Ignite and Equip Conference Cohorts
Cohort-based degree pathway—in partnership with regional conferences of the Evangelical Covenant Church
Relational seminary education you can accomplish.
Earn your Master of Arts in Christian Formation (MACF) in four years while building mission-friendships across the Evangelical Covenant Church. Our conference cohorts provide a custom schedule and an affordable funding model that brings a credentialing degree for ministry within reach.
Why Seminary Through Ignite and Equip?
- Gain biblical, theological, and practical foundations for powerful ministry
- Learn from professors with academic expertise and pastoral vision
- Meet educational requirements to seek Ordination to Word and Service in the Evangelical Covenant Church
- Blend the friendship of an embodied learning community with the flexibility of online delivery
- Encounter the broader Covenant denomination, and build relationships with conference leaders
- Build it all through the most affordable option for a North Park Theological Seminary degree
The MA in Christian Formation
The Master of Arts in Christian Formation (MACF) is an accredited, 48-credit-hour master’s degree designed to equip leaders for ministries focused on Christian formation, discipleship, and spiritual growth in congregational and educational settings.
Coursework provides a foundation in Bible, theology, Christian history, spiritual formation, and ministry practice, alongside specialized electives in Christian education and intercultural engagement. With a blend of academic study and practical ministry, graduates may pursue Ordination to Word and Service in the Evangelical Covenant Church.
A shared investment in your call to seminary
The cohort funding model is designed for maximum affordability.
- 50% — Tuition discount from North Park Theological Seminary for admitted students
- 25% — Financial commitment from sponsoring congregation
- 25% — Remaining student responsibility
Financial support from a sponsoring congregation or church is determined independently by that organization and may vary. Any amounts listed are estimates for planning purposes only and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of financial support.
How it works
The four-year part-time program schedule is designed for those juggling ministry, family, or work—combining predictable evening courses with in-person intensive weeks for condensed learning opportunities.
Fall and Spring Semesters
Monday night classes
Live online courses meet for 1.5 hours each Monday night (7:00–8.30 p.m. CT). The schedule stays locked in so you can plan life ahead of time.
September
Fall intensive at cohort base camp
A week of in-person classes and cohort connection. Equip meets at Carol Joy Holling Camp and Retreat Center in Ashland, Nebraska. Ignite meets at Mission Springs Camps and Conference Center in Scotts Valley, California.
January
Covenant Midwinter Conference
In the first program year, cohort students attend the Covenant Midwinter Conference for pastors. Students complete a course intensive and attend conference events outside of class time.
June
Summer intensives at NPTS
Summer brings cohort students to the Chicago Campus of North Park Theological Seminary, for in-person courses, engagement with North Park faculty and staff, and connection to students across programs.
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What a blessing! They have put together a pathway that is affordable, intense, and prepares the student at a high level in missions and ministry. I’m looking forward to being equipped to serve God, carrying the gospel to the urban core in our city.
Melvin Cole, Equip Co-Pastor, Freedom Covenant, Kansas City, MO
Last night during our intensive we gathered together and prayed and interceded for each other. A significant part about the experience with Ignite for me has been my cohort—doing life on life in this authentic, embodied learning space.
Bethany Groot, Ignite Cohort Six, Campus Minister InterVarsity USA
Ignite and Equip cohorts embody the best kind of partnership between church, conference, denomination, and seminary. Every Covenant church is stronger when led by healthy, missional, and theologically equipped leaders
Tammy Swanson-Draheim, President, Evangelical Covenant Church
What a blessing! They have put together a pathway that is affordable, intense, and prepares the student at a high level in missions and ministry. I’m looking forward to being equipped to serve God, carrying the gospel to the urban core in our city.
Melvin Cole, Equip Co-Pastor, Freedom Covenant, Kansas City, MO
Last night during our intensive we gathered together and prayed and interceded for each other. A significant part about the experience with Ignite for me has been my cohort—doing life on life in this authentic, embodied learning space.
