Christian Church | Pacific Southwest Region

All Licensed and Ordained Ministers in the Pacific Southwest Region are required to meet the minimum standard of 1.5 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) per year to maintain standing in the PSWR, effective January 1, 2006. 1.5 CEUs equals 15 hours of instructional time.  

Ministers can earn CEUs by attending either Regionally sponsored and other religious/spiritual educational opportunities not sponsored by the PSWR. 

To apply for CEU credit for Regionally sponsored events, a CEU credit form will be provided for you at the event and will be stamped by event leaders at the end of the event. The minister is then required to submit this stamped form to the Regional Office for the credit to be applied to their ministerial profile. Submit the form and documentation via email to Michel Johnson at mjohnson@docpswr.org or a copy mailed to the Regional Office. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.

To apply for CEU credit for events not sponsored by the PSWR, download and print the PSWR CEU Form. Complete the form and attach proper proof that you completed the instructional hours. Submit the form and documentation via email to support@disciplespswr.org or a copy mailed to the Regional Office. Be sure to keep a copy for your records.

Upcoming CEU opportunities will often be shared via PSWR E-Shout. Use the form below to sign up to receive these emails. Please scroll down below for a list of upcoming CEU opportunities. You can also check the PSWR Regional Calendar and the “Upcoming Events” page for information on upcoming events.

DSF CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
ONLINE COURSES

Registration is now open for Faith, Identity, Community, and Calling, beginning February, and this course is an ideal entry point into the DSF Certificate Program: Pastoral Leadership in a Divided World.

Faith, Identity, Community, and Calling invites participants to explore how personal faith, social identity, and communal belonging shape our sense of vocation and leadership. Through theological reflection, dialogue, and practical application, the course helps learners discern their calling within complex, diverse, and often divided contexts. Participants will engage questions of identity, power, justice, and community life, gaining tools to lead with authenticity, compassion, and integrity.

This course is one of 10 fully online offerings in the DSF Certificate Program, designed to strengthen ministry practice, support vocational discernment, and deepen theological grounding — all with flexibility to fit your life.

Why the DSF Certificate Program?
✔ Start the Certificate at the beginning of any month of the year
✔ Ideal for CEUs, vocational discernment, and continuing education
✔ Build practical tools for real-world leadership while learning in community

All courses are fully online: Full Certificate Program: $3,000 / Individual Courses: $300. Scholarships available up to 50% to ensure access for all. Registration for this course closes on January 31. Together, let’s build ministries that heal and uplift. Learn more and enroll at dsf.edu/dsf-collective.

WINTER MEDITATIONS WITH OLDER ADULTS
Wednesdays, January 21 - February 11 @ 9:00 am PT
Online Webinar

Winter’s chill can make us cold, sometimes with a chill of heart as well as body. Chase the cold by spending an hour each week immersed in positive images, warm thoughts and meaningful conversation. You will feel wrapped in a blessing the rest of the week!

Join us on four Wednesdays for the Older Adults DO Meditate. A Guide to Contemplation With Older Adults webinar series, presented by Older Adult Ministries and featuring Revs. Kimberly Weir and Paul Koch.

Paul and Kimberly share from their experiences leading online and in-person contemplative prayer/meditation groups. They will lead a meditation and prayer to expand and deepen spiritual connections. Register today!

TRAUMA & COMPASSION DAY RETREAT
January 31, 2026 | 9:30 am - 3:00 pm PT
ReNew United Methodist Church, 699 Monterrey Rd, S. Pasadena

The UMC Retreat Ministry for the California-Pacific Annual Conference is inviting all Disciples of Christ in the PSWR to an in-person day retreat. The topic is Trauma and The Spirituality of Compassion, something that we feel is very needed in our time. Speakers include Rev. Dr. Nancy Fowler (Pacific Beach Christian Church) will be speaking, along with Dr. Frank Rogers (Claremont School of Theology and the Center for Engaged Compassion).

Download the event flyer here. Event cost is a low $35 which includes lunch. Register today! Questions? Email murbanfunk@calpacumc.org

Frank Rogers is the Muriel Bernice Roberts Professor of Spiritual Formation and Narrative Pedagogy and the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Center for Engaged Compassion at the Claremont School of Theology. Also a spiritual director and retreat leader, he is the author of Cradled in the Arms of Compassion: A Spiritual Journey from Trauma to Recovery; Practicing Compassion; and Compassion in Practice: The Way of Jesus. He lives in southern California with his wife, Dr. Alane Daugherty, with whom he shares three young adult sons, Justin, Michael, and Sammy. With his wife, he loves to run, hike, snorkel, and follow baseball.

