What is IML?
The IML Certificate offers a personal developmental journey in Christian Spirituality, Leadership and Organisational Development in the context of Mission.
It is composed of four modules over the course of a year. Each module integrates the core themes of spiritual formation, leadership, organisational development and mission. The number of participants is capped at 30 to maximise learning.
Its purpose is
- to nurture godly leaders in mission who have a developing understanding and ability to integrate God’s truth, wherever it is found, into their own spiritual formation, leadership and organisational development in the context of mission
- to help participants to play an individual and collective role in influencing the way leadership and mission is practised and to support changes that will help transform structures to be responsive to God’s mission in changing political, economic, social, technical, cross-cultural and spiritual contexts.
Programme outline
The programme is composed of four modules spread over 12 months. Each module integrates the core themes of spiritual formation, leadership, organisational development and mission.
The process of learning will emphasise
- individual and small group work
- reflexive and experiential exercises
- spiritual formation exercises
- peer group coaching and support
- participant engagement in programme development and learning approaches
Each module will be taught by senior faculty. Between modules it is expected that the cohort will engage on-line periodically to share experience and support learning.
Who teaches the course?
The programme has been building a growing faculty pool and includes the following:
- Dr Paul Bendor-Samuel, Programme Director, UK
- Josiah Watters, Programme Dean, Thailand
- Dr Kirk Franklin, Australia
- Paula Fuller, USA
- Dr Sung Chan Kwon, Korea
Eligibility requirements
- senior leaders, currently leading or on the senior leadership team, of organisations and networks focused on some part of God’s mission
- those committed to reflecting and acting on the changing nature of cross-cultural mission
- reasonable English proficiency
- must have organisational endorsement and commit to the whole programme
Course dates and fees
Dates and locations for Cohort V course are still to be confirmed. Tentative dates and locations are:
- Module 1: Sunday 19th – Friday 24th April 2026; location UK
- Module 2: Sunday 12th – Friday 17th July 2026; location Singapore
- Module 3: Sunday 13th – Friday 18th September 2026; location UK
- Module 4: Sunday 8th – Friday 13th November 2026; location Ethiopia or Kenya
The full cost is £3,950 per participant, which includes tuition fees, accommodation costs, meals and course materials. This does not include travel costs. OCMS does offer some scholarships.
We now welcome applications for Cohort V.
