Foundation Certificate in Biblical Ministry

Join us for this unique ten-month part-time hybrid course with online classes once a week and two 2-day intensives in Oxford.

Now accepting applications for September 2025

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Every Christian is called to Ministry!

This ten-month hybrid course is designed for anyone who desires to grow in their knowledge of God's Word and be discipled and further equipped for service in the local church... while continuing to serve in their local church!

Classes take place once a week online during term time (Monday evening) with two 2-day intensives in Oxford (October and May).

Whatever your ministry calling, you will gain a solid foundation in doctrine and practical ministry centred on verse-by-verse teaching of books of the Bible with experienced Pastors & Bible Teachers.

CBI Oxford is not accredited nor are we seeking accreditation. Our heart is simply to disciple and equip the saints for the work of ministry through the teaching of the Word of God - recognising that ministry is not the calling of the few, but the calling of every believer in Jesus (Ephesians 4:12)! Certificates will be awarded upon successful completion of the course.

This course is not a substitute for the teaching and discipleship ministry of the local church; rather it is intended as a resource to support the the discipleship ministry of the local church.

PLEASE READ THE FULL COURSE INFORMATION BELOW

Have Questions?

If you have any questions at all, we would love to hear from you! Please contact us.

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Course Information

Course Summary

Classes take place once a week online during term time (Monday evening) with two 2-day intensives in Oxford (October and May).

Whatever your ministry calling, you will gain a solid foundation in doctrine and practical ministry centred on verse-by-verse teaching of books of the Bible with experienced Pastors & Bible Teachers.

CBI Oxford is not accredited nor are we seeking accreditation. However, Certificates will be issued upon successful completion of the course. Our heart is simply to disciple and equip the saints for the work of ministry through the teaching of the Word of God - recognising that ministry is not the calling of the few, but the calling of every believer in Jesus (Ephesians 4:12)!

Cost

The cost for this course is £500.

This cost does not include:
- accommodation for the intensives

- the cost of books (c.£50)

Sponsorship & Scholarships

Our desire is for this course to be both accessible and affordable. If you are unable to afford the full cost of the course, in the first instance we suggest you discuss this with your local church leadership and see if your church is able to sponsor you for the cost of the course.

We are able to offer a limited of scholarships to cover up to 50% of the cost. You can indicate your desire to apply for a scholarship on the application form. Please submit your application and we will contact you with more information.

Payment Plans

Full payment is due before the start of the course in September. Payment plans are also available (monthly or termly) if needed. Please submit your application, and if successful, we will contact you to discuss payment options.

Admissions Requirements

The Foundation Certificate in Biblical Ministry is a discipleship program that is open to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, regardless of academic ability or background. All believers are called to the work of ministry and all believers need to be equipped for the work of ministry (Ephesians 4:12) and so this course open to all believers.

There are no previous education requirements. However, in order to accepted on this course, you need to:

1. Be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. This course is open to all believers in Jesus, both men and women, regardless of how long you have been a Christian.

2. Have the support of your local church. This course is designed to be a resource for the local church to equip the saints for ministry in their local church. As such, we believe it is important that you have the support of your local church to enrol in this course. You will be required to provide a reference from your Pastor/Church Leader upon application; and will be required to meet with your Pastor or local church leader at the end of every six-week teaching block to discuss what you have learned and how you can apply you learning in the local church (see "assessment"). Please discuss your desire to enrol in this course with you local church leadership before you apply!

3. Respect our Doctrinal Statement. CBI Oxford is a Calvary Chapel ministry and this is reflected in our Doctrinal Statement. The teaching in all our classes will be in accord with our Doctrinal Statement. While students do not necessarily need to agree with every detail (and we are all learning!), we do ask that all students agree to respect our Doctrinal Statement to enrol in this course. Please contact us if you have any questions.

4. Commit to attending all classes (including the in-person intensives) and to completing the required assessments. Please review the dates, times and assessment page to ensure you are able to commit to completing this course.

How to Apply
If you meet all the above criteria, you can complete the online application form HERE.

Assessment

The primary goal of this course is discipleship, and as such there will be no formal academic assessments. Instead, assessment will consist of four things: attendance, course reflections, meetings with your mentor, and reading assignments.

Please Note: The course is non-accredited, but certificates will be awarded for successful completion.

In order to graduate the programme all student will need to complete the following:

1. Attendance Requirement: Students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of online classes and both in-person intensives.

2. Course Reflections: At the end of each block, students are required to answer a series of written questions designed to help them reflect on what they have learned and how they can apply their learning in their local church context. This is not a test, or an academic exercise that will be graded, but simply an opportunity to reflect on what the Lord has taught you through the teaching of His Word.

3. Meetings with a Mentor: At the end of each block you will need to meet with your mentor one-to-one to discuss what you have learned in the class and how you can apply what you have learned in your local church ministry. You will use the Course Reflection Sheet as a guide for discussion. Note: Your mentor should be your church pastor or nominated leader in your church.

4. Reading Assignments. There are 3 books that are required reading for this course (one will be assigned per term). A short summary Book Report is to be completed for each book and submitted before the end of each term.

FAQ's

You will find below answers to some common questions. If you have have any further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

A. ACADEMICS

Is this course accredited?
No, this course is not accredited and does not count toward any formal degree. CBI Oxford is an independent institution and a ministry of Calvary Chapel Oxford and is not affiliated with any accredited college or university in the UK. CBI Oxford is affiliated with the Calvary Bible Institute network and course credits may be transferable to other CBI campuses around the world.

