Wesley Seminary has announced the introduction of a 12-credit hour Graduate Certificate in Church Multiplication, with the first class beginning in August 2026. This program is designed to equip pastors and church leaders with a biblical vision for guiding a multiplying church and provide training on how to mobilize leaders that embolden the formation of new churches, campuses, or fresh expressions of incarnational ministry.
Focused and practice-oriented, the certificate will equip ministry leaders to develop and lead disciple-making, multiplying churches. “This certificate is meant to help pastors reimagine what’s possible for their congregations,” said Dean of the Faculty of Wesley Seminary Brannon Hancock, Ph.D. “We want to empower leaders to move beyond maintenance toward multiplication, cultivating churches that reproduce disciples, leaders, and new Christ-centered communities.”
The certificate program addresses a gap in current ministerial training by focusing on strategies that enable existing churches to develop leadership pipelines, understand contextualization, and implement structures conducive to multiplication. While numerous resources exist for church planting, this initiative specifically targets the needs of pastors aiming to transform their churches into multiplying entities.
The curriculum comprises four courses:
“This certificate is intentionally designed for those who are committed to seeing more people come to Christ through the planting and multiplying of healthy, mission-driven ministries,” said Executive Director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church Ed Love, Ph.D. This Certificate is for pastors seeking to lead their congregation into a disciple-making and multiplying culture, church planters preparing to launch a new church or campus, lay leaders with demonstrated influence who want to help shape mission and movement in their local context, and district or denominational leaders who are guiding multiplication efforts.
Delivered primarily online, the program also includes an in-person component during the annual Exponential Conference, held in March, and through Exponential's Multipliers Learning Communities. This conference focuses on evangelism, church planting, and multiplication, providing students with practical insights and networking opportunities.
