Phase II Partners, Courage to Lead for Clergy & Congregational Leaders

To build upon our work with clergy in Phase I, we sought partnerships with individuals and organizations with (a) strongly connected networks to churches and religious institutions and the ability to develop additional collaborative relationships; (b) the ability to bring significant local resources to share project costs and provide for long-term sustainability, and; (c) the commitment to being active contributors in the learning and evaluation process of the Courage to Lead for Clergy & Congregational Leaders program.

Though a Request for Partnership Proposal process, seven partnerships were selected to initiate seasonal retreat series, and ten partnerships were selected to develop pilot programs that introduce the principles and practices of circles of trust to clergy and congregations.

Following is an overview of the partnership projects:

Seasonal Series (Cohort meets for five retreats)

Chicago/Minneapolis: Fall 2009 through Fall 2010
Integration and Expression: A Second Seasonal Series of Clergy
Primary Partner(s): Wisconsin Council of Churches, United Methodists in Minnesota
Primary Audience: Clergy with previous experience in seasonal series or introductory Circle of Trust retreat
Contact: Barbara Hummel

Portland, OR: Fall 2009 through Winter 2011
Courage to Lead for Clergy and Congregational Leaders – Northwest
Primary Partner(s): The Center for Spiritual Development at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders in Northwest, open to all.
Contact: Karen Noordhoff

San Francisco, CA: Spring 2009 through Spring 2010
San Francisco Bay Area Faith, Health, and Wholeness Initiative
Primary Partner(s): The Lafayette Center for Wellbeing, The Episcopal Archdiocese of California, The Christian Church in Northern California
Primary Audience: Clergy and congregational leaders in SF Bay Area, open to all
Contact: Faye Orton Matthews

Seattle, WA: Winter 2009 through Winter 2010
Courage & Renewal for Clergy and Congregational Leaders in Washington State & Surrounding States
Primary Partner(s): Washington Courage & Renewal, Church Council of Greater Seattle, Associated Ministries of Tacoma/Pierce County
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders in Northwest including Alaska and BC, open to all.
Contact: Sue Paro

Paris, Ontario, Canada: Spring 2009 through Winter 2010
Courage to Lead: Five Oaks Centre Seeding Retreats
Primary Partner(s): Five Oaks Centre, United Church of Canada, Oikosnet North America
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders from the United Church of Canada
Contact: Mardi Tindal

Knoxville, TN/Mid South Delta Region: Spring 2009 through Spring 2010
Mid South Delta Circles of Trust
Primary Partner(s): Kellogg, MDSI Faith Network, Delta Funders Group
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and South Carolina
Contact: Estrus Tucker

Lakeland, FL: Fall 2009 through Fall 2010
Florida Conference Courage to Lead
Primary Partner(s): Center for Clergy Excellence of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, The Bishop’s Cabinet of the Florida Conference
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders from the Florida Conference of the UMC
Contact: David Dodge

Pilot Programs (Introductory Retreats or new applications of Principles and Practices)

Kentucky: Fall 2009 through Spring 2010
Kentucky Annual Conference Clergy Circle of Trust Pilot Project
Primary Partner: Kentucky Annual Conference United Methodist Church
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders from the Kentucky Conference of the UMC
Contact: Marian Smith

Lincoln & Bozeman, MT: March 2009 & November 2009
Montana Courage to Lead for Clergy and Congregational Leaders Pilot Program
Primary Partner(s): Montana-Northern Wyoming Conference United Church of Christ, The Christian Church in Montana, Yellowstone Conference of the United Methodist Church
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders in Montana and Wyoming
Contact: Chris Love

Durham, NC: Spring 2009 through Fall 2010
Creating Pathways for Church Leaders to Effectively Engage the Principles and Practices of Formation in the Congregation
Primary Partner(s): Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, The Duke Endowment Rural Church Division, The Parish Ministry Fund
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leadership teams including at least one person with Circle of Trust experience
Contact: Janice Virtue

Bangor, PA: Spring 2009 & Fall 2009
Kirkridge Courage to Lead Pilot Programs
Primary Partner(s): Kirkridge Retreat and Study Center, Auburn Seminary, New York Theological Seminary, Drew Seminary, Lancaster Theological Seminary
Primary Audience: Seminarians and early career Pastors
Contact: Jean Richardson

Greenville, SC: January –June 2009
Connecting Hearts: Holy Listening in a Congregational Circle of Trust
Primary Partner(s): John Knox Presbyterian Church, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Foothills Presbytery, St. Matthew Society
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders from John Knox Presbyterian Church and other congregations in Foothills Presbytery
Contact: Joseph Gaston

Wellesley, MA: Summer 2009 – Spring 2010
Weaving a Fabric of Connection: Courage to Lead for Clergy & Congregational Leaders in Urban and Educational Settings
Primary Partner(s): Courage & Renewal Northeast, Harvard Divinity School, Lesley University, Department of Religious & Spiritual Life at Wellesley College, Education as Transformation
Primary Audience: Clergy and Lay Leaders from Boston Neighborhoods, Campus Ministry Teams
Contact: Lisa Sankowski

Denver, CO: Fall 2008 – Summer 2009
Circles of Courage for Colorado Clergy and Lay Leaders
Primary Partner(s): University of Denver, Iliff School of Theology, Denver Metropolitan Ministerial Alliance, Interfaith Alliance of Colorado, University Park United Methodist Church
Primary Audience: Interdenominational and Interfaith Clergy and Congregational Leaders from Colorado
Contact: Paul Kottke

San Francisco, CA: Fall 2008 – Spring 2010
The San Francisco Bay Area Faith, Health and Wholeness Initiative
Primary Partner(s): Lafayette Center for Wellbeing at Lafayette Christian Church, Disciples Seminary Foundation, Pacific School of Religion
Primary Audience: Seminary Students
Contact: Faye Orton Matthews

Frederick, MD: Winter 2009 – Spring 2010
Chesapeake Courage to Lead for Clergy and Congregational Leaders
Primary Partner(s): Bishop Claggett Center, All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Frederick Area Ministerial Alliance
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders
Contact: Kathleen Glaser

Forth Worth, TX: Fall 2008 – Spring 2010
Courage & Renewal North Texas Pilot Initiatives
Primary Partner(s): Area Churches
Primary Audience: Clergy and Congregational Leaders in the Fort Worth, Dallas Area
Contact: Cynthia Johnson