Research shows that emotionally healthy spiritual leadership requires emotional, psychological, and theological integration. Throughout this Cohort for the Certificate of Emotional Health in Ministry, you will learn about emotional health and resilience, how to gain healthy mastery of emotions, the fundamentals of trauma, how to build a trauma-informed church, and how to best navigate complex issues like healthy sexual marital relationships, addiction recovery, and grief.
 

The Cohort for the Certificate of Emotional Health in Ministry equips pastors and ministry leaders to respond to the complex mental health needs in their context. By enrolling in the Cohort, you’ll receive personalized support from experienced mentors led by world-renowned psychologist and pastor Dr. David Wang. Participate in regular meetings focusing on spiritual and vocational formation and contextualizing the material to your context. Build a kinship among ministry leaders across various contexts who are all striving to meet the overwhelming mental health needs in the church today. This isn’t a disconnected discussion board—you’ll hear people’s voices, experiences, and wisdom to help you work through the content within your context in real-time. 

If you’re feeling isolated and questioning whether you’re cut out for your ministry calling, you’re not alone. Throughout this Cohort, you’ll meet with other pastors and ministry leaders experiencing similar doubts and challenges within their diverse contexts. 

By the end of this Cohort, you will be equipped with the skills and frameworks needed to respond to the mental health needs in your community, engage in spiritual practices and self-care to help you minister for the long haul, and build relationships with ministry peers from various denominations and backgrounds across the country and worldwide. 

Centered around a FULLER Equip certificate.
 

The Experience

– Participate in nine Zoom meetings to reflect on your learning and process with others.

– Learn from world-renowned psychologist and pastor Dr. Dave Wang directly (he will lead four of the Zoom sessions). 

– Receive personalized feedback on assignments and engage in group spiritual and vocational formation.

– Grow alongside peers from various denominations and backgrounds across the country and worldwide while gaining access to the global scholarship and research of Fuller Seminary through the Fuller instructors.

– Complete coursework asynchronously while receiving accountability and space to process your learning through regular virtual meetings. 

– Earn a professional certificate backed by Fuller Seminary and possible credit for prior learning upon completing the Certificate. 
 

Details

Timeline: 11 months (January 2025—November 2025)
 

Virtual Meetings: January 23, March 6, April 24, May 22, June 26, July 31, September 11, October 16, November 20 

All meetings are on the above Thursdays at Noon–1:30 PM EST / 9:00–10:30 AM PST 
 

Group Size: Up to 15 people
 

Format: Online with asynchronous courses and nine Zoom meetings. 
 

Meet Your Instructors

Dr. David Wang

David Wang is a licensed psychologist, pastor, editor of the Journal of Psychology and Theology, and serves on the editorial board for the APA journal Spirituality in Clinical Practice. In 2022, he joined Fuller’s faculty as the Cliff and Joyce Penner Chair for the Formation of Emotionally Healthy Leaders. His research interests include trauma and traumatic stress, spiritual formation and spiritual theology (with special interest in the experience of the spiritual desert), and various topics related to multicultural psychology, peace, and justice.

Rev. Dr. Laura Murray

Laura Murray is the director of Spiritual Engagement and Innovation at Fuller Seminary’s Center for Spiritual Formation. She is also a spiritual director, retreat leader, writer, and Presbyterian pastor. She was born to first-generation Armenian immigrants who adventured from Tehran to Houston just before she was born. Laura has spent over 20 years in ministry in spiritual formation, pastoring, writing, and developing leaders. She holds a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Seminary and a Master's in Theology. Laura lives with her family in the Dallas area. She believes dessert is only dessert if it involves chocolate.

Zach Peery

Zach received his B.S. in Organizational Psychology from George Mason University and worked in various business settings prior to attending Fuller Theological Seminary, where he completed a Master of Divinity, specializing in pastoral care and practical theology. He also trained as a chaplain, completing Clinical Pastoral Education at NewYork-Presbyterian Weill-Cornell Hospital in NYC. He is ordained by Vanguard Ministries, a non-denominational network of churches. In addition to his work at FULLER Equip, Zach has consulted churches on strategic development of care ministries and provides pastoral care at his local church. Zach is originally from Northern Virginia and lives in New York City with his wife and daughter. Zach developed the Emotional Health in Ministry Certificate with Dr. David Wang.

FAQs

Who is this Cohort for? 

If you’re responsible for providing pastoral care to your church or organization, whether as a pastor, lay leader, chaplain, or community leader, this Cohort is for you. 

What is the time commitment for the Cohort? 

We know your time is limited and that genuine personal and professional development is an investment. That’s why the Cohort is designed with the accountability you need for deep formation rather than passive information. Learn at your convenience with the asynchronous courses while attending the regular Zoom meetings. Each meeting is an hour and a half long, and dates and times are available above to help you plan. 
 

Do I need to travel? 

There are no travel requirements, so you can learn from wherever you are and at a rate that’s most likely to result in transformation for you and your ministry. 
 

What types of credentials will I receive after completing the Cohort? 

You’ll earn a professional certificate backed by Fuller Seminary—one of the most trusted seminaries in the world. Successful completion of the courses and final project may earn you credit for prior learning at Fuller Seminary, should you pursue a degree at the institution. 
 

What should I expect from the cohort meetings? 

– Time dedicated to spiritual formation.

– Peer learning and sharing. We will discuss key activities and assignments through facilitated discussion. 

– The opportunity to ask your questions and personal situations to get wisdom and feedback from your peers and cohort mentors.
 

Do you offer scholarships for the Cohort?

Yes, please contact Zach Peery to apply and be considered for financial assistance. 

What if I can't make the meeting times or there are no seats left in this Cohort? 

These meeting times are critical to your learning. We highly recommend being at the majority, if not all, of the meetings. If you cannot make these meeting times or if the 2025 cohort is already full, fill out our interest form, and we will contact you!

What if I want to take my church or organization through this Cohort?

We would love to talk more with you about setting that up! Contact Zach Peery for special pricing and a personalized start date.
 

For further information, contact Zach Peery at [email protected] with any questions.