Rev. Dr. Nancy Fowler:  I graduated from the Claremont School of Theology (CST) in 2007 and I am ordained in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). I earned my Ph.D. in spiritual formation at Claremont School of Theology, graduating in 2020. Our son struggled with mental health issues for his entire life and finally chose to end his life in 2015 when he was 24. My dissertation is titled, “Finding a Way Forward after the Death of a Child: Compassion as a Way through Grief.” Through my studies, I learned that my advisor, Frank Rogers, Jr., had created the Compassion Practice, a program that has helped to bring comfort and solace to my deep grief. I feel called to bring this program to others who are dealing with life issues. There is a deep spirituality that is inherent in the Compassion Practice. This, along with my other seminary studies and experience, has helped me to become deeply spiritual, and I look forward to opportunities to share this with my church family.

THE ROUGH DRAFT
January 29, 2026 | 5:00 pm PT | Online
Co-Sponsored by National Convocation and National Benevolent Association

Do you ever wish you had a space to brainstorm new ideas to initiate or enhance your dreams for mission and ministry? You do now!

Join the National Convocation - Disciples and NBA’s Social Entrepreneurship Program at The Rough Draft online gathering taking place Thursday, January 29th at 8:00pm ET/7:00pm CT. We will be listening to brave voices share their ideas and then open the space for compassionate companions to offer fresh perspectives.

This is a place to help YOU dream bigger and propel you to take the next right step to realizing your dream. There is no cost to attend; register today at https://buff.ly/xKgxyUU.

ALL INTERIMS GATHERING
February 2, 2026 | 4:00 PT

Join Disciples Home Missions for an All-Interims Gathering on Monday, Feb 2.

Their last gathering was rich and deeply connecting. They will repeat some elements that worked especially well, including time in small groups as part of our check-in, giving us space to deepen relationships and get to know one another more fully. We also have important and hopeful news to share as we look toward 2026.

DISCIPLES YOUNG ADULT BOOK CLUB
Feb 24 @ 4 pm PT | Mar 3 @ 4 pm PT | Mar 10 @ 4 pm PT | Mar 17 @ 4 pm PT

Young adults are invited to join our Virtual Young Adult Book Club as we read Staying at the Table by Rev. Terri Hord Owens and explore what it means to be a Disciple in today's world. Together, we'll gather in a welcoming space, led by Disciple young adults to reflect, question, and connect - engaging faith, identity, justice, and belonging through thoughtful conversation and shared learning. Register here.

BEND WITHOUT BREAKING
Co-Sponsored by BELOVED Compassion Network and Disciples Seminary Foundation
Wednesday, February 25 | 10:00 am - 12:00 pm PT

This two-hour event will explore evidence-based spiritual practices for resilience and well-being, drawing on neuroscience and the principles of Compassion Practice. Rev. Dale and Shelly Suggs will guide participants through tools to support mental wellness in challenging times. The seminar takes place Wednesday, February 25 from 10 am to 12 pm PT. Registration coming soon.

WHAT SILVER CHALICE OFFERS THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
Wednesday, March 4th | 9:00 am PT | Online Webinar

Have you wondered where to start to advance your intergenerational and older adult ministry programs? Have you found the resources you were seeking? NBAs collaborative partner Older Adult Ministries offers a large collection of resources that can assist you! Join Rev. Lois Kelley, pastor of a unique and creative ministry in the Kansas City area, and NBA Older Adult Ministries Coordinator Jan Aerie to gain an inside view of these resources and learn and share what ministry support and guides you need and wish for. You will find several simple entry points to start or advance your ministry!

There is no cost to attend but registration is required.

New Church Ministry proudly presents IMPACT, a webinar series that welcomes you on a captivating journey of storytelling and deep mutual learning. In each episode, host and Minister of New Church Strategies Rev. Dr. Jose Martinez invites guests who have defied conventions and fostered vibrant communities of faith to share their invaluable experiences and personal narratives. By exploring the challenges, triumphs, and transformative moments of these visionary leaders, attendees gain invaluable inspiration and direction for their own ventures. 

