Church of the Brethren
Virlina District
3402 Plantation Road, NE
Roanoke, Virginia  24012
(800) 847-5462
(540) 362-1816
Virlina District

Church of the Brethren
Continuing the Work of Jesus.  Peacefully. Simply. Together.
Continuing the Work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together.

CGI

The Christian Growth Institute is an accredited education program designed with those in mind who have been called into the set-apart ministry but are not able to pursue a seminary or TRIM degree.  Together with the Shenandoah District Church of the Brethren, Virlina works to equip ministers with the best training.  Those who are passionate about the ministry, and who do not want to become a licensed or ordained minister, are encouraged to also enroll in the program or take classes that one finds interesting.  For more information, contact the District Resource Center.  Keep reading for program requirements and upcoming classes.

Download the most recent brochure here!    

ABOUT THE PROGRAM 

The Institute's program of study is designed to be completed in four years.  Here are the required components:

Orientation: This is a one day event to introduce the program to students.

Required Courses:

  1. Old Testament Survey
  2. New Testament Survey
  3. Introduction to Theology
  4. Ministerial Leadership and Administration
  5. History of the Church
  6. Beliefs and Practices of the Church of the Brethren
  7. Preaching
  8. Worship
  9. Introduction to Pastoral Care
  10. Biblical Interpretation
  11. Teaching and Learning in the Church
  12. Evangelism/Outreach
  13. Written Communication (Writing)

Portfolio: This is designed to help studetns with their ministry goals.  Quarterly meetings with a mentor will aid in this.  

Practice of Ministry Days: Students are required to participate in 3 Practice of Ministry Days, which are held annually, and cover a wide range of topics spoken on by guest speakers.

Ministry Formation: 3 spiritual formation retreats are required to help students develop and learn about the spiritual disciplines.

Supervised Ministry Experience:  This is still in the works, but the goal of this will be to allow a student to benefit from an on-site ministry experience under the direction of an experienced pastor. 

Broader Church: Students ae required to attend at least one Church of the Brethren Annual Conference, one district conference, and a significant ecumenical, interfaith or intercultural event.  

CGI Schedule 

CHRISTIAN GROWTH INSTITUTE

COURSE SCHEDULE/ROTATION

 TIME FRAME

 

 ROANOKE CENTER

 SHENANDOAH CENTER

  Fall 2021

 

 History of the Church

 Oct – Nov 2021

 Preaching & Intro. to Pastoral Care

 Oct – Nov 2021

 Winter 2022

 

 Teaching and Learning in the Church

 Jan – Feb 2022

 Old Testament Survey & New Testament Survey

 Jan – Feb 2022

 Spring 2022

 

 Writing or Spiritual Formation Retreat

 Mar – Apr 2022

 Writing or Spiritual Formation Retreat 

 Mar – Apr 2022

 Summer 2022

 

 Practice of Ministry Day

 August 6, 2022

 Practice of Ministry Day

 August 6, 2022

 Summer 2022

 

 Beliefs and Practices of the CoB

 Aug – Sept 2022

 Worship

 Aug – Sept 2022

 Fall 2022

 

 Ministerial Leadership and Admin.

 Oct – Nov 2022

 Old Testament Survey

 Oct – Nov 2022

 Winter 2023

 

 Introduction to Theology

 Jan – Feb 2023

 Evangelism/Outreach

 Jan – Feb 2023

 Spring 2023

 

 Writing or Spiritual Formation Retreat

 Mar - Apr 2023

 Writing or Spiritual Formation Retreat

 Mar - Apr 2023

 Summer 2023

 

 Practice of Ministry Day 

 August 5, 2023

 Practice of Ministry Day

 August 5, 2023

 Summer 2023

 

 Intro. to Pastoral Care

 Aug - Sept  2023

 Biblical Interpretation

 Aug - Sept 2023

 Fall 2023

 

 New Testament Survey

 Oct - Nov 2023

 Preaching

 Oct - Nov 2023

 Winter 2024

 

 Worship

 Jan - Feb 2024

 History of the Church

 Jan - Feb 2024

 Spring 2024

 

 Writing or Spiritual Formation Retreat

 Mar – Apr 2024

 Writing or Spiritual Formation Retreat

 Mar – Apr 2024

 Summer 2024

 

 Practice of Ministry Day

 August 3, 2024

 Practice of Ministry Day

 August 3, 2024

 Summer 2024

 

 Old Testament Survey

 Aug - Sept 2024

 Teaching and Learning in the Church

 Aug - Sept 2024

 

 TIME FRAME

 

 ROANOKE CENTER

 SHENANDOAH CENTER

  Fall 2024

 

  Evangelism/Outreach

  Oct - Nov 2024

  Beliefs and Practice of the CoB

  Oct - Nov 2024

  Winter 2025

 

  Biblical Interpretation

  Jan - Feb 2025

 Ministerial Leadership and Admin.

 Jan - Feb 2025

  Spring 2025

 

  Writing or Spiritual Formation Retreat

  Mar - Apr 2025

 Writing or Spiritual Formation Retreat

 Mar – Apr 2025

  Summer 2025

 

  Practice of Ministry Day

  August 2, 2025

  Practice of Ministry Day

  August 2, 2025

                                     Note: Courses in italics and highlighted blue are for students who enrolled prior to 2019.

 

Location of Classes

Roanoke Center courses are taught at the Virlina District Resource Center.  Classes will be held on Sunday afternoons from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  Donna Hornsby is the Center Coordinator.  

Shenandoah Center classes are held at the Shenandoah District Office at Weyers Cave, VA.  Classes will be held on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Sarah Long is the Center Coordinator.

 

Required Components of the CGI Program

The thirteen (13) classes and three (3) Spiritual Formation Retreats, one (1) orientation day, and three (3) Practice of Ministry Days are required to complete the program.  

One orientation day is REQUIRED for all CGI students for completion of CGI program:

  • June 4, 2022 -  Stone COB -  Buena Vista, VA
  • June 3, 2023 - Stone COB -   Buena Vista, VA
  • June 1, 2024 - Stone COB -   Buena Vista, VA
  • June 7, 2024 - Stone COB -   Buena Vista, VA

 

Three Practice of Ministry days are REQUIRED for completion of CGI program:

  • August 6, 2022  - TBA  - Shenandoah District Church
  • August 5, 2023  - TBA -  Virlina District Church
  • August 3, 2024  - TBA  - Shenandoah District Church
  • August 2, 2025 -  TBA -  Virlina District Church

 

Three Ministry Formation Spiritual Retreats are REQUIRED for completion of CGI program:

  • March 4-5, 2022  - Camp Bethel
  • March 3-4, 2023  - Camp Brethren Woods
  • March 1-2, 2024  - Camp Bethel
  • March 7-8, 2025  - Camp Brethren Woods

 

Other required components of the program include a portfolio of ministry experiences and report on attendance at one annual conference, one district conference and one pre-approved significant ecumenical, interfaith or inter-cultural type event.

Revised July, 2021