What?
|
An annual gathering
of selected clergy on the campus of Andrews University
for critical thinking about leadership and leadership
development. |
Why? |
Effective leadership is needed for
the mission of the church.
Religious faith shapes values, world
vision, morals, relationships, and societal change. Faith
communities are among the most powerful influences in
human experience. Churches and other religious communities
guide change, and have been the source of societal evolution
or human oppression.
Clergy, especially those who lead in
local congregations where human thought is formed, experience
the opportunity to bring about needed change in communities
through their leadership.
The symposium will provide pastors the
opportunity to improve their leadership skills and engage
in conversation around important community themes with
others in similar leadership roles. |
What More Specifically?
|
The symposium intends to provide conversation
about the nature of church leadership and the initiative
for ongoing leadership development strategy delivered
to key faith leaders in the context of a sound biblical
theology of leadership.
The symposium will provide plenary speakers
on current leadership issues, academic papers offering
research to the practice of leadership, structured conversation
on leadership challenges, and a network for ongoing dialogue
among various faith communities and specific individuals.
Modalities of review, critique, conversation,
group interaction, and presentation will be employed in
the design of the symposium.
Participants will be asked to read specific
academic work prior to the symposium, do written reflection,
and produce a brief journal following the symposium. They
will be asked to engage in ongoing conversation with a
small group of peers in the interim months between symposiums.
Participants will be encouraged to produce
scholarly articles relating to applied leadership as a
part of their contribution. |
Who?
|
The Christian Leadership Center
of Andrews University will plan and implement the symposium.
Each year 80 pastors from no less than five different
faith traditions will be invited. Attendance will be
by reservation and 80 spots will be filled. |
When?
|
The symposium will be an annual
event. |
Where?
|
The symposium will be on the campus
of Andrews University in Southwest Michigan. The University
provides a setting where academic research can support
dialogue, and field practitioners and academicians can
engage in development together. The University has staff
prepared to care for such conferences, offers on campus
and community hospitality venues, and provides various
meeting space options. |
Cost
|
Participants will receive a $300
honorarium and travel expense.
Participants who serve in faith traditions
with central organizational offices will be asked to
seek matching funds for travel expense from their employing
denominational organization. An average of $700 will
be budgeted for each attendee. $9,000 will be budgeted
for other expense. $65,000 is the annual expense for
the first three years. |
Sustaining the Symposium
|
After three years of sponsored attendance,
participants will be invited to become contributing members
of the “Society of Pastoral Leadership”, a
functioning religious leadership society, contributing
annual dues to reduce symposium expenses.
The proposal projects that 50% of the
original group will continue as members of the society.
Funding of $60,000 is needed for 80
attendees in the fourth through sixth years. New attendees
will also be invited to join the society after three years
of sponsored attendance.
New grant requests will be sought to
enhance the program after four years of the strategy. |
| Grant Request
|
$375,000 is needed to launch the
annual symposium and Society for Religious Leadership
over a six year period. |