Bethany Groot, Ignite Cohort Six, Campus Minister InterVarsity USA
Ignite and Equip cohorts embody the best kind of partnership between church, conference, denomination, and seminary. Every Covenant church is stronger when led by healthy, missional, and theologically equipped leaders
Tammy Swanson-Draheim, President, Evangelical Covenant Church
Featured courses
CEDF 5100 Christian Education and Formation in the Church
This course will introduce the tensions and dimensions of historical, theological, and pedagogical foundations of Christian Formation. Time will be given to discussing leadership concerns as pastors of Christian formation, and will facilitate a broad awareness of Christian formation in the Church.
BIBL 6290 Intercultural Readings of the Bible
The course interprets select biblical texts from the Old and New Testaments with an appreciation for how African American, Asian American, Latin American, and other ethnic American scholars hear these same texts from their respective cultural locations and social histories. Special attention is given to exegetical method, theological reflection, and cultural hermeneutics.
Accreditation
I hope that every student in my courses walks away with a greater knowledge about the culture and social values of the first century world, a greater love for reading the New Testament in its ancient context, and a greater faith to live out this same gospel message more radically today.
—Dr. Max Lee, Professor of New Testament
Program notes
Time to completion
Four-years (part-time). The degree is offered as a part-time, cohort-driven program. Sample Course Sequence document.
Ordination
The Master of Arts in Christian Formation is the principal ministerial degree for those seeking Ordination to Word & Service—specialized church ministry—with the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Distance or local
This program is completed as a distance student upon acceptance into one of two special conference cohorts—Ignite (West) or Equip (Midwest). All students work online during spring and fall semesters, and travel to their cohort location for annual in-person immersion experiences.
Meet your admissions counselor
Nearly all seminary students are eligible for financial aid packages, and our admissions counselors can walk you through your tuition options. Explore your cost.
The prerequisite for entrance to the seminary master’s degree or graduate certificate program at North Park Theological Seminary is a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of a 2.5. In special cases we will review an applicant who does not meet these academic requirements—please contact seminary admissions)
The prerequisite for the dual-degree options is a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of a 3.0.
To Apply
Complete the master’s degree online application. Applications are taken on a rolling basis. Start the application any time, save as you go, and submit when you are ready.
These supplemental items are required
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- Recommendations: Each application requires three recommendations: pastor, church committee, and faculty or colleague. You provide name and email address, and our application system will email secure recommendation forms.
- Essay Questions: You will find the essay question prompt and space to upload your answers in the online application.
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Official Transcripts: North Parth Theological Seminary requires official academic transcripts from each postsecondary institution you have attended. How to send a transcript
The time in life exploring seminary options is exciting but can be lead to a lot of questions. We’re ready to help! Get in touch with an admissions counselor.
FAQ
When do the next cohorts begin?
Cohorts begin in the fall term only.
Fall 2025—New Equip cohort begins.
Fall 2026—New Ignite cohort begins.
Intensive dates for 2025–26 academic year
- September 15–19, 2025: Equip fall intensive course and cohort connection at Carol Joy Holling in Ashland, Nebraska
- January 26–30, 2026: Midwinter Conference in Chicago
- June 1–6, 2026: Summer intensive course and cohort connection at NPTS’s Chicago campus
Can I attend this program if I am not part of the Pacific Southwest or Midwest conferences?
Yes! Both cohort programs are hosted by the Pacific Southwest and Midwest conferences, but can accept students from any conference.
How does the church sponsorship work?
We can help you speak to your church if they have not participated in the past. Start with an inquiry, and we’ll get in touch.
What is the time commitment per week and per year?
Students take three to seven credit hours of online coursework each fall, spring, and summer semester. In the fall (late August to mid-December) and spring (mid-January to mid-May) semesters, students meet virtually each Monday evening for 1.5 hours. One week of in-person time is required each fall and summer semester. First-year students also have a week of in-person classes at the Covenant’s Midwinter Conference in the spring semester.
Students are generally advised to plan for three hours of weekly personal reading and study per credit hour, though this can vary based on course requirements.
Who do I contact for general assistance?
Seminary admissions is prepared to help with all your program questions. Contact admissions
For conference specific questions, including church sponsorship and updated intensive locations, email the conference office:
Do you have promotional or recruiting materials for this program?
We do! Church leaders or conference staff should send an email to semadmissions@northpark.edu so we can send you the latest.