Fellowship
Institute

Training, Equipping, and Deploying the next generation of church leaders

The Fellowship Institute is a 10-month residency program at Fellowship Church in Knoxville, TN. The Institute is a training ground for young adults to explore vocational ministry and offers residents a holistic approach focusing on the Biblical knowledge, skills, and emotional intelligence of being in ministry.

God has gifted Fellowship with an incredible staff of specialists in several ministry areas. The Fellowship Institute is one way to steward what God has given us by launching gospel-centered workers for Kingdom work.

The Institute offers:

Education - We have some of the most gifted pastors and teachers on our staff at Fellowship. The Institute provides residents classes with our pastors for education in Theology, Biblical Literacy, Spiritual Formation, and Leadership Development. Each week, there will be a class day where residents will grow in their knowledge about God and their love for His Church.

Experience - Outside the classroom, residents will be in the trenches with our staff leading weekly programming. This offers every resident a hands-on approach, where they get real-life ministry experience and learn how to deploy their gifts. If you're looking for a program that only allows you to observe, this program isn't for you.

Evaluation - One of the greatest gifts anyone can receive is honest evaluation and feedback. At The Fellowship Institute, every resident will meet with their Department Head monthly and get honest feedback and ongoing assessment. We believe that we all become better leaders and pastors with purposeful evaluation.

Exposure - At Fellowship Institute, one of the most valuable things we can do for our residents is expose them to healthy leadership and church culture. Fellowship, like all churches, is far from perfect. However, we strive to lead authentically as a team for the glory of God.

If you want to deepen your Biblical knowledge, increase your leadership capacity, and develop ministry skills, the Fellowship Institute can help you take your next steps in ministry.

Application & Dates

Applications for the August 23, 2023 - May 24, 2024 class are closed.

Applications for the 2024/2025 class will open November 1, 2023.

FAQ's

1. What is The Institute?
The Fellowship Institute is a 10-month residency program at Fellowship Church in Knoxville, TN. The Institute offers residents a holistic approach focusing on the way (skills), the truth (Biblical knowledge), and the life (emotional intelligence) of being a pastor.

2. Who should apply to The Institute?
The Fellowship Institute is a training ground for young adults who feel called to full-time ministry. If you are exploring your next steps in ministry and want to deepen your Biblical knowledge, increase your leadership capacity, and develop ministry skills, the Fellowship Institute is for you.

4. Is this residency paid?
Yes, the resident will be paid a stipend every month.

5. Is housing available?
Yes, residents not already living in Knoxville will have the option of living with a host home.

6. Is the residency a full-time position?
No. The residency is a maximum of 29 hours every week.

7. How many people are in each class?
The 2023/2024 class will have five residents.
The 2024/2025 class will have ten residents.

8. Can I work another job while in the resident program?
Yes, the resident program will consist of a 3-day work week + Sunday responsibilities. This allows residents to get a part-time job.

9. Will I be hired at Fellowship upon graduation from the program?
No. One of the goals of The Institute is to deploy gospel-centered individuals to the Church. One commitment of The Institute is to help residents figure out their best next step, whether entry to full-time ministry or pursuing higher education.

10. Can my residency count for academic credit?
We are currently working on making this an option. If you are currently in school and want to explore this, we will work with your school to develop a program that gives you credit for your residency.

11. What ministry tracks are offered?
2023/2024 - Kids, Students, Adults, Worship, Mobilization
2024/2025 - Kids, Middle School Ministry, High School Ministry, College Life, Young Adults, Adult, Worship, Tech, Mobilization Local Impact, Mobilization Global Impact, Comms, Care, Connections