The Black Ministries
Certificate Program

Strengthen your ability to serve your purpose, in the church and beyond.

No matter where you are in your journey, the Black Ministries Certificate Program (BMP) gives you the tools you need to put your love of God into action for your church, family, and community.

You’ll gain ministerial frameworks and skills taught by current practitioners and access to a cost-conscious pathway for continuing your education in an HIU master's program.

A Program Available For All

The certificate program provides online and in-person theological training and leadership development for pastors and laypeople that prepares the next generation of Black Church leaders.

You’ll learn from pastors and leaders who currently work in the Black Church and the Academy and graduate with an educational experience that’s directly transferable to your spiritual life and participation in the Church.

With the generous financial support of religious institutions and organizations like the Lilly Endowment Inc, our Black Ministries Certificate is available to students across the country through courses offered online and in person and can be completed in two years.

Through practical frameworks, you’ll develop and expand these professional skills:

Preaching and Public Speaking
Writing Sermons
Managing a Ministry
Conflict Resolution
Teaching
Theology of the Black Church Experience
Modernization of Ministry
Mentoring
Worship
Examining Emerging Trends
Ethics

(BMP - 100) The Art of Communication / Writing Workshop

This course helps students improve their writing skills with a review of syntax and grammar rules, necessary research tools, and effective oral and written communication techniques for the art of creative expression.

(BMP – 161) Expository Preaching

In this course, students will learn the proper “how to” of sermon preparation and delivery, with a particular emphasis on the distinctiveness of preaching in the Black religious context.

(BMP - 190) Theology and the Black Experience

The purpose of this course is to use the African-American experience and search for identity in America as a lens through which to understand the development of African-American theology in the Christian context.

(BMP – 233) Black Church Ecclesiology in the Modern Digital Age

This course studies the role of the Black Church and its developing identity in this post-pandemic and increasingly technological age, with topics like reevaluating its significance to different generations, efficient organizational infrastructure, flexible ministerial models, and incorporating technology.

(BMP - 260) Survey of Old Testament

This course covers the books and major themes of the Old Testament, using the history and the culture of the ancient Near East, as well as archaeological data and critical approaches to scripture study where appropriate.

(BMP - 270) Survey of New Testament

This course will concentrate on the major teachings of the New Testament documents and the origins of Christianity. Historical-critical observations will be discussed in connection with the New Testament texts.

(BMP - 280) Black Theological Ethics: A Case Study Approach

Students will study contemporary ethical problems impacting the black community from a theological perspective using case studies to gain a better understanding of faithful, ethical decision-making as they examine issues like environmental racism, affirmative action, economics, health, and sexuality.

(BMP – 300) Charismatic Praise and Worship

Students will explore contemporary trends of praise and worship in the Black Church in light of their historical, biblical roots to gain insight and skills enabling them to create sound contemporary praise and worship teams and music ministries for the Black church.

The Bible Institute: Understanding the Bible

The Bible Institute covers the historical, cultural, and political forces that shaped the Bible, as well as the history of translation and canonization of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament.

Taught by Scholar-Practitioners.
Enriched by Peer Discussions.

Learn from professors with decades of experience leading urban churches and gain insight from thoughtful discussions with your peers. You’ll explore contemporary issues, such as environmental racism and affirmative action, with the latest thinking and resources from scholar-practitioners and peer conversations to compare and analyze the topics and practices.

Who Thrives Here?

The BMP guides you in defining, refining, and finding your pathway to purpose as you journey through each stage of living out your calling.

Providing a Path to Your Purpose

Your academic or religious journey might begin here. The BMP enables you to find your pathway to purpose. After earning your BMP, you can continue your education in an HIU master’s program, and then with an MDiv.

Preparing to Serve Your Calling

Your intense desire to serve drives you. With a BMP, you’ll gain the tools to actualize and apply your sense of purpose to its fullest, whether in a ministerial role, leading a community group, teaching, or starting a nonprofit.

Polishing Your Gift as a Current Practitioner

Pastors and ministers can polish and refine their gift with a bit of training and preparation. You’ll perfect your sermon writing and learn how to successfully manage a ministry to better serve as a leader in your church.

What You Can Do With This Certificate

Black Ministries Certificate Career Paths

Serve as a Clergy Leader

Lead Faith & Community Groups

Start a Non-Profit

Continue Your Education in an HIU Masters Program

Continue Your Education With Our Seminary Partners

Teach at a University

Belong To An Active and
Caring Alumni Network

BMP alumni foster a supportive, welcoming, and deep sense of community that enables you to thrive no matter what background you come from. Clergy and laity, men and women, grow together in both mind and soul – the one quality that all members of our community share is their direct connection to and involvement in the Black Church. BMP alums often become our most cherished faculty.

The Difference You'll Make

Our alumni are making a difference in all corners of the world – whether by serving as religious leaders in all kinds of communities, facilitating advocacy programs, or teaching in schools.

Rev Odell Montgomery Cooper

Founder, President & Executive Director at Interruptions: Disrupting the Silence

See Rev Odell Montgomery Cooper on LinkedIn

Rev. Dr. Steven Ray

Senior Minister at United Church On The Green
Retired President at Chicago Theological Seminary

See Rev. Dr. Steven Ray on LinkedIn

Dr. Anthony Hill

Associate Professor at Springfield College

See Dr. Anthony Hill on LinkedIn

Nancy Kingwood

Deputy Director at HIV Services for Greater Bridgeport Area Prevention Program
CEO at Nancy Kingwood Ministries

See Nancy Kingwood on LinkedIn

Meet Our Program Director

Dr. Benjamin K. Watts

Director of the BMP Program

Bishop Dr. Benjamin K. Watts is the Senior Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in New London, CT and a member of Churches Covered and Connected in Covenant (CCCC). He was ordained as a Bishop by The International Bishops Conference in 2008 and holds a Master of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and a Doctor of Ministry from HIU with distinction for his dissertation, “Understanding & Utilizing Africentrism in Strengthening & Revitalizing the Mission of the Black Church: Analysis & Models.”

Dr. Watts also serves as Executive Minister of the Howard Thurman Center for Justice and Transformational Ministry, teaches courses on religion and community life, and conducts research on topics such as the intersection of spirituality and public life, how faith can be incorporated into the public sphere, and examining race and culture in marginalized communities beyond their religious hegemony.

Admission FAQs

Faces of BMP - a collage of BMP alumni and faculty

Take the next step towards your calling through the BMP.

Are you ready to make a difference?

Learn more about Hartford International University for Religion & Peace.

The Black MinistriesCertificate Program