Your congregation has a stake in your seminaries

You may be getting along just fine right now ... but where will your next pastor come from? Who will lead the church in ten years? 20 years?

Tomorrow's leaders need your prayers and support today, along with your encouragement to attend the PC(USA) seminary that will provide the educational foundation they need to develop Christian disciples among our children, grandchildren and future generations.

Help equip the saints

It takes seminaries and churches together to "equip the saints for the work of ministry." Seminaries can't grow leaders by themseves. Leadership development requires a congregation-seminary partnership that begins in the parish with meaningful worship, mission trips, small groups, youth programs — and more. It continues as the congregation nurtures one of its own who identifies a call to ministry. While students are in seminary, congregations offer prayer, encouragement and on-site opportunities for service and experiential learning. As seminary graduates become pastors, they count on their congregations for greater understanding of faith, hope, peace, justice and love.

Lift up theological education in your congregation

Each year, a Sunday in September is designated for emphasis on theological education in PC(USA) congregations. Our liturgical resources can be used on that Sunday or at any other time that your congregation celebrates the teaching ministry of Presbyterian seminaries. Bulletin inserts, bookmarks and other free resources related to theological education are also available to help educate your congregation.

Need assistance? Ask the experts

Find your presbytery's Theological Education Fund network representative. The TEF Network is a group of more than 150 Presbyterian volunteers who work with local congregations, presbyteries and synods to raise awareness of theological education, your Presbyterian seminaries and the TEF.

Support your seminaries through the 1% Plan

The Theological Education Fund (1% Plan) calls for each congregation to make a voluntary contribution of 1 percent of their local operating budget to fund PC(USA) seminaries. Read more about how your congregation can support your seminaries.

Celebrate Theological Education Emphasis Sunday

Where would we be without our seminaries?

Paul asked the Corinthian Church, “If all were a single member, where would the body be?” (1 Cor. 12:19) Where would the body be if we were only an ear or only a mouth or only and eye? Where would the body be if we were congregations without seminaries or seminaries without congregations? The body and its members are interrelated.

Theological Education Emphasis Sunday is an invitation to you and your congregation to pray for and celebrate the gift of our seminaries. The Committee on Theological Education encourages you to embrace this opportunity and to use the new resources created by David Gambrell, Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology and Worship. Lectionary and non-lectionary based materials are available. These each include responsive prayers, worship ideas and hymn suggestions. We encourage you to lead portions of the worship service from the baptismal font and table.

If you need more assistance please contact the Office of Theological Education at (888) 728-7228 x5359 or send an email .

Lead a service

Check out our theological education liturgy, suitable for use any Sunday of the year.

Download seminary story bulletin inserts

After finishing his bachelor's degree in health organizational management at Texas Tech, David Lee Hulsey started graduate school. But he knew he was supposed to be somewhere else ....

What do poongmul (Korean drumming), knitting, karaoke, potlucks, dancing and Pentecostal worship have in common? They're part of the multifaith, multicultural formational experience at McCormick Theological Seminary ....

Faith and civil rights are in Andrew Black's blood. So it's only natural that he would end up at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. There he enrolled in the rigorous dual-degree program in law and ministry, leading to an M.Div./ J.D. from the seminary and the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville.

It could have been Sunday school, Bible study or prayer services. Or it may have been the intercessory prayer ministry or young women’s auxiliary missionary ministry. But the more Erika Rembert joined in these faith-filled activities, the more she discerned “the inner call of God to ministry.”

Order informative theological education resources

Call PDS at (800) 524-2612 or order the following items online:

• Bookmarks (PDS #70-950-02-001)
• Grow Leaders bulletin inserts (PDS #70-950-04-001)
• Our Presbyterian Seminaries at a Glance (PDS #70-950-02-007)
• Faithful to God’s Call (PDS #72-215-04-002)