What is Seminary Without Walls?

Our vision is to see a disciple-making movement start from the ground up with godly, equipped men and women. Seminary is where church leaders often go to receive formal training.  We want to bring a similar level of training, although abbreviated, to the people of God on the front lines of ministry.  Through SWW (Seminary Without Walls), we seek to form an entire person (head, heart, hands) around the Gospel to lead in their spheres of influence.  SWW is for anyone who wants to grow as a follower of Jesus and influence others for Christ.  SWW will help you grow in your understanding of the Bible and theology, develop practical ministry skills, and  mature in character.   As a result, you will be better equipped to serve those outside the church and in various roles within the church  (group leaders, kids/students volunteers, elders, deacons, worship leaders, etc).  SWW was started in Annapolis.  We are excited to start a chapter in Harford County.  The main site can be found here.

Once-A-Month

SWW Harford County meets once-a-month for 4 hours for 12 months.  Jesus taught and discipled in community, and we believe we should too.  We encourage participants from other churches and ministries, and we build in times for connection, dialog, and community within each session.

Preparatory Work

As part of the training process, we assign prep work prior to each session.  Participants are expected to read, watch videos, and exegete Scripture related to the topic prior to coming to the group session meeting.  This gives us a shared context for greater dialog and discussion during the meeting, rather than being 'talked at' for four hours.  Each session has a time of teaching, space to ask questions, encouraged dialog, and break-outs for group interaction.  

Three Focuses

Gospel Centered Theology (Head)
We train on 28 core theological doctrines along with a survey of the Old Testament and New Testament. Participants read theological works, exegete Scripture, outline books of the Bible, engage in a learning cohort, and demonstrate sound theological coherence with Gospel-centricity.  The goal is to equip leaders with a coherent and Scripture-driven theological framework in which to practice ministry.  The first couple units will provide a survey of the Old and New Testaments.  This will be followed by units on Theology Proper (Doctrine of God), Christology (Doctrine of Christ), Pneumatology (Doctrine of the Holy Spirit), Imago Dei (Image of God), Missio Dei (Mission of God), Hamartiology (Theology of Sin), Soteriology (Theology of Salvation), Ecclesiology (Theology of the Church), Eschatology (Theology of Last Days).

Practical Ministry Skills (Hands)
We facilitate environments to learn teaching skills, specifically focusing on translating the Gospel into practical, real-life scenarios.  The goal is to equip leaders with reproducible tools to do the everyday work of ministry with excellence and simplicity.

Formed Character (Heart)
We assess areas of character growth and provide practical resources including a personal development plan. Throughout the cohort, mentoring relationships are facilitated and the required assignments test faithfulness, integrity, and accountability.  The goal is to equip leaders to continue forming their heart character to become more like Jesus in the everyday of life

Schedule

Classes Meet from 5-9PM at EPIC
Dates Below are Tentative
Introduction Class: January 25, 2026
The Big Story of Scripture Part 1: February 22, 2026
The Big Story of Scripture Part 2: March 22, 2026
Theology Proper & God the Father: April 26, 2026
Christology (Doctrine of Christ): May 31, 2026
Pneumatology (Doctrine of The Holy Spirit): June 28, 2026
Anthropology (Doctrine of Man) & Hamartiology (Doctrine of Sin): July 26, 2026
Soteriology (Doctrine of Salvation): August 30, 2026
Ecclesiology (Doctrine of the Church): September 27, 2026
Eschatology (Doctrine of Last Things/End Times): October 25, 2026
Missio Dei (Mission of God): November 22, 2026
Worship: December 13, 2026

Application

While Seminary Without Walls is open to anyone, it involves a commitment.  So we ask that you fill out this application to express your interest and willingness to commit to the program.  

Cohort-Based, Accountability, Space to Ask Questions 

QUESTIONS?

