Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership

Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership

The Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership equips pastors, senior leaders, entrepreneurs, educators, and marketplace professionals to lead across generational differences with wisdom, cultural fluency, theological grounding, and practical strategy.

In today’s churches, businesses, and communities, multiple generations are leading and working side by side—each bringing distinct experiences, values, communication styles, and expectations. The challenge is no longer simply understanding generational differences. It is learning how to transform those differences into opportunities for collaboration, innovation, mentorship, succession, and lasting impact.

Through eight weeks of live online learning, participants will explore critical leadership issues through an intergenerational lens—from mental wellness and artificial intelligence to social justice, marketplace leadership, succession, worship culture, financial stewardship, and legacy.

Designed by Jakes Divinity School under the vision of Bishop T.D. Jakes, this non-credit professional certificate brings together theological reflection, executive practice, applied dialogue, and real-world leadership experience to help leaders honor the wisdom of the past while preparing confidently for the future.

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8-Week
Program Length

100% Online

Professional
Certificate

ADMISSIONS

Who should enroll?

The Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership is designed for leaders who are serious about closing the generational gap in their sphere of influence and building organizations, churches, businesses, and communities that can thrive into the future.

This program is especially suited for:

Pastors, senior ministers, and church executives leading multigenerational congregations

CEOs, executive directors, and organizational leaders navigating generational diversity
Entrepreneurs and business owners seeking to integrate faith, leadership, and professional excellence
Marketplace ministers and professionals leading across generations
Educators and community leaders
Civic and organizational changemakers
Established leaders preparing the next generation for leadership
Emerging leaders seeking wisdom, mentorship, and frameworks for effective leadership

What are the application/eligibility requirements?

Applicants must provide:

A completed online application
A high school diploma or equivalent.
No advanced degree is required. Leadership experience is a primary consideration.
After completing the application, enroll in the program by paying the tuition cost for the Intergenerational Leadership Certificate program.

TUITION

How much is tuition?

$850 per student

The Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership is a non-credit-bearing professional certificate program.

Is there an early enrollment discount?

Yes – only for the students who completed the Next Move Emerging Leaders Summit and received the badge of completion from JDS and enroll prior to the applicable program start date may be eligible to receive a $100 discount off the standard tuition.

What does tuition include?

Tuition provides access to the eight-week live online certificate experience, including weekly instructional sessions, facilitated discussions and panels, course assignments, and the culminating Legacy Blueprint experience.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

What will I learn?

Upon successful completion of the Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership, students will be able to:

Analyze generational perspectives on leadership, communication, faith, technology, and organizational change without assuming that every member of a generation thinks alike.
Apply biblical and ethical principles to leadership decisions involving mental wellness, social justice, financial stewardship, worship and organizational culture, and emerging technology.
Facilitate constructive dialogue between established and emerging leaders through attentive listening, respect, and practical approaches to resolving disagreement.
Develop an intergenerational leadership strategy for a church, business, or community organization.
Design succession and mentoring approaches that transfer responsibility, develop emerging leaders, and draw upon the experience of established leaders.
Produce a Legacy Blueprint that defines leadership purpose, establishes meaningful commitments, and identifies measurable actions for investing in and learning from another generation.

What is the program format?

The Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership is an 8-week, fully online, synchronous program.

Each week includes a live two-hour virtual learning experience featuring:

Expert instruction and presentations
Facilitated panel discussions
Interactive Q&A
Applied leadership discussion
Weekly written assignments and reflection

Students engage both the intellectual and practical dimensions of intergenerational leadership, applying concepts directly to their own churches, organizations, businesses, and communities.

What topics are covered?

The eight-week curriculum explores:

Week 1 — Mental Wellness in Leadership

Breaking Stigma, Building Wholeness Across Generations

Explore the intersection of leadership, mental wellness, stigma, and generational perspectives on emotional and psychological well-being.

Week 2 — Leading with Wisdom in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Discernment, Ethics & Innovation for a New Era

Examine the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence and learn how leaders can approach emerging technology with wisdom, ethics, and discernment.

Week 3 — Humanitarian Leadership: Social Justice and the Gospel

From Prophetic Voice to Practical Action

Explore biblical foundations of justice and the ways different generations understand, experience, and respond to social justice.

Week 4 — Marketplace Leadership: Business & Ministry in the 21st Century

Kingdom Economics, Entrepreneurial Spirit & Sustainable Leadership

Examine the intersection of ministry, business, stewardship, entrepreneurship, and kingdom-minded leadership.

Week 5 — Succession Leadership: Passing the Mantle

From Pastor to Pastor, Leader to Leader

Explore biblical and practical models of succession, mentorship, leadership transition, and developing the next generation.

Week 6 — Cultural Leadership: Reimagining Worship & Church Culture

Where Tradition Meets the Next Generation

Learn how leaders can honor tradition while creating healthy, inclusive, and innovative multigenerational cultures.

Week 7 — Financial Leadership: Equipping Communities for Generational Wealth

Breaking the Cycle, Building the Legacy

Explore financial stewardship, wealth-building, economic realities across generations, and strategies for developing healthier financial cultures.

Week 8 — Legacy Leadership: Purpose & The Next Chapter

Living and Leading with Intentional Impact

Bring the learning of the program together through a deeper exploration of purpose, legacy, succession, and intentional leadership.

How is student learning assessed?

Assignments include journals, short essays, applied homework, and the culminating Legacy Blueprint.

What is the Legacy Blueprint?

The Legacy Blueprint is the culminating project of the eight-week program.

Students will create a forward-looking leadership document that includes:

A personal purpose statement
A vision for their lasting impact
Five key leadership, relational, spiritual, or organizational commitments
An intergenerational pledge
An actionable intergenerational leadership and succession strategy
Specific steps, timelines, and indicators for measuring progress
Reflection on how the eight program topics have shaped their leadership and calling

The Legacy Blueprint is designed to become a living document that students can revisit and refine throughout their leadership journey.

What are the certificate completion requirements?

To successfully complete the program and receive the Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership, students must:

Attend the live weekly sessions
Complete and submit all required weekly assignments
Submit and satisfactorily complete the Week 8 Capstone Legacy Blueprint
Earn an overall program average of 70% or higher

FAQS

Who should enroll?

The Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership is ideal for pastors, senior leaders, CEOs, entrepreneurs, ministry leaders, educators, and community leaders who want to become more effective at leading across generational differences.

What are application/eligibility requirements?

Applicant must complete the online application
One professional or pastoral letter of recommendation
A current resume or ministry biography
A high school diploma or equivalent
No advanced degree is required. Leadership experience is a primary consideration.

Is the program fully online?

Yes. The program is delivered 100% online through live, synchronous virtual sessions and the Canvas learning management system.

How long is the program?

The Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership is an 8-week intensive program, with a live two-hour session each week.

Is this a credit-bearing certificate?

No. The Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership is a non-credit-bearing professional certificate designed for leadership development, professional enrichment, and continuing education.

What will I receive once I complete the program?

Students who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership from Jakes Divinity School.

Is there a pathway to additional theological education?

The Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership is intentionally aligned with Jakes Divinity School’s credit-bearing Certificate in Theological Leadership and is designed to provide a pathway toward deeper theological formation including receiving potential credit toward two courses in the program.

Is financial aid available?

Because this is a non-credit professional certificate program, it is not a federal financial-aid/FAFSA program. Any scholarship availability should be confirmed with Jakes Divinity School at the time of enrollment.

What makes this program different?

The Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership does more than identify generational differences. It equips leaders to work across them.

Students are challenged to learn from perspectives different from their own, engage difficult leadership conversations, honor institutional wisdom, embrace innovation, develop emerging leaders, prepare for succession, and build a legacy that can extend beyond their own generation.

The goal is not to choose between generations.

The goal is to prepare leaders who can lead all generations.

Interested in Learning More?

To learn more about the Intergenerational Leadership Certificate program, complete the Contact Us form and a member of our team will contact you with more information.

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Certificate in Intergenerational Leadership