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:
The dates/weekends for these courses are available on the 2025-2026 Course Schedule page. Students may take classes in person in Topeka, KS, on Zoom, or in a combination of in person and online. Tuition rates are outline here.
Finally, students may take certain other core and elective courses that contribute to their course of study, but they must be approved through the ELCA.
You are invited, though not required to attend the Student Retreat for Second-Year, Anglican Studies, Lay Certificate and PMA students.
Additionally, the ELCA offers scholarships for PMA students enrolled at BKSM.
To get started, fill out the Contact Us form or Register for a Course.
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
The dates/weekends for these courses are available on the 2025-2026 Course Schedule page. Students may take classes in person in Topeka, KS, on Zoom, or in a combination of in person and online. Tuition rates are outline here.
Finally, students may take certain other core and elective courses that contribute to their course of study, but they must be approved through the ELCA.
You are invited, though not required to attend the Student Retreat for Second-Year, Anglican Studies, Lay Certificate and PMA students.
Additionally, the ELCA offers scholarships for PMA students enrolled at BKSM.
To get started, fill out the Contact Us form or Register for a Course.