Externals)
• INTEGRATION CIRCLES

LEADERSHIP and DISCERNMENT COURSES

Explore your calling, develop your leadership skills, and discover the meaning of “learning-in-community.”

	LoP Learning on Purpose – a 2-week introduction to learning in community, self-awareness, group skills, conflict, making change, and approaches to theology, scripture, pastoral care, education, worship, and social justice.
	MWE Ministry of Word and Example – a 6-session exploration of diakonia in the Anglican tradition.

THEME LEARNING CIRCLES

Theme Learning Circles are 6-day in-person intensives (or 8-10 week online courses), exploring various themes in ministry and faith-based leadership and action.  Learning Circles include readings, assignments, and group work.  Two in-person Learning Circles are offered back-to-back in the fall, and two back-to-back in the spring.

SPIRITUAL CARE CIRCLES

	SC01 Ministry as Listening – ministry of presence, pastoral visiting, prayer, counseling and spiritual direction, pastoral ethics and boundaries.
	SC02 Grief and Loss – pastoral support to the dying and those they leave behind, end of life issues, funerals, and questions of afterlife.
	SC03 Relationships – intimate and familial relationships, sexuality and gender, family systems, weddings, covenants, relationship break-ups, and the role of minister as support.
	SC04 Health, Pain, & Trauma – mental health, chronic pain, stress, depression, suicide, abuse, trauma, and healing.
	SC05 Spiritual Practice – history and diversity of Christian spiritual practices, private devotion and communal spirituality, discipleship, companioning.

SOCIAL JUSTICE CIRCLES

	SJ01 Ministry as Community-Building – healthy community, issues of safety and comfort, advocacy, congregational systems, and theology of the reign of God.
	SJ02 Power and Privilege –social location, individual and systemic power, social analysis, and the role of the prophet.
	SJ03 Oppression and Resistance – systems of oppressions (racism, sexism, heterosexism, colonialism, etc.), models of change, and theologies of resistance (liberation theology, feminist theology, queer theology, etc.)
	SJ04 Eco-Justice – environmental concerns, climate change, water and food security, population displacement, and the theology of creation.
	SJ05 Right Relations – the relationship of indigenous and settler people in Canada, treaty as covenant, truth and reconciliation, indigenous spiritualities, land, and the theology of mission.

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION & WORSHIP CIRCLES

	EW01 Ministry as Storytelling – story in preaching and teaching, scripture as narrative, and the arts in ministry.
	EW02 Ages and Stages – ministry with various age groups, development theory, curriculum, youth ministry, children’s ministry, adult education, ministry with seniors, and intergenerational ministry.
	EW03 Living Scripture – practical bible study, understanding and interpreting the bible in context, and the theology of revelation.
	EW04 Culture and Identity – exploring race and culture, interfaith and ecumenical connections, and intersectionality.
	EW05 Worship – liturgy planning and worship leadership, sacraments, and special services.

PRAXIS

What is “praxis?”  It’s action combined with reflection, and it’s how experiential learning happens.  Diaconal ministry students do Diaconal Praxis for every year they are active in the diploma program.

Praxis Year – the ongoing learning community for all Centre for Christian Studies diaconal ministry students across the country. Students set their own learning goals and plans for the year in consultation with program staff. Throughout the year reflection papers ask students to make connections between what they are learning (in learning circles, external, elsewhere) and their experience. Each student connects with a learning partner, and with a Diaconal Mentor, with whom they explore questions of ministry identity and diaconal perspective.

FIELD EDUCATION

Practical field experience and engagement with the world allows Diploma and Certificate students to put theory into practice, and provides contextual grounding for Learning Circles and Academic courses.

Field Placement 1, 2, and 3  – an 8 month practical learning experience.  Students arrange their own field placement (approved by CCS staff) and practice their ministry skills for 330 hours over the course of 32 weeks (approx. 10 to 12 hours per week). Students meet regularly with on-site learning facilitators for guidance and advice, and with local committees for support.  (Field placements can be combined with a paid ministry positions provided clear distinctions can be established between a student’s learning goals and their professional obligations.)

GPE Global Perspectives Experience – a 10-14 day study trip to another part of the world with a recognized partner organization.  The GPE provides an opportunity to step outside of one’s comfort zone, make theological, social, political, and economic connections between Canadian and global contexts, and deepen one’s understanding of accompaniment and solidarity.  The trip is preceded by orientation and preparatory reflection, and followed by intentional integration and action.

