Learning Opportunities
Young Leaders' Training
The Young Leaders' Program strengthens congregational and denominational leaders in their twenties or thirties who have ministry experience, but who have not yet reached mid-life and mid-career. The program is a year-long leadership effectiveness process involving 65-70 hours of intensive training over three levels. Three self-development projects extend the growth process beyond the actual training sessions and provide motivation for the integration of the training into the participant's ministry setting.
When admitted to the program, participants are given a battery of tests, a reading list and an opportunity to meet with a professional coach. Participants will read at least one book before the start of each residential session. Another key ingredient in each level is the residential learning time. Designed to be high participatory, each session is led by faculty with specialized skills. The third learning event for each level is a self-development project designed and reported upon by the participants. These projects will enhance the learning between sessions.
Level I sets the stage with an introduction to several leadership models and approaches. Participants explore personality profiles, faith roots and family histories. Feedback is provided on individual leaders' gifts while taking an in-depth look at how initiative-taking, decision-making, and risk-taking are practiced effectively in ministry leadership. A major emphasis is given to family systems theory, its impact and application in the congregational system.
Level II examines healthy responses to conflict, explores personal leadership styles and the impact of Emotional Intelligence on congregational leadership. Participants explore feedback from a 360 Leadership Inventory, individual styles of managing conflict, emotional intelligence followed by experiential learning opportunities to expand skills and test new strategies for leadership.
Level III takes a deeper look at congregational context and identity, exploring culture, size, spiritual style and visioning within the context of congregational development. Then, in this final level, participants are given an opportunity to practice every aspect of learning that has taken place through Young Leaders through a congregational site visit and assessment.
Faculty
Dr. Jack Causey is the Coordinator of Services to Ministers for the Center. He is also currently serving as the Ministerial Resources Coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC. Jack has over 40 years experience as a pastor. He holds a B.A. from Mississippi College, and earned his M.Div. and D.Min. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves as the pastor/advisor to the group and will be involved in all levels of the program.
Dr. Chris Gambill is the Manager of Congregational Services and Senior Consultant for the Center for Congregational Health. Chris provides consulting services to congregations and denominations, and educational services to clergy and lay leaders. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned his Ph.D. through Phoenix University. Chris has served as a pastor, interim pastor, campus minister and foreign missionary. He is the lead faculty member for the group.
Rev. Beth Kennett is a consultant for the Center for Congregational Health. She is Co-Pastor of Hillsborough United Church of Christ, and currently serves on the Board for the Office of General Ministries for the national setting of the UCC. Beth has over twenty years of ministry experience as pastor, facilitator, educator, denominational staff, and consultant.
Rev. Melissa Clodfelter, MACE; ACC, is the Coordinator of Coaching Services with the Center, specializing in leadership development and conflict management. Melissa is an experienced coach, pastor and hospice chaplain, and currently serves as Director of Vocational Formation at Wake Forest University School of Divinity.
Dr. Nelson Granade is a consultant for the Center for Congregational Health. He is also the pastor of First Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro, NC, having served this congregation for over 15 years. Nelson's experience is diverse, including serving as pastor in rural, suburban, and urban churches, and during all of the various stages in a church's life. He is a graduate of Auburn University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Columbia Theological Seminary.
Program Details
Commitment This training program is designed as an integrated curriculum with out-of-class project requirements. Attendance and active participation throughout all levels, with no outside engagements, and completion of projects are required for satisfactory completion of the training. Certificates will be provided upon full completion of the program
Times
The Young Leaders' Program starts with Level 1 and concludes with Level 3. Each level's session begins at 2:00 p.m. on the first day and concludes at noon on the last day. Training sessions will extend into evening hours and end no later than 9:00 p.m.
Financial Aid
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC and the Cooperative Program of the Baptist State Convention of NC are sponsoring the training. The tuition represents less than 1/3 of the cost of the program.
When admitted to the program, participants are given a battery of tests, a reading list and an opportunity to meet with a professional coach. Participants will read at least one book before the start of each residential session. Another key ingredient in each level is the residential learning time. Designed to be high participatory, each session is led by faculty with specialized skills. The third learning event for each level is a self-development project designed and reported upon by the participants. These projects will enhance the learning between sessions.
Level I sets the stage with an introduction to several leadership models and approaches. Participants explore personality profiles, faith roots and family histories. Feedback is provided on individual leaders' gifts while taking an in-depth look at how initiative-taking, decision-making, and risk-taking are practiced effectively in ministry leadership. A major emphasis is given to family systems theory, its impact and application in the congregational system.
Level II examines healthy responses to conflict, explores personal leadership styles and the impact of Emotional Intelligence on congregational leadership. Participants explore feedback from a 360 Leadership Inventory, individual styles of managing conflict, emotional intelligence followed by experiential learning opportunities to expand skills and test new strategies for leadership.
Level III takes a deeper look at congregational context and identity, exploring culture, size, spiritual style and visioning within the context of congregational development. Then, in this final level, participants are given an opportunity to practice every aspect of learning that has taken place through Young Leaders through a congregational site visit and assessment.
Faculty
Dr. Jack Causey is the Coordinator of Services to Ministers for the Center. He is also currently serving as the Ministerial Resources Coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC. Jack has over 40 years experience as a pastor. He holds a B.A. from Mississippi College, and earned his M.Div. and D.Min. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves as the pastor/advisor to the group and will be involved in all levels of the program.
Dr. Chris Gambill is the Manager of Congregational Services and Senior Consultant for the Center for Congregational Health. Chris provides consulting services to congregations and denominations, and educational services to clergy and lay leaders. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and earned his Ph.D. through Phoenix University. Chris has served as a pastor, interim pastor, campus minister and foreign missionary. He is the lead faculty member for the group.
Rev. Beth Kennett is a consultant for the Center for Congregational Health. She is Co-Pastor of Hillsborough United Church of Christ, and currently serves on the Board for the Office of General Ministries for the national setting of the UCC. Beth has over twenty years of ministry experience as pastor, facilitator, educator, denominational staff, and consultant.
Rev. Melissa Clodfelter, MACE; ACC, is the Coordinator of Coaching Services with the Center, specializing in leadership development and conflict management. Melissa is an experienced coach, pastor and hospice chaplain, and currently serves as Director of Vocational Formation at Wake Forest University School of Divinity.
Dr. Nelson Granade is a consultant for the Center for Congregational Health. He is also the pastor of First Baptist Church in North Wilkesboro, NC, having served this congregation for over 15 years. Nelson's experience is diverse, including serving as pastor in rural, suburban, and urban churches, and during all of the various stages in a church's life. He is a graduate of Auburn University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Columbia Theological Seminary.
Program Details
Commitment This training program is designed as an integrated curriculum with out-of-class project requirements. Attendance and active participation throughout all levels, with no outside engagements, and completion of projects are required for satisfactory completion of the training. Certificates will be provided upon full completion of the program
Times
The Young Leaders' Program starts with Level 1 and concludes with Level 3. Each level's session begins at 2:00 p.m. on the first day and concludes at noon on the last day. Training sessions will extend into evening hours and end no later than 9:00 p.m.
Financial Aid
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of NC and the Cooperative Program of the Baptist State Convention of NC are sponsoring the training. The tuition represents less than 1/3 of the cost of the program.