TEEM Program

Theological Education for Emerging Ministries

The Process › Apply Now ›

Explore Program

Wartburg’s TEEM Certificate Program provides alternative preparation for pastoral ministry in emerging contexts across the church,combining theological education, pastoral formation, and practical ministry experience.

Worship-centered Community

Preparing Faithful Leaders for Emerging Ministries

Wartburg Seminary has a reputation for forming faithful leaders ready to meet the leadership needs of our church.

Our TEEM Certificate program prepares candidates for ministry with theological education and pastoral formation through academic studies, pastoral accompaniment, and practical ministry training with our dedicated seminary faculty along with experienced supervisors, mentoring partners.

Program For Leadership

Choose Your Path to Leadership

Wartburg’s TEEM curriculum can be completed in three years. Classic TEEM is completed through on-campus intensive and online courses, while Journey Together / Caminemos Juntos is completed through self-directed competency-based modules.

Classic TEEM

On Campus Intensives and Online Learning

The WTS TEEM curriculum is designed for completion in three years, but may be accelerated or extended according to the needs, preferences and circumstances of TEEM candidates.

Typically, one to two online courses are taken each semester (fall and spring) and two to four intensive courses during summer and fall (taken in residence at WTS). Courses are taught in English only.

Journey Together / Caminemos Juntos

The Journey Together / Caminemos Juntos TEEM program offers competency-based self-paced learning modules that accessed online and assessed by a team including a faculty member, a pastoral supervisor, and a program mentor.

No travel is required for this program.

This program can be completed in English or Spanish.

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In Their Own Words

Why Wartburg TEEM?

“My favorite thing about teaching TEEM is that students are highly-invested learners. Since they are most often already “on the job” in ministry settings, they know firsthand the value of what we discuss in the classroom. They know this isn’t merely theory — it’s real-life ministry.”

Rev. Dr. Troy Troftgruben

Associate Professor of New Testament and The William A. & John E. Wagner Professor in Biblical Theology

“It was very easy to say yes to serving in public ministry. I felt that it was my calling for a large majority of my life. It was just a mat­ter of time and I knew what God had planned for me.”

Rev. Phouthaly Onelangsy

TEEM ‘19 Graduate

“My favorite thing about teaching TEEM students is watching them create strong learning communities. In a short amount of time, they start to share deep insights, ask hard questions, and encourage each other as fellow leaders and learners.”

Rev. Dr. Martin Lohrmann

Assistant Professor of Lutheran Confessions & Heritage

Wartburg Theological Seminary

The Process

How to Begin Your TEEM Journey

1

Identifying Partners

Student, congregation, ELCA synod and WTS partner in a candidate's identification for the TEEM program. To get started, students need to talk to their synod about possibilities in the TEEM program.

2

First Conversations

The synod, potential TEEM student and/or congregation should connect with each other to discuss fit, potential, and questions about the TEEM program.

3

Discussion & Planning

If you are a congregation or synod, invite WTS to partner with you to discern if TEEM is right for you by emailing teem@wartburgseminary.edu.

4

Begin Admissions Process

If you are a potential student, complete an inquiry form and the WTS Admissions team will be in touch with you soon! You will also begin your online application at this point.

5

Approval & Acceptance

If TEEM has been discerned to be a good fit for all partners involved and the candidate is entranced into candidacy by their synod and approved for TEEM by the ELCA.