ACADEMIC COURSES (Externals)

Students in the Diaconal Ministries program are required to take 8 academic courses in theology, Biblical studies, church history, and ethics.  These courses are often referred to as “externals”, as they are not taken at the Centre for Christian Studies but at a recognized theological education institution outside of the CCS. (For more information and to see a list of recognized institutions, visit the External Course page.)  The 8 required academic courses are:

• Theology (2) – an introductory theology course and a course on a more specific theological focus (eg. Christology, feminist theology, contemporary indigenous theologians, etc.)
• Christian Scriptures (2) – an introductory Christian Scriptures or New Testament course and a course on a more specific focus (eg. the Gospel of Mark, images of nature in Revelations, etc.)
• Hebrew Scriptures (2) – an introductory Hebrew Bible or Old Testament course and a course on a more specific focus (eg. women in the Hebrew Bible, Exodus, etc.)
• Church History (1) – a course providing an overview of Christian church history.
• Christian Ethics (1) – a course providing an overview of ethical models and methodologies in the Christian tradition.

INTEGRATION YEAR CIRCLES

In the final year of their diploma program, diaconal students take an integrating year to pull together all they’ve learned and prepare for a life of leadership in the church and the world.  (Integration Circles I, II, and III are taken in the same school year.)

• IY1 Integration I – theology, personal faith statements and official creeds, diaconal/vocational/ministry identity.
• IY2 Integration II – a 6-session online connection focusing on denominational identity and polity.
• IY3 Integration III – a 6-day circle focusing on preparation for active ministry.

MINI-COURSES

Mini-courses are short, self-directed online courses focusing on some of the tools, skills, and ideas that are foundational to the Centre for Christian Studies’ education model.  These non-credit courses can be taken as a refresher for CCS students, or as a “taste” of what CCS offers for the general public. Contact the registrar directly for more information.

• The CCS Action-Reflection Spiral – Learn to use this tool for understanding and transformation.
• Giving and Receiving Feedback – Tips for offering encouragement and challenge without alienating people, and accepting comments without being defensive.
• The Alumni Reading Circle – A special online community for our alumni and diaconal mentors, with access to all the readings assigned to current students and a forum for discussion and sharing of resources.

COST

How much does a course or learning circle cost?  Check out the Tuition page.

PREREQUISITES

Course and Circle FAQ

How much do Courses or Circles cost?  Check out the Tuition page.  Tuition costs don’t include travel or accommodations.

Where do learning circles take place?  Most in-person learning circles take place in Winnipeg.  The Learning on Purpose course often moves around the country.

Do I have to take a Praxis Year every year?  If you’re in the Diaconal Ministries program, yes, you should do the praxis component every year.  It’s how you develop the practice of reflecting on and integrating your experience, regardless of whether that experience is attending learning circles, doing a field placement, taking academic courses, or just living your life as a diaconal student.  If you don’t want to or are unable to do the praxis component, you could consider becoming Inactive.

What does Inactive status mean?  Sometimes life gets in the way of your being able to be a student.  “Inactive” means you’re taking a break from being a CCS student for awhile – to look after your health, care for a loved one, travel, work, whatever – and you plan on coming back to your studies when you’re done.  After more than 3 Inactive years in a row, we’ll consider you withdrawn from your program and you’ll have to reapply.

What would a “full” year of the diaconal program include?  A typical full year would be made up of: Diaconal Praxis, a Field Placement, 4 theme learning circles (2 in the fall, 2 in the spring), and maybe a couple of Academic external courses.  An Integrating Year would be made up of: Diaconal Praxis, and 3 Integration Circles.  (Global Perspectives is also usually considered part of the Integrating Year, though one’s actual trip might have occurred earlier.)

Is there a schedule of courses and  learning circles for the years to come?  There is a tentative schedule. Generally, Praxis components and Field Placements will run from September to May each year.  Integration 1 learning circles will be in September each year, Integration 2 will be online and run between October and the Integration 3 circle, and Integration 3 will be in March or April, depending on when Easter falls in a given year.  Two theme learning circles will usually be offered in October and two in March or April (again, depending on Easter and the Integration 3 timing).  Two theme learning circles will be offered online during a year.  The tentative rotation of Theme learning circles looks like: