Anchor
School

calling, equipping, and community.

As followers of Jesus, we long for significance—to discern God’s calling, take faith-filled risks, and make an impact in the world. Anchor School of Discipleship & Ministry is where you can explore and be equipped for your calling in a community of learners where you’re known and valued.

You’ll be challenged, filled with wonder, and experience God’s presence through in-person and online college-level Bible and theology courses taught by Anchor School faculty who integrate theology, ministry practices, and spiritual formation.

At Anchor School you can earn credits toward undergraduate or graduate ministry degrees at a fraction of traditional costs through our collaboration with Crown College.

affordable college credit

Anchor School of Discipleship & Ministry offers affordable college-level Bible and theology courses from trusted and thoughtful instructors. Students can receive a 30-credit Biblical Studies Certificate, earn academic credit at Crown College for eligible courses with a performance of 80% or above, apply eligible Anchor School courses toward a qualifying degree program at Crown College, and receive a tuition discount when they enroll at Crown to complete their degree.

Anchor school programs

Anchor School has established an agreement with Crown College that allows Anchor School to offer selected courses that are accepted by Crown as college credit when students perform at 80% or beyond and transfer into Crown.

Our Agreement with Crown College

Individual
courses

Choose Courses that meet your needs
Individual courses can be eligible for academic credit at Crown

biblical studies certificate

Complete 10 courses (30 credits) over 2-3 years
Satisfiy C&MA educational requirement for licensing
Can qualify Anchor lay leaders as Care Pastors at their campuses.

blended-curriculum degree program

Complete general education requirements at a community college or other institution.
Take 30 to 42 credit hours of Anchor School courses, including ministry practicums that provide hands-on ministry experience in a supervised setting.
Complete remaining degree requirements online through Crown while participating in ministry at Anchor and other partnering ministry sites locally or globally.

Care Pastor pathway

Apply to be part of a community of volunteer Care Pastors at Anchor
Get equipped, developed, and deployed to serve pastorally in the Anchor community
Prerequisites: 2 select Anchor School classes, along with Soul Care and Inner Healing Prayer Training through Anchor Church
Applications required. Click to here to apply.

Spiritual Formation Certification Cohort, Fall 2026

Belong to an 18-month cohort that meets offsite for four four-day retreat-based learning immersions.
Discover contemplative spiritual practices, the nature of the Trinity, your hidden false self and your true self as God’s beloved.
Experience spiritual direction in ongoing Triads, and learn to host others in listening and discernment.
Deepen your understanding of God's loving pursuit of humanity as you encounter the wisdom of earlier voices in Church history.
Be prepared for further training as a Spiritual Director.
Prerequisites: Anchor School courses: Sacred Stories, Spiritual Development, church-based training in Inner Healing Prayer and Soul Care
Applications required. Click to here to apply.

have questions?

Have another question? We’d love to speak with you.

Why the Anchor School?

The hunger for purpose and need for spiritually grounded leaders are as strong as ever, but the costs for ministry training can be prohibitive. Anchor School of Discipleship & Ministry offers affordable, robust theological training in a thriving ministry setting that understands our cultural moment and invites wrestling with challenging topics, personal formation, and community.
Anchor School students can earn college credit at less than 20% of traditional college costs through our partnership with Crown College, an accredited Christian college affiliated with the Christian & Missionary Alliance.
Anchor School equips students for wherever God is calling them—to personal growth, ministry leadership, or serving and leading in their churches, communities, and homes.
Anchor School students receive a 50% discount on undergrad and 25% discount on graduate tuition when they enroll in Crown College to complete their ministry degrees.

Who teaches Anchor School classes?

Anchor School instructors have a master’s degree or beyond in a biblical or theological field, and are committed to equipping each student for their calling. They are pastors, teachers and ministry leaders who value curiosity, invite questions, and embrace the teaching and traditions of the Christian & Missionary Alliance.

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Are all Anchor School classes eligible for college credit at Crown?

When students perform at 80% or above in eligible Anchor School courses, they can transfer these credits to Crown College when they enroll as online or traditional students at Crown. For a complete listing of current Anchor School courses that are eligible for Crown College credit, click here.

Is Anchor School an accredited institution?

Anchor School is recognized by the Washington Student Achievement Council as a church-based seminary program for ministry education. As such, Anchor School undergoes regular reviews by the state, and is exempt from oversight that broader educational institutions undergo. Anchor School’s eligible courses are accepted as credit through Crown College when students perform at 80% or above and transfer their Anchor School credits when they enroll at Crown. Crown College is an accredited higher education institution.

How are Anchor School and Crown College related?

