Christian Church | Pacific Southwest Region

All Licensed and Ordained Ministers in the Pacific Southwest Region are required to meet the minimum standard of 1.5 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) per year to maintain standing in the PSWR, effective January 1, 2006. 1.5 CEUs equals 15 hours of instructional time.  

Ministers can earn CEUs by attending either Regionally sponsored and other religious/spiritual educational opportunities not sponsored by the PSWR. 

To apply for CEU credit for Regionally sponsored events, a CEU credit form will be provided for you at the event and will be stamped by event leaders at the end of the event. The minister is then required to submit this stamped form to the Regional Office for the credit to be applied to their ministerial profile. Submit the form and documentation via email to Michel Johnson at mjohnson@docpswr.org or a copy mailed to the Regional Office. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.

To apply for CEU credit for events not sponsored by the PSWR, download and print the PSWR CEU Form. Complete the form and attach proper proof that you completed the instructional hours. Submit the form and documentation via email to support@disciplespswr.org or a copy mailed to the Regional Office. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.

Upcoming CEU opportunities will often be shared via PSWR E-Shout. Use the form below to sign up to receive these emails. Please scroll down below for a list of upcoming CEU opportunities. You can also check the PSWR Regional Calendar and the “Upcoming Events” page for information on upcoming events.

FREE CYBERSECURITY WEBINAR FOR SENIORS:
LEARN HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF ONLINE

Four sessions available:
October 7th: 8:00am PT or 4:00pm PT
October 28th: 8:00am PT or 4:00pm PT

Older adults are frequent targets of online scams, phishing emails, identity theft, and financial fraud. This webinar, hosted by James Watson, partner at Ice Miller LLP, will help you recognize threats and take simple steps to protect yourself online.

Register today!

PREPARING FOR SABBATICAL:
A WORKSHOP FOR CLERGY
November 2 | 1:00 pm PT | Online

A sabbatical can be a transformative season of rest, renewal, and discernment, but preparing for it takes intentional planning. On November 2 at 1:00 p.m. PT, DSF students and clergy are invited to join for Preparing for Sabbatical, a workshop designed to offer practical guidance for those considering or preparing for this important season.

The workshop will explore the Lilly Endowment Clergy Renewal Program, including who can apply, what the program funds, and how to navigate the application process. Participants will also receive practical guidance for preparing to step away from congregational leadership, including communicating with church leadership, preparing family and personal plans, establishing healthy boundaries, and helping a congregation understand the purpose and value of a sabbatical.

The conversation will also address preparing a congregation for a pastor’s absence and return, including incorporating sabbatical language into pastoral agreements, communicating the “why” of a sabbatical, sharing the sabbatical experience with the congregation, and finding a healthy rhythm for returning to pastoral leadership.

Most importantly, the workshop will create space to consider why sabbatical matters for clergy and how intentional boundaries before, during, and after a sabbatical can support healthy, sustainable pastoral leadership. This workshop is offered free through the DSF Collective. Register today!

RESTORE CLERGY’S PROGRAM: “Wellness Insight” - November 5

Ministry shapes how we lead, but it can also quietly shape who we believe we must be. Many clergy find themselves leading from the outside in: managing the expectations of others, measuring their worth by congregational approval, and struggling to distinguish their own voice from the roles they fill. Restore Clergy's programs are designed to change that.

Each program is a different entry point into the same essential journey — from leadership defined by the expectations of others toward leadership grounded in your own values, calling, and self-knowledge. Whether you're just beginning to ask deeper questions, ready to work in community over a sustained period, or looking to grow in a specific area, there is a place for you here: Wellness Insights, Leading from Abundance, and Restoration Fellowship.

Visit restoreclergy.com/programs for more information

TRAUMA RECOVERY AS A SPIRITUAL JOURNEY:
THE HEALING POWER OF COMPASSION
Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 9:30-3:00 PM PT
Pacific Beach Christian Church | .5 CEUs

Frank Rogers Jr. is a spiritual director, retreat leader, co-director of the Center for Engaged Compassion, and a professor of spiritual formation at the Claremont School of Theology. He is also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. His recent book, Cradled in the Arms of Compassion: A Spiritual Journey from Trauma to Recovery (awarded one of the best spiritual books of 2023 by Spirituality and Practice, and Best Religion Book 2024 by American Book Fest) chronicles his quest for psycho-spiritual resources in healing from childhood abuse. These resources now inform his work as a teacher and spiritual companion.

Drawing from his experience and research, this workshop will explore the spiritual dimensions of trauma and its recovery. Trauma impacts the body, the psyche, and one’s relationality. It also impacts the spirit and one’s relationship with the sacred. Through story, presentation, personal reflection and contemplative exercises, we will survey the spiritual wounds and crises of faith that trauma can incur; the ways that spiritual teachings and communities can both exacerbate the pain of trauma survivors and support a survivor’s journey; and how spiritual resources and practices can enhance the healing of and recovery from trauma. This workshop will be especially helpful for those who have known trauma, and for those who companion survivors as pastors, chaplains, mental health practitioners, spiritual directors, and caring allies. Register today!

NATIONAL BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION
SENT COHORT - 12 MONTH JOURNEY

Leadership development, healing spaces, and empowerment for Black men, women and girls of African American, Indigenous, and diasporic descent; access to sensory-centered STEM opportunities and products designed for hard of hearing youth; financial literacy to combat online predatory debt—these are just a few of the impactful services provided by the members of NBA’s 2026 SENT Cohort.

