For almost 100 years the name Cook has been associated with Native American Education across the United States, Canada and even beyond. Programs taught both on our former campus and on hundreds of reservation churches and other locations have produced tribal leaders, pastors, teachers, educators, and community leaders from many tribes across the nation and beyond.

Continuing that mission, we are still offering our Annual Winter and Summer Terms, the Workshops on Wheels Programs, the Commissioned Lay Pastors Courses, plus a variety of special programs geared to the Native American Community and available to anyone interested.

Cook has the ability, personnel, and insights to develop programs and workshops to meet the specific needs of your church or community. Please feel free to contact us about your needs or concerns and learn how Cook can work with you to produce the desired results.

Winter Term

For over 30 years, Cook has offered a wide variety of courses appropriate to the needs and interests of Native and non-Native participants, both clergy and non-clergy. They cover many subjects of general interest, and in the past have ranged from Teaching and Leadership Skills, to Bible Study and Native American Faith and Culture. These programs are usually held in January and average four days in length.

The courses are led by some of the finest Native and non-Native instructors in the country
For more information about our Winter Term programs, please contact
Martha Sadongei Phone: 480.968.9354 ext.142

Summer Term

Like our popular annual Winter Term Courses, our Summer Term Programs offer a variety of courses appropriate to the needs and interests of Native and non-Native participants, both clergy and laity.

The courses are also led by some of the finest Native and non-Native instructors in the country
Click here for Summer Term 2010 Brochure
For more information about our Summer Term programs, please contact
Martha Sadongei Phone: 480.968.9354 ext.142

Commissioned Lay Pastor Programs

These programs are offered to help provide the necessary course work for elders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who wish to become Commissioned Lay Pastors in this denomination. The courses are also available for laity who are interested in learning more about the Bible, teaching and other aspects of Christian ministry.
According to the Book of Order: "The Commissioned Lay Pastor is an elder of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) who is granted a local commission by the presbytery to lead worship and preach the gospel, watch over the people, and provide for their nurture and service" G-14.0801

A Commissioned Lay Pastor, given the required training, may also be authorized by the presbytery to perform any or all of the following functions, when it furthers the strategy for ministry in one or more congregations to which he or she may be commissioned to serve:
  1. Administer the Lord's Supper,
  2. Administer the Sacrament of Baptism.
  3. Moderate the session of the congregation under the supervision of, and when invited by, the moderator of the session appointed by the presbytery.
And in addition,
  1. Have a voice & vote in meetings of presbytery.
  2. Perform a service of Christian marriage when invited by the session or other responsible committee, and when allowed by the state. G-14.0801c

Objectives:

  • To provide the necessary course work for elders wishing to become Commissioned Lay Pastors (CLP) within Grand Canyon Presbytery
  • To provide educational opportunities for laity who are interested in learning more about the Bible, ministry, and the theology/polity of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)

Qualifications:

  • Be an ordained elder in the PC(USA).
  • Have been an active member of a PC(USA) congregation for at least two years or be recommended by letter from the Stated Clerk of a previous presbytery.
If you receive the call, then talk to your pastor, or if you are without a pastor, speak with the Presbytery Executive. The fact that you are interested in becoming a CLP will then be brought to your session.

Syllabus:

Three year Rotation Schedule for CLP classes
9 hour weekend includes Tuition, one night housing, dinner, breakfast, and lunch or for a commuter student this would include tuition and dinner, breakfast and lunch. Most classes are 3 hours Friday night and 6 hours on Saturday. There is one class during the 3 year cycle that will be held on two different Saturdays for 4 ½ hours making 9 hours total.
First Year
Introduction to New Testament Session #1: September 3 - 4, 2010
Session #2: September 24 - 25, 2010
Preaching Session #1: October 22 - 23, 2010
Session #2: November 12 - 13, 2010
Theology and Church History Session #1: February 4 - 5, 2011
Session #2: February 25 - 26, 2011
Session #3: March 11 - 12, 2011
Second Year
Introduction to New Testament Session #1: September 2 - 3, 2010
Session #2: September 23 - 24, 2010
Faith Development and Spirituality Session #1: November 5, 2010
Session #2: November 12, 2010
Reformed Worship, Liturgy, and Planning Session #1: March 2 - 3, 2012
Session #2: March 23 - 24, 2012
Third Year
Introduction to Pastoral Care Session #1: September 7 - 8, 2012
Session #2: September 21 - 22, 2012
Introduction to Christian Education Session #1: October 5 - 6, 2012
Session #2: October 26 - 27, 2012
Administrative Development Session #1: February 8 - 9, 2013
Session #2: March 1 - 2, 2013
Ethics and Sexual Misconduct Session: May 3 - 4 2013

Click here for CLP 2010-2011 Brochure
Click here for CLP 2010-2011 Syllabus
For more information about our CLP programs, please contact
Martha Sadongei Phone: 480.968.9354 ext.142

Workshops on Wheels

The Workshops on Wheels is a program of over 30 courses which Cook can take directly to churches and other institutions both on and off the reservations in order to save travel expenses for the participants. These programs vary from Youth Leadership and Vacation Bible School Workshops for Teachers, to Pastoral Care and Administrative Skills for the Small Church.
Would your church benefit from the training of leaders or committees to carry out the work of the church? Or, is your church looking for guidance in beginning a new program, e.g., a vacation Bible school? Or, are you seeking a greater understanding of the Christian faith?

Whatever the need, Cook can help by providing specialized, short-term, high-impact workshops on a variety of topics relevant to Native American Christians and their churches. Workshops can be held in your community, or you can come to the Cook campus in Arizona.

Here are a few workshop possibilities:
  • Small Church Development
  • Vacation Bible School Workshop for Teachers
  • Leading Bible Studies
  • The Impact of Alcohol and Drugs on our Church Families
  • Administrative Skills for the Small Church
  • New Testament Survey

Contact us today to let us know how we can help you or your church.
For more information about our Workshops on Wheels program, please contact
Martha Sadongei Phone: 480.968.9354 ext.142