This dynamic series embraces diversity, welcoming influential leaders from a multitude of faith traditions and backgrounds. From established religious institutions to emerging spiritual movements, IMPACT showcases a broad spectrum of voices and perspectives, ensuring participants have a rich tapestry of insights to draw from. While each of its speakers bring a distinct approach and innovative strategies to the table, equipping participants with a toolkit of ideas to create thriving, inclusive places of worship that resonate with today’s seekers, IMPACT emphasizes the power of storytelling as a catalyst for change. Whether you are an aspirational individual looking to make a difference or a member of an established congregation that is considering revitalizing its mission, IMPACT is your transformative guide. Join us as we delve into the profound potential that storytelling has to shape the future of faith communities worldwide. Together, we can ignite a new era of spiritual vitality and make an enduring impact on the lives of those we serve.

CERTIFICATE IN PASTORAL MINISTRY

Join the conversations that will expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitments, and give insights on how to minister in a changing world. The Center for Ministry and Lay Training's online program allows you to explore your call to ministry or even earn a Certificate in Pastoral Ministry. Click here to apply.

Phillips is the only Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) seminary offering this Certificate in Pastoral Ministry. Since 1906, Phillips has been educating those who serve the church and is pleased to continue the 120-year legacy of the Bible College of Missouri through the Center for Ministry and Lay Training.

As a student, you’ll not only learn from our top-notch faculty, but you’ll also build a network of others engaged in ministry. The Center for Ministry and Lay Training is not designed for those who want to do ministry the way it’s always been done. If you want to make a difference in this changing world, we’ll help you push beyond your comfort zone. Learn more about the program and upcoming course schedule.

Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry training consist of two steps and a small group Fieldwork experience. The first step is Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry: The Work of the Leader (FTML). The second step, Fundamentals of Transitional Ministry: The Work of the Congregation (FTMC) builds on the information and experiences of FTML. The curriculum is designed for experiential learning throughout. Participants read content prior to class so that they are able to use the information to understand specific transition situations as found in sacred stories or in congregational case studies. Even in the virtual world connections and conversation are a vital part of the IMN FTM training.

UN*SILENCE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: BECOMING A SENSITIVE RESPONDER TO THE HIDDEN PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

Clergy and lay leaders who are passionate about reducing Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence (DV/IPV) can sign up for a 5 hour training facilitated by Courtney Armento. The course is available for a discounted rate of $117 and is self-paced with occasional live sessions with Courtney for Q&A. In the course, you will discover what to say (and what not to say) to those experiencing DV/IVP so that you facilitate spaces of calm in the midst of their storm. You will become equipped to create safe spaces so that you can empower those going through DV/IVP to make conscious choices. With your help, we can turn around the toxic culture of DV/IVP that unfortunately many have experience in churches and reduce -- dare we say eliminate? -- DV/IVP in our communities. Sign up for the course here (CEU credits available)

Several ministries are offering online trainings and webinars for clergy and church leaders. One source is New Church Hacks, offered by New Church Ministry, a ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) that trains, equips, assists and multiplies emerging and affiliating congregations and leaders. New Church Hacks provides clever solutions to tricky problems and empowers courageous leaders with the tools, tips and how-tos to start, sustain and strengthen congregations.

ChurchWest Insurance and their partners are busy developing tools to help your ministries in the weeks and months to come. Please visit their website to browse available webinars. CEU credits will be given based on the length of the webinar session (most sessions average one hour).

The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center provides speakers and education resources for churches of all denominations on biblical peace and justice issues, as well as conflict transformation skills training and training for church leaders grounded in family systems theory. It also provides mediation and consultation services for churches, schools, and other organizations. Please visit their website to browse available webinars and educational opportunities. CEU credits will be given based on the length of the webinar session.

Union Theological Seminary | Progressive theology has long taken shape at Union, where faith and scholarship meet to reimagine the work of justice. Grounded in the Christian tradition and responsive to the needs of God’s creation, a Union education prepares its students for committed lives of service to the church, academy, and society. A Union education develops practices of mind and body that foster intellectual and academic excellence, social justice, and compassionate wisdom. Union forms courageous faith leaders who make a difference wherever they serve. Please visit their website to browse available webinars and educational opportunities. CEU credits will be given based on the length of the webinar session.