Table 8. Capitol Hill Pastoral Internship summary
Category Value or Practice
Program Values
Creating a culture of discipling and leadership development.
Emphasis on gospel and Word-centeredness.
Emphasis on togetherness as interns are with everyone during Wednesday study, Sunday nights, Sunday morning service, and staff meetings.
Overall program emphasis is on convictions, developing “robust ecclesiology,” and discussing its practical outworking in a local church.
Convictions
Developing convictions in ecclesiology—reading, writing, discussing, explaining, observing, “ecclesiological boot camp”
Observe how ecclesiological and theological beliefs are implemented in the church and pastoral ministry.
Character
Emphasis on relationships–meet with pastors, members, and a staff partner. Develop strong relationships among the interns.
Observe the pastors/elders and learn about their character qualities as they shepherd.
Develop spiritual disciplines and character by being a fully-invested member of the church.
Competency Observation and learning about all facets of the church led to growth in competency.
Administration duties and Sunday morning serving.
connect, and contribute.74 To accomplish their vision and supply leaders for the growing network of churches, Cornerstone started the Cornerstone School of Theology (CST) in 2009. As the equipping arm of Cornerstone, CST “combines the vitality and experience of a thriving church with the academic rigors of accredited theological training.”75 Main equipping contexts through CST include courses, summit forums, and cohort learning.
The CST offers internships, residencies, and an accredited degree track for those who desire to launch into vocational ministry. The residency program accomplishes much of the pastoral training within CST. Designed as a two-year equipping experience, the residency program trains leaders who will plant churches and fill pastoral openings in Salt Network churches. The three emphases of the residency training are “(1) growing in knowledge, (2) developing ministry skills/competency, and (3) maturing in character.”76 These three emphases are accomplished as residents take fifteen accredited Masters of Arts classes, gain ministry experience opportunities through staff positions, and receive character development coaching by a mature leader. The CST employs an institute approach as pastors are trained in a group and participate in a greater leadership development effort at a large church.
Program values. Important values found in the data are academic rigor coupled with practical ministry experience; watching one’s life and doctrine closely; developing next generation leaders; and comprehensive pastoral training by developing knowledge, skills, and character. The CST values providing strong academics intertwined with ministry practice. Fifteen CST master’s level courses are offered throughout a two-year span. Each
74Cornerstone has planted seven children church plants and three grandchildren church plants.
The values are explained at Cornerstone Church, “Vision.”
75Cornerstone Church, “About,” accessed August 12, 2017, https://cornerstonelife.com/cst/
about/.
of these classes contain elements of application to pastoral ministry such as application projects, ministry integration papers, supervised ministry application, and practical discipleship and teaching elements. The program director, leaders, and program
descriptions all explain the value from 1 Timothy 4:12 of watching both life and doctrine.
The CST emphasizes developing sound doctrine and teaching through study and classes.
Sound theology gained in class work is coupled with watching one’s lifestyle through developing character of integrity.77 The CST’ focus on developing next generation leaders is evident in the interviews, in the program documents, and in talking with congregants.
This value of investing in young leaders, championed by the CST, has permeated the entire church. The program emphasizes growing balanced pastors in head (knowledge), heart (character), and hands (skills). The CST’s desire to develop holistic leaders is explained in a recent graduate’s reflection: “The CST was a great way for me to develop in character, time management, and theology. The direct and indirect lessons that I learned during this season of life are ones that I continue to pass on to those I am
discipling.”78 The following section describes how CST develops trainees in convictions, character, and competency.
Convictions. Developing biblical and theological convictions is a major strength of the CST program.79 Participants study systematic theology, the Bible, ecclesiology, and biblical Christian leadership. The CST residents take fifteen master’s courses at
Cornerstone. In conjunction with their partnership with Midwestern Baptist Theological
77The program director explains, “The dual foci of life and teaching are, for the Christian leader, inextricably connected” therefore the CST training model focuses “on both exemplary character (life) and theological precision (teaching),” Dodge, “Developing a New Theological Training,” 27.
78Cornerstone Church, “2017 CST Graduates,” accessed May 4, 2017, https://cornerstonelife.com/2017/cstgratuates/.