Is this class only for people who want to be pastors or elders?
Absolutely not! SWW is for ANYONE that wants to reach and disciple others. We pray that if you are not already serving in a leadership capacity, this class will prepare and equip you to better serve in ministry roles and reach out to those outside the church.
I am under 18. Am I still able to participate?
We would love to have our youth join us in SWW! We just want to make sure that you understand the commitment to attendance and the homework requirements.
What if I miss a class?
We understand that committing to a full year of classes is tough on the calendar, but we ask that you prioritize your schedule so as to not miss any classes if possible. We certainly understand if there is illness or emergency. We cannot guarantee that the class will be recorded.
Is this class accredited or do I receive a certificate?
SWW is not accredited or certified by any governing organization. If you need a certificate of completion for a resume or other similar record, we can offer that.
Am I allowed to invite people from other churches?
One of the aims of SWW is to build unity in the body of Christ across multiple churches. So we would love for you to invite a friend that attends another church. The only difference is that we ask students from other churches to submit a letter of recommendation from their Pastor. Letters of recommendation can be emailed to tiffany@epiccommunitychurch.org
What is the doctrinal approach?
Again, one of the designs of SWW is to bring Christians together from various church backgrounds.  With that being said, our teaching is protestant and rooted in the tradition and theology of the Reformation.  One of the main resources will be Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology which is used by many evangelical seminaries.  The curriculum is shaped by the Bible which we believe to be the inspired, inerrant Word of God.  In addition, our curriculum is Gospel-centered and missional.    
Is there a cost?
The cost for the program is $150.  This cost will go towards all your materials (you will be provided with Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, additional books and printed resources) and to help cover the cost of meals/snacks each month (the additional costs incurred will be covered by EPIC Community Church).  If payment is an issue, please let us know and we would be happy to help.  
Is there childcare?
There will not be childcare.  However, if you need help finding a babysitter, we can recommend some sitters.  

Meet the team.

Brian Watts

Lead Pastor @ EPIC Community Church
Brian is a church planter, and the Lead Pastor at EPIC Community Church. He received his BS in Bible and Pastoral Ministry from Lancaster Bible College, and his Master of Divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary. Brian has served in full-time ministry for almost 20 years after responding to God's call to ministry as a teenager. After serving on the pastoral staff at Oak Grove Baptist Church, Brian planted EPIC in 2011. He has served as church plant evaluator through the Baptist Convention Maryland/Delaware. Brian also serves in international missions, having developed a partnership with pastors in India. Through leading nine teams to India, he has helped train indigenous pastors in theology and leadership. Brian is married to Sarah, and they have five children ranging from 21 to 12 years old.

Kevin Blake

Student & Outreach Pastor @ EPIC Community Church
Kevin has served as a pastor at EPIC since 2014. Prior to that, Kevin was a chemistry and physics teacher at Patterson Mill Middle High School, while also serving in various ministry roles in student ministry, deacon ministry, and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He received his BS in Chemistry and Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and his MA in Leadership, Administration, and Supervision from Notre Dame of Maryland University. He is nearing the completion of his Masters of Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, with a concentration in Christian ministry and biblical counseling. Additionally, he has served in missions in Haiti, Dominican Republic, and Mexico since 2011. Kevin has been married to Tammy since 2006, and they have three children: Carter (12), Paige (10), and Hadley (5).

Shawn Trautman

Ruling Elder @ Forest Hill Presbyterian
Shawn has served the church in a variety of ways including the office of deacon, and currently in the office of Elder. Shawn has a passion for teaching and teaches at all levels, from Elementary Sunday School, Youth Group teaching, Adult Sunday school, and Pastoral training in Northern Uganda.

Shawn is a nurse by profession and has served as a Ruling Elder at Forest Hill since 2018. Shawn is Married with 2 children ages 12 and 8.  Shawn received his BSN from the University of Maryland in 2007, and is currently enrolled in Doctor of Nursing practice for executive leadership at Wilmington University. He currently works at Johns Hopkins Health System as an Assistant Director of Nursing overseeing the Neuroscience divisions at Johns Hopkins Hospital and Johns Hopkins Bayview.

Brent Trautman

Elder @ EPIC Community Church
Brent serves as an elder at EPIC Community Church, where he is involved on the Preaching Team, supports Community Groups, and leads Cross-Cultural Missions. With over 20 years of ministry teaching and leadership experience, one of his greatest joys in ministry is helping to train and prepare leaders, equipping them with the tools they need to serve effectively.  In his professional life, Brent works in executive leadership within public safety, where he focuses on developing leaders and guiding teams. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Safety Administration from Numman University and a Graduate Certificate in Law Enforcement Education from the University of Virginia, along with completing numerous leadership trainings. Brent has been married to Tiffany, his childhood sweetheart for 29 years, and together they have been blessed with seven children and one grandchild, with two more on the way.

Contact Us

SWW Harford County meets at EPIC Community Church in Aberdeen, MD.  Use the map for directions.  If you would like more information about SWW please fill out the form below.