Intentionally Practical. Intentionally Theological.
Perkins School of Youth Ministry, under the direction of The Office of External Programs at Perkins School of Theology at SMU, coordinates training programs exclusively designed to resource those in the church whose ministries focus on children, youth and young adults. PSYM has been engaging and equipping youth workers since 1987.
What is different about PSYM?
We’re not merely a conference. We’re a school for faith formation ministries. It’s right there in the name. We enable a robust community of learning where every participant is empowered to share their experiences, contexts, successes and failures. Spanning four decades ministry training, we’re a trusted partner for congregations and leaders investing in the next generation.
Every January, you’ll find pastors, age-ministry veterans, freshly-installed program ministry leaders, college interns, ministry volunteers, seminarians, respected authors and academic researchers all gathered together in our shared spaces to learn and grow. Join us!
Need a justification letter for your manager or organization for why you should attend? Download a template here.
TRACKS
FOUNDATIONS TRACK
The Most Practical Choice | Recommended 1-2 Years Experience or First Formal Training in Ministry | 1.35 CEUs
Foundations offers children’s and youth workers an extensive course on primary material for ministry including: Professionalism, Program Management, Volunteers, Safety, Relationships, Trips and Events, Leadership, Behavioral Development, Budgeting, Teaching, Communication, Self-Care and more. Students receive a Certificate of Completion for Perkins Foundations in Ministry Training. Foundations is a preset cohort of modules, separate from the “Workshops” track.
WORKSHOPS TRACK
Ministry Practice and Philosophy | Recommended 2+ Years Experience | Up to 1.35 CEUs
Our Workshops are the heartbeat of our learning community and exist at the intersection of practice and theory. Along with an annual plenary, select workshops to sharpen an area of your ministry. Our ministry workshops are designed to provide key conversations around practical skills and implementation opportunities in four different comprehensive ministry tracks:
+ Practice of Ministry
+ Theology of Ministry
+ Care in Ministry
+ Congregational Ministry
PERKINS COURSES & CertificatES IN PRACTICAL MINISTRY
Theology and Critical Thinking for Ministry | Recommended 3-50 Years Experience and Prior Formal Training | 2 CEUs per course
The Perkins Certificate in Practical Ministry is designed to provide graduate-level theological training for contextualized church ministry.. This Certificate does not carry academic credit. The Certificate may be transferred for a Certification in the United Methodist Church through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the UMC and a student’s Annual Conference.
Contact us to learn more.