ÄÛ²ÝÊÓƵ

Request InfoApply
2026-2027 Academic Draft Catalog

Certificate in Community Initiatives

Overview

This nine-month, online certificate is for faith-inspired individuals who are ready to turn a deep conviction into a tangible project.

The program is a faith-inspired innovation lab, not a theory-heavy credentialing program. Through four structured, 8-week courses, participants join a supportive cohort to gain the practical tools, peer support, and spiritual formation needed to launch a new venture such as a nonprofit, business, ministry, or creative project. The program is ideal for those with a growing passion, an early-stage idea, or a vision they're ready to renew while staying rooted in their existing work and life.

Participants get hands-on experience, actively designing, testing, and refining their initiatives. They grow in clarity, character, and capacity, moving from contextual awareness to a tested venture that reflects their values, serves their community, and aligns with the way of Jesus.

Certification Outcomes

Students will be equipped and formed to think with clarity as they:

  • Analyze a community challenge by investigating its root causes, context, and current responses, and by evaluating civic assets and infrastructure to frame a clear, testable problem for innovation.

Students will be equipped and formed to live with integrity as they:

  • Apply faith-informed convictions and ethical principles to justify decisions in their project design and leadership practices.
  • Build collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and funders through listening, co-design, clear communication, and sustained follow-through.

Students will be equipped and formed to act with the heart of God as they:

  • Apply a repeatable innovation process to move a community venture from a concept to a tangible deliverable.

Admission Requirements

This program is for faith-inspired individuals ready to act on a conviction, passion, or community-based initiative. Prior entrepreneurial or academic experience is not required. What matters most is a heart for a place or people and a commitment to explore that passion in community with others.

Applicants must complete the following to be considered for admission to the program: 

  • Submit Portland Seminary application.      
  • Submit one official transcript from the highest degree you've attained.
  • Submit your résumé.
  • Provide a personal mission statement and a statement of faith.       
  • Submit a letter of recommendation from a leader, mentor, or supervisor who can speak to your character and commitment to launching a new venture in your community or faith context.
  • An interview may be required.

†Applicants who do not hold a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university may apply to the seminary and will be required to submit additional documentation to be considered for admission.

Transfer Credit

No transfer credit is awarded for this certificate program.

Residence Requirements

Residence, as described in this section of the catalog, does not refer to the time a student spends on campus. It refers to the portion of a degree program that students are required to earn with Portland Seminary. Students are required to complete all of the program requirements (12 semester credits†) directly with Portland Seminary. 

A leave of absence is valid for up to one year, after which the student must reapply to the program. Reinstatement to the program after withdrawal requires Admissions Committee action and may subject the student to additional requirements for the certificate.

Course Requirements

The Certificate in Community Initiatives program is a nine-month, 12-semester-hour program. In sequential coursework, students will develop their own community-based initiative with the support of peer collaboration and individualized coaching to guide their discernment, clarity, and execution.

Graduation Requirements

In order to receive the Certificate in Community Initiatives students must: 

  • Satisfactorily complete the 12 semester hours† with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above 
  • Achieve the following milestones, demonstrating the development of their community venture:
    • Complete 3 hours of dedicated coaching within the courses.
    • Craft a compelling problem statement identifying the specific challenge their venture will address.
    • Develop a detailed concept paper and business plan for their project.
    • Define thorough work plans and timelines for the venture's implementation.
    • Create an impact measurement strategy with a plan for data collection, systems, and analysis.
    • Develop a strategic scaling plan to effectively expand their project's reach and impact.

Curriculum Plan

Expand All
Complete the following:
This course explores the roles Christians play in the public, private, and social sectors. Recognizing the integral role of the local church, students will reimagine how Christians can solve social problems by examining different models and the most effective examples of community leadership. Convictions, inspiration, and ideation will drive students to frame a hypothesis for how their gifts can create lasting change. Students will learn to evaluate challenges in local communities and craft a compelling problem statement. They will begin community research and demonstrate knowledge of the civic infrastructure of their context. By exploring models like Asset-Based Community Development, students will critically assess current efforts by government, nonprofits, coalitions, and businesses to solve their selected social issue, ultimately identifying the specific problem their venture will seek to solve in preparation for developing their concept paper. A 30-minute coaching session is included.
Students will develop a robust concept paper that clearly defines their selected problem, analyzes existing local solutions, articulates the vital role of the faith community, and demonstrates the need for their proposed innovation. The concept paper will also outline the advent of a new demonstration project. Through community listening, students will engage with individuals who have lived experience of the challenges, ensuring their venture is informed by those it aims to serve. Students will then begin validating their concept with key community leaders, potential funders, and stakeholders. By learning and applying co-design principles, students will further engage with individuals with lived experience to shape their project. They will develop a practical business plan within their concept paper, thoughtfully addressing the financial opportunities and barriers to bringing their innovative ideas to life. A 30-minute coaching session is included.
This course moves participants into the direct implementation phase of their faith-inspired venture. While students forge strategic community partnerships with vested organizations and possible collaborators, they will finalize comprehensive work plans and timelines for their project. With hands-on guidance from the Faculty Guide, the Subject Matter Expert (SME), guests, and dynamic feedback from peers cohort of fellow risk-takers, participants will gain the practical tools and confidence to bring their idea to life. This includes developing a personal philosophy of fundraising and developing practical strategies adaptable to their unique context. At this point, some students will launch a demonstration project, while others will continue to prepare for launch. This course also provides training in innovative communication methods and ensures access to essential community leadership technologies. By the end of the course, students will be able to articulate their conviction about the role of data collection, data systems, and data analysis to ensure their venture's impact is measurably captured from its launch. 60 minutes of coaching is included.
Designed to equip leaders for sustained impact, this course provides practical strategies for managing and growing community-rooted ventures. Students will gain training in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) , the Faculty Guide and Subject Matter Expert, acquiring proven strategies for optimizing and evaluating their demonstration projects, whether newly launched or nearing readiness for impact. This course delves into common early-stage challenges ventures face, providing practical approaches for overcoming obstacles in authentic partnership with stakeholders. Finally, participants will explore various models for scaling demonstrations, learning how to expand the reach and maximize the long-term impact of their faith-inspired initiatives, ensuring their work continues to build something that truly matters in the public good. Students who haven’t launched their projects may do so in this course, or following completion of the certificate. 60 minutes of coaching is included.