Christus Rex Study Center

The Christus Rex Study Center is a ministry of Christ Church North Carolina which trains and equips leaders in the context of the local church (2 Tim. 2:2).

Objectives

  • Study
  • Mentoring (both future pastors for the CREC & elders/deacons for Christ Church, as well as anyone wishing to study theology and grow in their churchmanship)
  • Apprenticeship
  • Church planting
  • Holistic program of Theory, Imitation, Practice

Medieval students

Tracks

Ministerial Track

This course of study is designed to prepare men for pastoral ministry. The CREC ordination questions/study guide as well as an elder questionnaire will be used to evaluate the progress of the students.

A student may be dropped from the program at any time if the elders of Christ Church determine that he is unfit for the ministry.
Admissions requirement: must have a Bachelor's degree, or comparable life-experience

Ministerial Track Application
Pastoral Evaluation Form

Apologetics/Churchman Track

This is an ideal course for college-bound youth who are not sure of their calling in life, but would like more training. It also aims to train up non-ordained leaders in the church.
Admissions requirement: must have high school diploma, or comparable life-experience

The registration deadline for all tracks is August 1.
Class start dates:

  1. Biblical Greek 1 (year long) - August 7
  2. Thinking Biblically (fall only) - August 7
  3. Bible Grammar (year long) - August 24

Registration form for Apologetics Track (Christ Church Member)
Registration form for Apologetics Track (Non-Christ Church Member)

View the curriculum
View the class schedule

Mentoring

Although academic study is important, since leaders in the church must be specialists in the Bible, and generalists in every area of life, what makes this ministerial hall unique is its emphasis on mentoring and apprenticeship in the context of the local church.

The Study Center is self-consciously implenting the vision of the Confederation of Reformed Evangelical Churches, as expressed in Memorial on Ministerial Training:

"While a formal seminary education may prepare a candidate for ordination, our confederation strongly prefers ministerial training, under the oversight of local church elders, which maintains high academic and theological standards (including training in the original languages of Scripture), and yet at the same time incorporates an apprentice or internship approach within the context of the local congregation."

Students will be assigned to a particular mentor (either an elder, or a faculty member) who will guide them in their spiritual formation.

Once a week, all the students (and as many mentors as possible) will meet together. Students will present 5 minute homilies, and receive critique from faculty and fellow students. Students will also critique the sermon of whoever preached the most recent sermon at Christ Church. Students and mentors will report on their own spiritual formation. The meeting will end in prayer.

In the third year (Gamma Year), students will be assigned various tasks (under the supervision of the session of Christ Church), and will gain experience in preaching. Apprenticeship tasks may include the following:

  • teaching a catechism class for children
  • leading a Bible study for teens/college students
  • university campus evangelism/ outreach
  • organizing and leading imprecatory psalm singing at a local abortuary
  • organizing a ministry to the homeless and poor
  • helping extend the work of the Slavic Reformation Society
  • preaching at church plants
  • leading Men's Forum
  • establishing a local outreach to the African-American and Latino populations

Curriculum Overview

View the curriculum
View the class schedule

Tuition and Fees

Tuition is $100.00 per class. Students are responsible for purchasing their own books.

Contact and Registration

The registration deadline is August 1, 2009. To speak to us about registration or for more information about the Christus Rex Study Center, please contact the Director (Gregory Soderberg) by calling (919) 608-5370 or e-mail: gsoderberg@nc.rr.com. Or, if you are ready to register, visit the links below for the application or registration form for the track in which you are interested.

Classes will be held at the Christ Church North Carolina office, located at the following address.

110 Mackenan Dr, Suite 113
Cary, NC 27511

Registration and Application Forms
Ministerial Track Application
Pastoral Evaluation Form
Registration form for Apologetics Track (Christ Church Member)
Registration form for Apologetics Track (Non-Christ Church Member)

Instructors

Dell Cook (Historical Theology)
Dell holds the Master of Divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and the Master of Theology degree from Reformed Theological Seminary. He teaches Theology, Apologetics and Church History at Cary Christian School where he has been on the faculty for 9 years. In addition he serves as director of the school's Senior Service Practicum and varsity football coach. He is a faculty member of Worldview Academy where he lectures on various issues pertaining to cultural engagement and impact. Dell has been married to Ginny since 1994 and they have three children: Katie, Lauren and Andrew.

Gene Liechty (Biblical Shepherding/ Biblical Hebrew)
Although this is Gene Liechty's first pastorate, he is well on his way to being a model pastor. Mr. Liechty is married to Kimberly, and they have four children: Grace, Carter, Silas, and Ian. Mr. Liechty studied theology at Greyfriar's Hall in Moscow, Idaho. He has taught under the care of the elders at Bay Area Community Church, in Annapolis. Before entering the ministry, he worked as a marketing professional in a wide variety of fields. He also serves in an advisory capacity to the Slavic Reformation Society.

Gregory Soderberg (Greek I & II/ Liturgy & Music/ Thinking Biblically)
Gregory has taught Theology, Literature, and Greek at Cary Christian School. He holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Culture from New St. Andrews College. After studying at Reformed Theological Seminary, he earned a M.A. in Church History from the University of Pretoria. He also studied liturgical theology at Trinity Theological College and is currently studying for a Doctor of Theology degree through Columbia Evangelical Seminary and for a M.A. in Applied Orthodox Theology through the Antiochian House of Studies. He is a member of the American Society of Church History. He is married to a wise and godly woman, and they are blessed with four rambunctious children.

Inspiration & Influences

Greyfriars' Hall
Martin Bucer Institute for Biblical Studies
All Saints' Presbyterian Church - "Ministry Training Prospectus"
Capitol Hill Baptist Church Internship Program
Paul W. Martin - "Pastor: Mentor the Young Men!"
Dr. Morton Smith - "The Academy Model for Theological Education"

Thomas Bilney