79Developing biblical and theological convictions is the most emphasized practice of CST with 73 occurrences in the data (second place is supervised ministry with 33 occurrences).
Seminary (MBTS), CST offers a fully accredited degree through the Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (MATS) program.80 This strong partnership between the seminary and a local church allows for CST to offer MBTS classes on site and through hybrid course delivery. Many of the course professors also serve as Cornerstone pastors and church leaders. The courses contain cohort assignments, discussions, group projects, tests, lectures, papers, and reading. As a result of these elements, participants develop robust theology and Bible knowledge within their home church community. One recent residency program graduate articulates the value of learning theology in community, explaining that the program professors have
helped me shape my theological perspective, and it is neat that I got to do that in the context of a local church while serving in the church. . . . I hope that I can continue to convey the value of guarding sound theological doctrine to every person I invest in, based on the examples that have been set before me.81
In addition to Bible and theology courses, participants develop a well-rounded set of convictions needed for pastoral ministry through courses such as apologetics, Christian ethics, church history, and supervised practicum classes in leadership, evangelism and discipleship, and teaching and preaching. One resident explains his experience
developing important topical convictions through CST: “Thinking through big issues like abortion, euthanasia, homosexuality and just getting to develop a biblical view on those topics was really impactful” (I-8). Residents also engage in topical learning through participation in church-wide summits, weekend forum workshops available to all
Cornerstone attendees. Summit topics have included leadership, ecclesiology, apologetics, theology proper, marriage, and world religions.
80Details of the Cornerstone MBTS partnership program can be found on the MBTS website at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, “Ames Extension (MTS).” The CST/MBTS program classes include Theology I, II; Hermeneutics; Missiology; Biblical Church Leadership; OT I, II; NT I, II;
Apologetics, Christian Ethics, Church History, Leadership Practicum, Church Evangelism and Discipleship Practicum, and Teaching Practicum.
Central to the convictional development of CST residents are the cohort learning experiences. Many of the courses integrate cohort assignments by meeting six times for two-hour discussions. Students are divided into cohorts to develop relationships, discuss class topics, and wrestle with ideas presented in the lectures. During these cohort meetings, participants engage in Socratic discussions, summarize the reading assignments, discuss lingering questions, articulate disagreements with the textbook authors, present papers, and defend their positions. One participant explains the cohort assignment process:
This last week we met to talk about our position on the end times. We had done all the reading, written out a personal position on the end times, presented it to the other members of the cohort, and then argued with one another for an hour and it was great . . . then after the cohort you submit the pre-version and any changes after the cohort. . . . So I literally wrote one position of the views of the end times and then after my cohort I wrote a completely different position after talking with the members of my cohort (I-8).
These cohort learning experiences are a consistent highlight among students and greatly aid in the development of biblical and topical convictions.
Character. Not only does CST take theology seriously, but it is also committed to the character development of its trainees. Character growth in CST entails elements of spiritual formation and personal development. First, spiritual formation is accomplished first through mentoring. Residents are mentored by a senior-level pastor for ongoing character and spiritual formation. Mentors meet consistently with residents to talk about character growth areas, accountability questions, and spiritual disciplines. These mentors gain a “360 degree observation” of the life and ministry of the residents so they can help them maintain a balance of “ministry, theology, and family” (I-5). Second, residents rub shoulders at church with many older, godly people who exemplify biblical character and spiritual maturity. Third, opportunities to learn and practice spiritual disciplines arise from the practicum class assignments and staff retreats. For example, one assignment is to read Richard Foster’s Celebration of Discipline and pick a discipline to practice during eight hours of solitude. One participant picked fasting to focus on, “which I had avoided
my entire life, but it was really positive. It was really good” (I-7). Fourth, residents become active members in a weekly connection group where other members of the church “care for their soul” (I-5). Fifth, trainees experience the spiritual benefits of active membership at Cornerstone through worship, equipping classes, outreach, and fellowship meetings.
One resident summarized, “CST has not only made me a better minister of God’s Word but an overall better man of God.”82
Personal development through CST takes on several forms. Because the trainees experience the rigors of a master’s degree coupled with ministry time requirements, they must learn how to prioritize a ministry schedule and manage tasks during busy seasons.
