The Chicago Plan
The Chicago Plan is a church-based residential training plan for future gospel workers.
Schedule
The Chicago Plan schedule roughly follows the academic year beginning in the fall and ending in the spring, with breaks at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. A detailed schedule is created each year.
Participants
Who should consider joining the Chicago Plan?
Men and women who sense a calling to full-time ministry and desire to be trained for ministry
College, seminary, and other graduate students who need experience in a local church context
Non-vocational church leaders who want to grow in their ability to serve the church
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to promote the growth of the gospel and church planting by training a future generation of gospel workers
Outcomes
Growing Character: Foundational to all ministry is the character of the minister. We work, instruct, mentor, and pray that each participant will mature as disciples of Christ. This there will be instruction and reading on the formative Christian practices such as prayer, Bible study, and evangelism. But we will also consider the humble, dignified, and ethical leadership required of a gospel minister.
Growing Competency: A minister with godly character must also make progress in their capacity to study and teach God’s Word. Chicago Plan instructions will attempt to both instill convictions about the necessity of biblical exposition as well as provide tools for doing it well. The hope is that each participant will be both more confident in understanding the Bible, and more clear in their presentation of the Bible.
Aspects of the Training
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Weekly instructional sessions that equip each intern with the skills needed for ministry. They will cover different aspects of a minister’s life and calling. It will take up topics such as counseling, shepherding, and calling, but will be heavily focused on principles for interpreting and teaching the Bible. Interns will be assigned texts to present and preach in small groups as a means to grow in skill and get reps preaching
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Doing ministry is an essential part of learning ministry. Each intern will be involved in various aspects of HTC’s ministry under the supervision of a mentor pastor. On any given Sunday an intern might preach, teach, lead an adult or youth Sunday School class, or work with the children’s ministry. During the week, an intern may help lead community groups, work in the office, or lead other aspects of church ministry. Participants will also meet regularly to read the Bible One-to-One (see www.reading121.org).
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Relationships are essential to the Christian life, and this is even more true in training for ministry. Those younger in the ministry benefit immensely from the intentional investment of a more seasoned pastor. HTC’s mentor pastors supervise their interns’ ministry experience and regularly meet with them for conversation, feedback, encouragement, and spiritual shepherding.
Internship Structure
The training course of the Chicago Plan is loosely based on a training model for medical professionals. As the student advances throughout each stage, their responsibilities increase. The three stages of Candidate, Intern, and Resident should be viewed progressively and sequentially: Candidates may advance to Interns, Interns to Residents. Incoming participants generally begin as candidates, and each stage usually lasts two years. However, following each year an evaluation takes place regarding the individual’s call to ministry and their fitness to continue. Specific expectations and ministry duties are determined on a person-by-person basis. Generally, each level advanced in the internship assumes increased responsibility and increased completion of formal theological education
Weekly Commitments
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Sunday Gathering
Sunday mornings are the heart of the ministry experience. Chicago Plan participants should view their Sunday experience with an “all hands on deck” mentality. Some interns will have teaching duties or will be charged with overseeing a particular ministry. Others will have the opportunity to participate in the many ordinary functions necessary in the life of the church. However, each ministry opportunity affords the intern to love God and to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ.
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Weekly Meetings
All levels of interns are expected to participate in the weekly intern meetings for instructions and presentations. These last approximately 90 minutes. Students come with the assigned passage prepared and reading completed. Necessary supplies include a Bible, a notebook and pen, and an eager and teachable spirit.
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Ministry Experience
Intern responsibilities are determined on a case-by-case basis, in conversation with a pastor at the beginning of the internship year. Interns should expect increased hourly commitment as they advance from one stage of the internship to the next.