“Entrepreneurship is not meant to be done in isolation,” said Rev. Darnell Fennell, NBA’s Director of Social Entrepreneurship. “We need accompaniment—people who listen deeply, encourage faithfully, and challenge us lovingly. I’m excited about how this cohort community will enrich the lives of leaders and strengthen the work they are called to do.”

The SENT Cohort is a 12-month journey where new faith-rooted social entrepreneurs are brought together to be a part of a community of support and growth as they work through an active process of formation and conversation led by NBA’s Social Entrepreneurship program.

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY - EMERGE
Asynchronous Online Course

New Church Ministry is now offering a Leadership Academy course on CHURCHx, an elearning platform built to support mission and ministry. Learn about the DisciplesNEXT framework from the comfort of your own home and at your own pace. This course is ideal for those who work during the week or are bi-vocational. While it provides the same curriculum as those who attended Leadership Academy in person, only the EMERGE track session is currently available. EMERGE participants discern their missional purpose, develop their future stories, and prepare their communities of faith for launch. However, workshops and resources are continuously being added. Access to this course never expires. Learn more

New Church Ministry proudly presents IMPACT, a webinar series that welcomes you on a captivating journey of storytelling and deep mutual learning. In each episode, host and Minister of New Church Strategies Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez invites guests who have defied conventions and fostered vibrant communities of faith to share their invaluable experiences and personal narratives. By exploring the challenges, triumphs, and transformative moments of these visionary leaders, attendees gain invaluable inspiration and direction for their own ventures. 

This dynamic series embraces diversity, welcoming influential leaders from a multitude of faith traditions and backgrounds. From established religious institutions to emerging spiritual movements, IMPACT showcases a broad spectrum of voices and perspectives, ensuring participants have a rich tapestry of insights to draw from. While each of its speakers bring a distinct approach and innovative strategies to the table, equipping participants with a toolkit of ideas to create thriving, inclusive places of worship that resonate with today’s seekers, IMPACT emphasizes the power of storytelling as a catalyst for change. Whether you are an aspirational individual looking to make a difference or a member of an established congregation that is considering revitalizing its mission, IMPACT is your transformative guide. Join us as we delve into the profound potential that storytelling has to shape the future of faith communities worldwide. Together, we can ignite a new era of spiritual vitality and make an enduring impact on the lives of those we serve.

CERTIFICATE IN PASTORAL MINISTRY

Join the conversations that will expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitments, and give insights on how to minister in a changing world. The Center for Ministry and Lay Training's online program allows you to explore your call to ministry or even earn a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry. Click here to apply.

Phillips is the only Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) seminary offering this Certificate in Pastoral Ministry. Since 1906, Phillips has been educating those who serve the church and is pleased to continue the 120-year legacy of the Bible College of Missouri through the Center for Ministry and Lay Training.

As a student, you’ll not only learn from our top-notch faculty, but you’ll also build a network of others engaged in ministry. The Center for Ministry and Lay Training is not designed for those who want to do ministry the way it’s always been done. If you want to make a difference in this changing world, we’ll help you push beyond your comfort zone. Learn more about the program and upcoming course schedule.

Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry training consist of two steps and a small group Fieldwork experience. The first step is Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry: The Work of the Leader (FTML). The second step, Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry: The Work of the Congregation (FTMC) builds on the information and experiences of FTML. The curriculum is designed for experiential learning throughout. Participants read content prior to class so that they are able to use the information to understand specific transition situations as found in sacred stories or in congregational case studies. Even in the virtual world connections and conversation are a vital part of the IMN FTM training.

UN*SILENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: BECOMING A SENSITIVE RESPONDER TO THE HIDDEN PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

Clergy and lay leaders who are passionate about reducing Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence (DV/IPV) can sign up for a 5 hour training facilitated by Courtney Armento. The course is available for a discounted rate of $117 and is self-paced with occasional live sessions with Courtney for Q&A. In the course, you will discover what to say (and what not to say) to those experiencing DV/IVP so that you facilitate spaces of calm in the midst of their storm. You will become equipped to create safe spaces so that you can empower those going through DV/IVP to make conscious choices. With your help, we can turn around the toxic culture of DV/IVP that unfortunately many have experience in churches and reduce -- dare we say eliminate? -- DV/IVP in our communities. Sign up for the course here (CEU credits available)

Several ministries are offering online trainings and webinars for clergy and church leaders. One source is New Church Hacks, offered by New Church Ministry, a ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that trains, equips, assists and multiplies emerging and affiliating congregations and leaders. New Church Hacks provides clever solutions to tricky problems and empowers courageous leaders with the tools, tips and how-tos to start, sustain and strengthen congregations.

ChurchWest Insurance and their partners are busy developing tools to help your ministries in the weeks and months to come. Please visit their website to browse available webinars. CEU credits will be given based on the length of the webinar session (most sessions average one hour).

The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center provides speakers and education resources for churches of all denominations on biblical peace and justice issues, as well as conflict transformation skills training and training for church leaders grounded in family systems theory. It also provides mediation and consultation services for churches, schools, and other organizations. Please visit their website to browse available webinars and educational opportunities. CEU credits will be given based on the length of the webinar session.

Union Theological Seminary | Progressive theology has long taken shape at Union, where faith and scholarship meet to reimagine the work of justice. Grounded in the Christian tradition and responsive to the needs of God’s creation, a Union education prepares its students for committed lives of service to the church, academy, and society. A Union education develops practices of mind and body that foster intellectual and academic excellence, social justice, and compassionate wisdom. Union forms courageous faith leaders who make a difference wherever they serve. Please visit their website to browse available webinars and educational opportunities. CEU credits will be given based on the length of the webinar session.