Click here for an easy-to-read version of our agreement with Crown College.

Click here for the long version of our agreement with Crown College.

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What classes and programs are available at Anchor School?

We offer courses on a 1-2-year rotation, so that you can take all the courses that are required for the 30 credit Biblical Studies Certificate and that satisfy the education requirements for licensing in the C&MA can earn your Biblical Studies Certificate in 2 years or less.
Students can take any number of Anchor School courses for personal growth and development.
Some Anchor School courses have a graduate level option. See the catalog for details.
Any course can be audited by students who want to participate by reading the content and attending class, but who don’t desire to do assignments that lead to college credit.
Check out the Anchor School Course Catalog, with current and proposed future course descriptions and program offerings.

How much do Anchor School Courses cost?

2023-24 Anchor School course fees are per class, and each class is 3 credit hours.

$270 for undergrad level classes
$320 for graduate level classes
$150 for auditing any class

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How do I sign up for Anchor School?

If you’d like to pursue the Biblical Studies Certificate or are pursuing a call to ministry, reach out to Susan Bouterse for academic advising and for connections at Crown College that you’ll find helpful.

Are Anchor School classes both in-person and online?

Yes! While in-person participation offers advantages, most classes have an online option for students outside the Tacoma area. Students register as in-person or online participants, and online students receive a Zoom link that enables them to attend during the scheduled class time. Due to the value of participation and engagement as a class, Anchor School does not offer an asynchronous online option.

Reap the Benefits

As a student at Anchor School, you can expect engaging instruction with small class sizes and content that's curated for personal and ministry growth. Anchor School class sessions are two hours per week for seven weeks, and include readings and assignments appropriate to the academic level taken--Audit (reading and class participation only), Undergraduate, or Graduate (if available).

Small class sizes
Personal engagement
Freedom to wonder and question
Affordable ministry training
Opportunities for ministry practicums

Community based
Trusted instructors
Integration of theory with practice
Tracks toward lay leadership at Anchor
Credentials toward licensing and ordination

A hand holding a pen writing on a piece of paper.

Compare the costs

Per undergrad credit, no fees.

Pacific Lutheran University

$871
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Northwest university

$592
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Crown
college

$540
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Grand canyon university

$275
‍

Anchor
school

$90
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Current Courses

View Full course catalog

Ministry Practicum

In this undergraduate course, you'll gain practical ministry experience through mentored leadership opportunities that leverage your gifts and calling and help advance the mission of Anchor Church. Over a 16-week period, you’ll spend 112 ministry hours developing competencies under the supervision of a designated ministry leader who has pre-approved your practicum with them.

Ministry Residency

In this graduate course, you'll gain practical ministry experience through mentored leadership opportunities that leverage your gifts and calling and help advance the mission of Anchor Church. Over a 16-week period, you’ll spend 112 ministry hours developing competencies under the supervision of a designated ministry leader who has pre-approved your practicum with them.

Evangelism & Missions Summer Immersion

Aug 3

Aug 9

Explore Jesus-centered missional living that brings hope in our cultural moment in this dynamic one-week learning immersion. Pre-course readings whet your appetite for dynamic conversations around shared meals, weekday class sessions, and afternoon or evening outreach opportunities through local businesses and ministry partnerships. Earn 3 Undergrad or Grad credits, or Audit. Post-course writing is required for students desiring Crown College credit.

Sacred Stories

Sep 22

Nov 3

Recognize your sacred story and how God has been present in it amidst the people, experiences, successes, and challenges you've known. Experience him more deeply as you explore your own God-given identity, gifts, and unique design, and discover deeper soul formation through the rich theology and practice of contemplative Christianity. This course is a prerequisite for the Spiritual Formation Certification Cohort. Not eligible for Crown College credit.

Interpreting the Bible

Sep 25

Nov 6

Gain practical experience and grow in your understanding of scripture through trustworthy observation and interpretation strategies. Be inspired with new insight through the exegetical approach to studying scripture as you engage with several different passages in the Bible. Undergrad or Audit.

Spiritual Development

Jan 12

Mar 2

Cultivate personal spiritual formation as a Jesus-follower with a deep dive into spiritual disciplines, a transformative engagement with scripture, biblically-based soul care, and an introduction to modern classics in spiritual formation. Grad, Undergrad, or Audit.

Understanding the Old Testament

Jan 15

Mar 5

Develop confidence, skills, and knowledge for interpreting and applying Old Testament literature in light of its historical context. Explore OT authors, geographic settings, cultural and historical contexts as well as outlines of each book and major themes that unify all of the OT and contribute to the Story of God. Undergrad or Audit.