A Seattle Pacific Seminary professor explains why certificate programs will deepen your understanding of the Christian faith and grow your vocational skills and gifts for ministry.
Many future ministry leaders begin their journey to seminary not in a church, but in the midst of difficult questions. For Katherine Douglass, associate professor of educational ministry and practical theology at Seattle Pacific Seminary, those questions first took shape in a science classroom.
As an undergraduate biochemistry major, she took a course called “Connecting Science and Religion.” “This class was a bridge for me into the questions I loved to think about,” said Douglass.
Those questions — often about creation, humanity, and what happens after death — ultimately led her to seminary, and later, to a calling in theological education. Today, she helps students navigate those same questions, not just academically, but as part of a deeper search for purpose.
That sense of purpose is central in her classroom. Students actively wrestle with real-life ministry scenarios, often drawing from their own lived experiences. Many are already serving in churches, schools, or nonprofits, bringing immediate relevance to every discussion.
“The world is very complicated right now,” Douglass said. “My goal with ministry leaders is to create space where we can discuss these challenges and offer ministries that weave us back together.”
A community that shapes calling
Despite the demands of graduate life, students find strength in the SPS community. Many balance full-time jobs, family responsibilities, and ministry commitments.
“Graduate students are some of the hardest working people I know,” Douglass said. “They are exhausted. But what I have seen is how these students encourage one another and their strength for ministry grows.”
That shared journey creates a powerful environment for discernment — one where questions of identity, vocation, and calling are not only welcomed, but expected.
“In class, I often ask, ‘What is at stake for you in this?’” said Douglass. “If we can explore our own reactions, we begin to understand how God may be shaping us.”
The rise of accessible online certificates
For many prospective students, the biggest barrier to furthering their education is logistics. Time, cost, and distance can make traditional programs feel out of reach.
That’s where SPS’s graduate-level certificate programs are changing the landscape, Douglass explained. Designed with flexibility in mind, these seminary certificates meet in the evenings and are offered in a synchronous, hybrid format, allowing students to attend in person or online. This structure makes it possible to pursue theological education without stepping away from work, family, or ministry.
Rather than feeling disconnected, students remain deeply engaged, according to Douglass. Real-time discussions, collaborative exercises, and shared experiences ensure that relationships — a cornerstone of all SPS programs — remain strong.
“The fact that we are meeting in real time means we have real relationships with one another,” said Douglass.
Bridging the gap in theological education
The creation of these certificate programs was driven by a clear need: the lack of accessible training for Christian educators and ministry leaders. Douglass said that many programs have closed, leaving volunteers and part-time workers in congregations unsupported.
With SPS’s specialized tracks including congregational ministry and Christian education and scripture, students can gain focused, practical training in a shorter timeframe and without sacrificing depth or community, Douglass emphasized that certificate students are not on the margins; they are fully integrated into the seminary experience beginning with a cohort retreat and ending with graduation alongside degree-seeking peers.
A call worth exploring
For those considering seminary, the decision often begins with a quiet sense of calling, and a lot of uncertainty. Douglass’ advice is simple: Don’t discern alone.
“You might ask, ‘What do you think God might be calling me to do with my life for the next year?’” she said. “You can also prayerfully consider, ‘What is God doing in my life right now?’”
And for many, that’s exactly where the journey begins.
Whether through a full degree or a flexible, online certificate, a Seattle Pacific Seminary education equips students for careers and lives of service. Students gain knowledge, a supportive academic community, and a deeper sense of purpose. Take the next step and begin your application before the July 31 deadline.
