The Sellwood Church Pastoral Residency

The Sellwood Church Pastoral Residency trains aspiring pastors for lifelong service to the local church in the Pacific Northwest. It is a three-year program that overlaps one year, open to one new resident every two years. Our next pastoral residency opening is for the August 2026 to August 2029 residency, and the application process for that residency will open in August 2025.

A pastoral resident serves on the ministry staff of the church under the mentorship of the lead pastor while he pursues the completion of an M.Div. from an approved seminary. The hope of the residency is for a pastoral resident to grow in the necessary competencies and character to receive the full affirmation of the Sellwood Church elder council, lead pastor, and congregation as a qualified and capable candidate for pastoral work, and to help a resident find placement in full-time pastoral ministry in the Pacific Northwest.

Funded Ministry Training

The Sellwood Church Pastoral Residency is funded by members of Sellwood Church and other partnering churches and church networks. A Sellwood Church Pastoral Resident is provided with free housing, $2,500 a month for living expenses, a $200 a month contribution to a retirement account, a $200 a month Health Savings Account (HSA) contribution, $5,000 a year towards seminary expenses, $2,500 a year toward travel and conference participation with the lead pastor, a furnished church office, a pastoral library, and $1,000 a year for other ministry-related expenses.

The housing comes through the generous donation of a couple in the church who has more than adequate private space in their home (shared kitchen) for an individual, couple, or a family with children a ten-minute drive from the church building.

A Top-Notch Seminary Education (M. Div.)

While seminary graduates who need additional experience and training in a local church setting before pursuing a pastorate are also invited to apply for the residency, this residency was designed to coincide with seminary studies. A pastoral resident who pursues an M.Div. degree during his residency will be sponsored to study at one of the following seminaries:

  • International Reformed Baptist Seminary (Correspondence)

  • Western Seminary (On Campus)

  • Reformed Theological Seminary (Correspondence)

  • Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Correspondence)

  • Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Correspondence)

While there are strengths and weaknesses to each of these options, we recommend International Reformed Baptist Seminary. They offer a very solid confessionally reformed, baptist, correspondence education. Through their church partnership programs all of a pastoral resident’s tuition and books would be covered by the $5k a year seminary benefit. Other seminaries may be considered at the request of a pastoral resident on a case-by-case basis.

An On-Ramp to Vocational Pastoral Ministry

The “graduating certificate” of the residency is three letters of commendation: one from the Sellwood Church lead pastor, one from the whole council of elders, and one from the congregation. Upon receiving these affirmations at the conclusion of the residency the Sellwood Church lead pastor will actively look for opportunities for the pastoral resident to candidate at churches and advocate for his placement in a pastorate that suits his gifts and abilities. Participation in the residency does not guarantee reception of these letters of affirmation or a call from a local church to full-time ministry.

Pastoral Ministry Mentorship

As a part of his staff duties, a pastoral resident will have the opportunity to regularly preach and serve in the Sunday morning worship gathering, lead and preach the message for the Sunday evening prayer meeting, teach Sellwood seminars, visit shut-ins, administer the ordinances, disciple and counsel church members, and conduct other ministries of the church. A pastoral resident will meet at regular intervals with the lead pastor and the elders, receiving guidance, ministry feedback, and encouragement. A pastoral resident will attend elders’ meetings, taking the minutes as an observer, and will be increasingly asked to participate in discussions and elder prayer as the residency progresses. A pastoral resident will also participate in the nine-month Sellwood Church leadership reading cohort and will help to lead future cohorts. As with every staff role, certain administrative duties will also be delegated to a pastoral resident. 

A Full-Time, 3-Year Commitment

The Sellwood Church Pastoral Residency is a three-year commitment. A pastoral resident must maintain active and exemplary attendance to regular church gatherings and ministry times (including Sunday morning Sellwood seminars, Sunday morning corporate worship, Sunday evening prayer service, midweek home gathering, special holiday services, and the annual church campout). He is also expected to function as a member of the staff for an additional 30 hours a week. If he does not have a seminary degree he is expected to pursue education at a seminary approved by the council of elders alongside this ministry commitment.