The CST leaders also take time to invest in the trainee’s development as persons, not just ministry workers or students. The program leaders periodically meet with the group to develop friendships and talk about work-life balance. One recent graduate’s favorite memory of the program was going over to the program director’s house: “Back porch, sunlight shining through the windows, scolding hot bitter coffee, nothing made me feel more valuable than having my pastor/professor check in on us residents and ask us questions that revealed how valuable we were to this church movement.”83 Lastly, personal development is accomplished through cohort relationships. Relationships formed among the cohort of residents enhance the lives of each participant. Residents serve together, wrestle with class material together, and spend time with one another. Positive cohort relationships were mentioned by many graduates and interviewees as a highlight of the program.84
82Cornerstone Church, “2017 CST Graduates.”
83Ibid.
84Ibid. After I spent time with one of the resident cohorts, it was clear that strong relational bonds had formed that will last far beyond the coursework.
Competency. According to the program director, a goal of CST is to develop a
“full-orbed, complete, and readied pastor” (I-5). Much of this goal is accomplished through learning and applying pastoral ministry skills. Participants take three practicum classes that contain ministry projects and supervised mentoring toward learning and practicing pastoral skills: leadership, preaching/teaching, and evangelism/discipleship. Trainees debrief ministry projects and field experiences with their supervisor. The course on biblical church leadership also prepares residents for pastoral ministry through reading, writing, and ministry application assignments. Program participants also learn competencies as they see the inner workings of a local church through consistent observation of church meetings and participation in staff meetings.
Residents receive significant supervision over their ministry assignments as part of the CST program. Each resident is a staff member of Cornerstone and assigned to an area of emphasis such as children’s ministry, youth group, college ministry, regional/
global outreach, and worship and arts ministry. Participants average 25-35 hours per week of practicing ministry skills as they plan, teach, preach, mentor, and serve.
Opportunities abound for trainees to disciple those in their ministries. Some experienced CST members become cohort coaches to serve within the program. The preaching/teaching practicum course particularly aids in the development of skills related to communicating the Word. Students read books on preaching, study passages, craft sermons, practice them together, preach or teach in a ministry setting, and participate in critique and debrief.
Student sermons are evaluated in areas such as structure, main idea, explanation of text, illustration, applications, gestures, and oral clarity. One interviewee said he “used CST class material directly into his student leader discipleship group” (I-6). He also learned important ministry skills while serving international college students, such as planning events, starting and sustaining a ministry, and discipling men.
Case summary. The CST through Cornerstone Church is a balanced and well-
engage the larger church leadership training initiatives and courses while receiving substantial supervised ministry experience. Participants develop strong convictions in theology, ecclesiology, and pastoral leadership through their coursework. The CST’s relationship with MBTS to provide trainees with a fully accredited, on-site MATS is impressive and sets a high standard for healthy church and seminary partnerships. Strong cohort elements in the program enhance the lives of the participants and accelerate their learning. Consistent mentoring from a senior-level staff member helps trainees develop ministry skills, aids in character growth, and provides progress in spiritual formation.
Table 9 displays the CST summary profile on how trainees are equipped for the work of pastoral ministry.
Table 9. Cornerstone School of Theology summary
Category Value or Practice
Program Values
Growing in both academic rigor and practical ministry experience.
An emphasis on personal life and doctrinal convictions: “Watch your life and your doctrine” (1 Tim 4:12).
“Developing next generation leaders” for network pastoral positions, network church plants, and broader kingdom work.
The CST Resident program focuses on growing in knowledge
(convictions), developing ministry skills (competency), and maturing in character (character).
Convictions
Emphasis on developing robust theology and Bible knowledge with others in the church community. Often classes discuss practical church ministry applications.
Take 15 master’s level classes through MBTS. Strong partnership allows for the church to offer these classes on site with professors within congregation. Trainees receive an accredited MATS.
Character
Cohort group learning and growth environment provides sharpening, encouragement, and accountability. Many said the relationships built were the highlight of the program.
Consistent meetings and modeling by staff mentors provide character sharpening and consistency in walk with Christ.
Specific character growth projects and spiritual disciplines learning/practice in the practicum classes.
Three practicum classes provide skills learning, coaching, and