What is the time commitment for this course?
The course is designed to fit in with an already busy schedule of life and ministry. The main time commitment is attending classes:

- Weekly online classes on Monday evenings 7pm-9.30pm during term time.
- Two in-person intensives in Oxford (a Fri-Sat in October and May).

Beyond that you will need a couple of hours at the end of each six-week block to complete course reflections and meet with your mentor; and several hours spread across each term to complete the reading assignments (one short book per term, 3 books total).

Who is the course for ?
The course is for any believers in Jesus Christ who desire to grow in their knowledge of God's Word and to be discipled and further equipped for service in the local church. This course is ideal for those already serving in local church ministry and/or leadership and who want to be further equipped in their ministry calling while continuing to serve in their local church.

Can I apply to take individual classes?
It may be possible to join an individual class. Please contact us for more information.

B. ADMISSIONS
What is the application process?
Please complete the application form in full; and provide a reference from your pastor or local church leader. Once completed, we will review you application and contact you within two weeks to confirm if you application has been successful. If so, we will arrange a short informal meet & greet meeting via Zoom. No preparation is needed for this; it will just be an opportunity to meet you and for you to ask any questions you may have.

Please note we have a limited amount of places available each year and should we receive more applications than we have places available, we reserve the right to give priority to applicants who attend a Calvary Chapel affiliated church.

What is the admission criteria?
The course is open to all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, both men and women, who desire to be further equipped in their Christian life and ministry. Applicants are expected to be committed to and actively serving in a local church; and to commit to the time required to full participate and complete this course. There is no previous education requirements.

Do I have to attend a Calvary Chapel to apply for this course?
While CBI Oxford is a Calvary Chapel ministry, you don’t have to attend a Calvary Chapel to apply for this course. However, we do ask that all prospective students please read through our Doctrinal Statement to understand what we believe and teach and decide if CBI Oxford is the right fit for you.

C. FINANCES
Do you offer any scholarships ?
If you are unable to join the course due to cost, in the first instance, please speak with your local church leadership to see if your church is able to sponsor you. If your pastor/church leaders have any questions, please ask them to contact us at (email address) and we will be happy to talk with them. We do have a limited number of scholarships available each year, up to a maximum of 50% of the total cost. Should you wish to apply for a scholarship, you can indicate this on the application form.

Can I pay by instalments?
Yes, we can offer a payment plan (either monthly or termly) if that is helpful.

Course Dates

The Foundation Certificate in Biblical Ministry is a ten-month program (Sept-June) with weekly online classes on a Monday evening (during term time) and two 2-day intensives in Oxford. Please note: attendance at the in-person intensives is required for this course.

Welcome & Orientation Meeting (Online)
Monday 8th September (7pm-8pm)

WEEKLY CLASSES
Once a week on a Monday evening
7pm-9.30pm

TERM A

Block 1: 15th Sept - 20th Oct (6 weeks)
Half-Term break: 27th Oct
Block 2: 3rd Nov - 8th Dec (6 weeks)
Christmas Break: 15th, 22nd, 29th Dec

TERM B
Block 3: 5th Jan to 9th Feb (6 weeks)
Half-term: 16th Feb
Block 4: 23rd Feb - 23rd Mar (5 weeks)
Easter Break: 30th Mar, 6th Apr

TERM C
Block 5: 13th Apr - 18th May (6 weeks)
Half term break: 25th May
Block 6: 1st June - 22nd June (4 weeks)

Graduation: 27th June 2026*
*At Teach the Word 2026 in Oxford

INTENSIVES
A Friday & Saturday in October & May
Friday: 1.30pm-4.30pm; 7pm-9.30pm
Saturday: 9.30am-12pm; 1pm-3.30pm

Block 1: 24-25 October
Block 2: 22-23 May

Venue:
Calvary Chapel Oxford
1 Church Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 9TH

Accommodation:
If needed, we strongly recommend booking overnight accommodation at the Premier Inn Oxford Botley, which is located right next to the church and has rooms at very reasonable rates.

Arrival & Lunch:
Classes start after lunch on Friday to enable travel to Oxford on Friday morning. A fellowship lunch will be provided free of charge from 12noon and we encourage everyone to join us if they can!

Curriculum

The Foundation Certificate in Biblical Ministry is a ten-month program (Sept-June) that consists of total of eight modules: six modules are taken online (once a week on a Monday evening) and two modules are in-person over 2-day intensives in Oxford (October & May). All classes are taught by experienced pastors and Bible teachers and will include both teaching and interactive discussion.

At the heart of this program is verse by verse study of specific books of Bible with a particular focus on on practical Christian ministry in the local church. In addition to this, you will also gain foundational skills in how to study the bible (Inductive Bible Study) and how to defend the faith (Theology & Apologetics).

WEEKLY MODULES
ONLINE: Once a week on a Monday evening

The Gospels
The Book of Acts

The Book of Nehemiah
The Book of 1 Timothy
The Book of Daniel
Practical Christian Ministry

INTENSIVE MODULES
IN-PERSON: A Friday & Saturday in Oxford in October & May

Inductive Bible Study
Theology & Apologetics

CBI OXFORD

Foundation Certificate in Biblical Ministry

Every Christian is called to Ministry!

Course Information