Bishop Kemper School for Ministry
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Parish Ministry Associate Program

We gladly welcome Parish Ministry Associate (PMA) students from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Central States Synod to our campus, as these students greatly enhance our community of formation, worship and fellowship.

The ELCA’s Parish Ministry Associate (PMA) program raises up leaders who are accountable to the church, both on the congregational and synodical level, and are certified to act as leaders in those settings as well as the larger community outside the church. 

PMAs may serve as leaders in their own congregations in a variety of ways. They may serve in other congregations of the synod as Ministry Support Pastoral Leaders upon the request and approval of the bishop. They may serve on teams and task forces of the Synod as well as exercise leadership within the community outside the church.

Program of Study
Throughout the academic year, BKSM offers a number of required courses for PMA students:
  • Ethics: Christian Ethics  or Forms of Christian Ethics
  • New Testament
  • Old Testament: Old Testament I
  • Pastoral Theology
  • Preaching: Homiletics for Lay Preachers or Preaching I

Students may take certain other core and elective courses that contribute to their course of study, but they must be approved through the ELCA. Additionally, the ELCA offers scholarships for PMA students enrolled at BKSM.

You will find the 2023-24 course schedule here.

You are invited, though not required to attend the Student Retreat for Second-Year, Anglican Studies, Lay Certificate and PMA students. 

To get started, fill out the Contact Us form or Register for a Course.


Address for Tuition Payments/Donations:
The Very Rev. Don Compier, BKSM Dean
410 SE Independence Ave.

Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Physical Address:
Bishop Kemper School for Ministry

701 SW 8th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66603

The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry is a collaborative venture of the Episcopal Dioceses of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas.
BKSM also partners with the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
BKSM offers classes and programs to educate people for church leadership in both lay and ordained vocations.