PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Briarcliff Church is committed to pouring into pastors for the next generation through seminary internships and our post-graduate residency program. Our goal is to be a key part of a pastor’s preparation for ministry through all-of-life discipleship of young pastors. This holistic approach focuses on theological application in everyday ministry, relational dynamics, pastoral care, pastoral longevity and health and leadership preparation.

REQUIREMENTS AND EXPECTATIONS

Briarcliff Church desires to select students with “integrity of heart and skillful hands” (Psalm 78:70-72) to participate in internship and/or residency programs. Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to following Christ, ministry leadership ability, a heart for serving the local church, and academic excellence. Application timelines and details for both programs are outlined below.

PROGRAMS

Pastoral internships are designed to parallel Master of Divinity course work for a minimum of two consecutive academic semesters. The goals of the pastoral internship are to give students a practical arena to apply theological training and explore pastoral strengths, weaknesses and passions.

There are two paths to a pastoral internship at Briarcliff Church. The first path includes first year MDiv students at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (MBTS) participating in the Timothy Track program. The second path includes students who are pursuing their education in other ways and are active covenant members who desire to enhance their theological training through the pastoral internship.

To learn more about either path to a pastoral internship at Briarcliff Church please contact Tim Armitage.

The Briarcliff Church Pastoral Residency is a two-year mentoring program designed to train and equip church leaders of tomorrow. Believing the local church, as God designed it, is the hope of the world, Briarcliff Church seeks to provide aspiring church leaders a healthy church environment to learn, grow and practice ministry after completing their degree. Students selected as residents will receive a full-tuition scholarship for their final year of MDiv work. Upon completion of his degree, each resident will serve a two-year residency at Briarcliff Church. The Pastoral Residency, a paid position with full benefits, provides a wide-range of potential ministry opportunities suited to each resident’s gifts, abilities and eventual ministry focus, with multiple opportunities for mentorship available.

The new pastor takes on the pastoral authority that is conferred by the congregation and/or denomination and, at the same time, enters into a shared understanding with the congregation that he or she is a pastoral apprentice­-in-residence. This duality provides an ideal setting for the formation of a pastoral identity. By providing a calibrated, graduated, reflective initiation into the pastoral life and the pastoral office, assuming the role of being a pastor is integrated with the emerging experience of becoming a pastor. One moves from “role play” to “role ownership” and identification.

The Alban Institute

The Briarcliff Church Pastoral Residency is a Made to Flourish (MTF) pastoral residency. MTF is a national network that exists to equip pastors to understand the integral connection between faith and the work God has called us to as individual pastors and each vocational calling of the members of our congregation. This partnership with MTF connects our church with resources and relationships that actively illustrate the all-of-life design God has for the discipleship of his people and the common good of all people.

ARE YOU INTERESTED?

If you are interested in the internship or residency programs, your next step is completion of the respective application process through one of the following pathways:

MBTS Timothy Track Candidates

For incoming, residential students pursuing a MDiv you may be interested in the benefits and experience of MBTS’s internship program: Timothy Track. This program provides immediate connection with leadership at MBTS and the local church. As a Timothy Track partner, Briarcliff facilitates the ministry experience that closely parallels your academic studies. You may learn more and apply to be a Timothy Track candidate by visiting mbts.edu/timothytrack.

Briarcliff Church Pastoral Internships

Students starting or continuing MDiv work may apply for the pastoral internship. Applications are due one month before the start of the student’s academic semester. Please send completed applications (and any questions) to Tim Armitage.

Briarcliff Church Pastoral Residency

The application process for the pastoral residency is similar to the pastoral internship. Either program has high personal, academic and pastoral expectations. However, the timeline for the Pastoral Residency involves added length and complexity due to the nature of the program. The only prerequisite to apply to the residency program is current full-time enrollment in an MDiv program. All applicants must submit an application three full academic semesters before anticipated graduation date. Please send completed applications (and any questions) to Tim Armitage.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Thank you for your interest in the Briarcliff Church Pastoral Internship and/or Residency Programs. We are delighted that you have chosen to take the next step and apply. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us for further clarification.

Submit an Application

Please create a document, not to exceed five single-spaced pages in length, with information outlined in the Application Details section, and email it to Tim Armitage.

Submit
Coordinate with MBTS Professor

Please coordinate with a professor at MBTS and have them complete the Pastoral Residency Recommendation.*

Recommendation Form
Coordinate with Your Pastor

Please coordinate with your pastor, either in Kansas City or at your home church, and have them complete an Pastoral Internship and Residency Recommendation.

Recommendation Form
Interview on Campus

We will coordinate with selected applicants to set up a one-hour interview.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Please create your application document with the following details. Documents should be single-spaced and not exceed five pages in length. Email the final document to Tim Armitage at Briarcliff Church.

The application guidelines and questions for the internship and residency are similar. Applicant for either program must answer all questions unless otherwise noted. Questions marked with an asterisk -- including the MBTS professorial recommendation -- are to be completed by residency applicants only.

Personal Information
  • Your Name
  • Spouses’ Name & Children’s Names (if applicable)
  • Address/City/State/Zip
  • Phone Number(s)
  • Preferred Email Contact
  • Current GPA in MDiv program*
  • Anticipated Graduation Date*
  • Which program you are applying for
 Character
  • Tell us about your journey of faith.
  • How have you been involved in your local church – past and present?
  • What is something you have learned recently from your devotional study of the Bible?
  • Read any good books lately? Tell us about one or two of them. (Exclude the Bible on this answer.)
  • What do you like to do for fun?
 Competence
  • List your educational background including areas of emphasis and GPAs
  • Tell us about any awards you have received throughout your educational experience.
  • List your work experience. You may supplement this answer with a résumé.
  • In what ways have you or are you currently demonstrating leadership?
  • How would you describe your strengths and weaknesses?
Calling
  • What is your current area of focus in the MDiv program?
  • Tell us about your sense of calling. Where and how do you sense God is directing you to serve him?

FINALISTS WILL BE INVITED TO BRIARCLIFF CHURCH FOR A SECOND INTERVIEW.