OUR MISSION
OUR MISSION IS TO SUPPORT BIBLICALLY FAITHFUL, SPIRITUALLY VIBRANT, AND SUSTAINABLE PASTORS AND CONGREGATIONS.
―MORE INFORMATION REGARDING OUR MISSION―
FROM DR. MICHAEL MILTON
―THE PRESIDENT OF THE D. JAMES KENNEDY INSTITUTE OF REFORMED LEADERSHIP―
Dr. Kennedy was an incredible mentor. Dr. Kennedy once told me, “We must always aim to maximize and multiply every act of ministry—every sermon, every letter, every prayer, every visit— so that more people will hear the Gospel, more ministers will be trained, and all of this so that more souls will be gathered in heaven to give glory to God.” “Pastors must be trained for the high calling granted to them by Christ. We must prepare Christian shepherds for the dignity of the pulpit, the privilege of preaching, and the incomparable nobility inherent in being an Ambassador for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.” The DJK Institute exists because of that vision. Mrs. Kennedy literally bequeathed that charge to me as we prayed in her living room about this Institute. The DJK Institute can never be separated from that legacy of training ministers who will train others to fulfill the Great Commission.
I pray that someone reading these words will contact us and join in a cohort. Invest the first year of your ministerial career in a residency that can bring a sustainable spiritual health to you, your family, and the church you serve, as well as the churches you will serve.
Live the legacy. Come and be a Kennedy Fellow. You will never regret time invested in your vocation for the glory of God and the greater advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
❝I AM GRATEFUL TO BE A SENIOR FELLOW WITH THE D. JAMES KENNEDY INSTITUTE, GRATEFUL TO BE PART OF EXTENDING DR. KENNEDY’S LEGACY TO A NEW GENERATION.❞
-Dr. George Grant, Senior Pastor, Parish Presbyterian Church, Franklin, TN-
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Michael A. Milton, PhD

FUNDING
Some initial funding will be provided from Erskine Theological Seminary (pending approval). Secondary sources may also include Presbyteries and individual churches. Funding sources will also include gifts, capital funds/endowment development, tuition, and general Synod support.
STAFFING
Staffing will initially be provided through the DJK Institute partnership under the direction of the Oversight Committee and the Council of Advisors. The Institute will operate from Due West, SC home of Erskine Theological Seminary. Dr. Milton will provide presidential guidance and oversight from his office in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Our adjunct faculty of Senior Fellows and Lecturers will contribute via our online learning management platform from around North America and the United Kingdom.
GOVERNANCE
The D. James Kennedy Institute of Reformed Leadership is an exclusive ministry of Erskine Theological Seminary by means of a Memorandum of Understanding between Erskine Theological Seminary and Faith for Living, Inc.
OVERSIGHT
Dr. Michael A. Milton, President, Provost of the Seminary, Erskine Theological Seminary
Dr. RJ Gore, Senior Fellow and Board member of Faith for Living, Dean of the Seminary Emeritus
The DJK Institute is guided by the support, wisdom, and vast collective experience of leading churchmen called the Advisory Council. Members of the Advisory Council include:
DELIVERY SYSTEM
The 12-month training and mentoring program is a multimodal design that incorporates both conceptual and tactile learning.
GRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE CREDIT
Erskine Theological Seminary (and others) evaluate your work and award credit for Master of Divinity (for a “fourth-year” of seminary) or for advanced academic or professional degrees (e.g., ThM, DMin.). Check with Erskine Seminary at https://seminary.erskine.edu or with your own school.
CONTACT FORM
Do you have questions regarding the D. James Kennedy Institute? We would be happy to help. Please contact us through the form provided below.