Ministry Leaders
The Center for Vocational Ministry helps ministry leaders connect with a wide range of resources—services, organizations, education, and more—to aid in their Kingdom efforts. Explore them below.
CVM Resources
Partners in Ministry
Partners in Ministry is a relationship-based program created by Azusa Pacific Seminary, and offered to pastoral staff serving in local churches and parachurch organizations. PIM members receive a membership card entitling them to:
- Access to all university libraries, including the James L. Stamps Theological Library
- Attendance at ministry seminars
- A 10 percent discount on University Bookstore merchandise (excluding textbooks, course materials, snack foods, sending services, software, sale merchandise, and gift certificates)
- Discounted costs at all APU dining facilities
- Discounted admissions for APU regular-season, home football and basketball games
- Discounted admissions for APU theater productions
For more information about the program, call (626) 387-5750 or email apseminary@apu.edu, or join the program today.
Flourishing in Ministry
Chris Adams, Ph.D., is a part of the Flourishing in Ministry research team, and the Center for Vocational Ministry is the West Coast hub of this project. Focused on the well-being of clergy and their families, the Flourishing in Ministry project examines what motivates pastors and priests to be engaged in ministry—and what disrupts them from experiencing well-being in their work. In our research, we explore how clergy—often working with lean resources—give so much to others yet experience a sense of fulfillment and growth in their daily work lives. Individual pastors and denominational groups are invited to participate in this ongoing project, and receive personalized results to enhance your well-being in ministry.
Made to Flourish
Made to Flourish: A Pastors’ Network for the Common Good exists to encourage and equip pastors and local churches to live more integral and flourishing lives, and to more effectively equip their congregations to better connect Sunday to Monday. Rev. Chris Neal serves as the Made to Flourish city director for Los Angeles.
Consulting Services
CVM offers consulting services for youth ministry, pastoral leadership, clergy care, and clergy/missionary candidacy assessment. Contact CVM for more information.
Presentations
- Video presentation with CVM Executive Director Chris Adams, Ph.D.
- Research on Religion: Podcast with Duke University Clergy Health Initiative researcher Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell, Ph.D., and Chris Adams, Ph.D.
- Grief Seminar for Pastors, Part I
- Grief Seminar for Pastors, Part II
- Grief Seminar for Pastors, Part III
- CVM Launch Event with Pete Scazzero, Part I
- CVM Launch Event with Pete Scazzero, Part II
- Tending the Shepherds: Helping Ministers Thrive, APU Life article by Chris Adams
APU Resources
Support for Pastors and Their Families
- Free Methodist Church in Southern California Center for Transformational Leadership
- Friends Center
- El Centro Teológico Hispano
- Azusa Pacific Seminary
- Degree programs
- Lectures, including Faith Matters Lectureship on Holy Living
- Course auditing
- Continuing education seminars
- Exhibits, including Dead Sea Scroll fragments
- Pastors events
- Community Counseling Center
- Career Center
Congregational Ministry Support
Ministry Leadership Coaching
- Teams that Thrive: Ryan Hartwig
- Connective Leadership Coaching: Department of Leadership and Organizational Psychology
- Tony Baron
Worship Arts
Youth Ministry
- YLI (includes Dream Center Urban Underground and Worship Arts Lab)
- HomeWord Center for Youth and Family
- Undergraduate and graduate youth ministry interns
- Night of Champions
- Preview Weekends
- Connections
- Student Leadership Conference
- Urban Youth Workers Institute
- Mexico Outreach
Health and Wholeness
Local Community Outreach
- Center for Student Action
- Center for Academic Service-Learning
- Office of Community Relations
- San Gabriel Valley Churches Assisting Neighbors Conference