Heritage Theological Seminary is pleased to offer a five-course program entitled Graduate Certificate in Church Planting.  It is designed to train and equip those who are either preparing to plant a local church or are already leading a church plant by providing the tools and guidance to help churches and their leaders thrive in ministry. Leaders from church planting churches will also find it helpful as preparation for launching daughter churches or sites.

This five-course certificate program will equip you with a strategic understanding of church planting leadership and the skills necessary to stay effective in ministry. Each class will be taught by experienced and knowledgeable professors in the field of church planting and will include practical assignments that can be implemented into your ministry context.

Five Course Curriculum

1. Strategic Advance: Church Planting Theology and Praxis 

This course provides an introduction and systematic overview of the process of church planting for the strategic advancement of the church in culture.

2. Evangelism & Discipleship in Canadian Church Planting

This course will delve into the theology and current strategic practice methods of Evangelism and Discipleship that are most effective in the often-difficult Canadian context.

3. Nurturing Leadership Culture in Church Planting

This course addresses the unique leadership essentials for leading and creating a culture of reproducing leaders in the missional church planting context.

4. Disciplines, Contextualization and Intercultural Awareness in Church Planting

This course seeks to assess and develop intercultural awareness in the church planter. The students will learn to function effectively within a culturally diverse context and will develop skills to equip a team of interculturally competent leaders to plant churches in our diverse Canadian context.

5. Church Planting and Next-Gen

This course highlights the pivotal role of youth ministry in church planting by focusing on early engagement, mentorship and culturally relevant evangelism to connect with the Next Generation.

Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Graduate Certificate in Church Planting must be 28 years of age or over. A bachelor’s degree is not required for entrance to this Certificate. If any applicant has had previous post-secondary education, official transcripts will be required in the application process.

Applicants under 28 must have or be participating in a bachelor’s degree to apply for the Graduate Certificate in Church Planting.

Program Benefits

This certificate is designed to help equip students who are interested in pursuing the following positions: Church Planter, Site Pastor, Outreach Director.

Fall 2025 Course

Course: Disciplines, Contextualization & Intercultural Awareness in Church Planting

Dates: October 17–18 & October 24–25, 2025

Professors: Darryl Dash & Graeme Melvin