Continuing Education

  • Continuing education guidelines and costs
  • For beginning pastors: PE track 
  • Other forms of education

Permanente Educatie Predikanten (PEP) is an educational program of Theological University Utrecht for theological professionals: pastors, church workers, spiritual care workers and others, with an emphasis on those working in the church. At PEP you will find the complete course offerings that the Theological University of Utrecht offers for you as a pastor, church worker, spiritual caregiver in the coming period. 

PEP inspires and supports pastors and other theological professionals through a diverse range of theological courses, trainings, study days, conferences and the like at the academic level. 

PEP is an educational program of Utrecht Theological University. Participants from all church denominations are warmly welcome. PKN pastors can participate in PEP study activities as part of study leave under their own direction within the PE.. 

Contact information
Permanent Education pastors
p/a Theological University Utrecht
t.a.v: Margriet Westers
Plompetorengracht 3
3512 CA Utrecht

Guidelines and costs 

Steunpunt Kerkenwerkenwerk (SKW) advises NGK and CGK churches in their role as “employer” and administrator. SKW uses the following guidelines for continuing education, assuming a full-time appointment (1 FTE): 

Continuing Education for pastors focuses on the advancement of expertise during active ministry. Full-time pastors are advised to take 140 hours (5 EC) of education per year. If desired, another distribution of hours can be made, spread over a period of 5 years. For this purpose €1500 per year is available for education and €1000 for professional literature. You will find more information about this in the material regulations. 

For starting pastors: PE track

For starting pastors in the NGK, the PE track for starting pastors has been developed. This post-initial training consists of 6 modules, spread over 2 academic years, which you follow together with other starting colleagues. Here you can find more information about the PE track for beginning pastors. 

Other forms of education

In addition to postgraduate theological education, as a pastor you may also need other forms of training, for example in the form of coaching or other formation. You can devote part of your study hours to this as well. You can inquire at Steunpunt Kerkenwerkenwerk whether the coaching or training you have in mind is eligible for EC. 

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