The Clergy Committee (TCC) came into being in 1999 through the collaboration of two friends: Dr. Fred Chaney, founder of The Executive Committee (TEC)*, and Rev. David Delaplane. With his wife, a criminal justice specialist, Rev Delaplane was conducting ecumenical training events for clergy on responses to crime victimization in high crime urban areas of Philadelphia, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Denver.  Fred Chaney suggested that follow-up to these sessions could be provided using the very successful model which he had developed for business executives. Rev. Delaplane decided to follow this suggestion.

While I have learned a few tools and techniques, and have a group of pastors I can now call on for support, the greatest benefit has been my renewed sense of empowerment as a leader.  I no longer wait on dealing with some issues but rather take my authority as a Pastor and LEAD!  I see it most specifically in my dealing with issues I had been putting off dealing with regarding staff, building etc. (TMF participant)

            A major challenge, however, was that the ministers in low income urban areas did not have the financial resources of the TEC executives to pay their participation in this leadership model. So Fred Chaney agreed to provide start up funding for TCC groups in the four cities. Responses from the initial groups were totally favorable. Unlike the corporate model, where groups are formed from CEO’s of non-competing businesses, the members of TCC discovered that there were areas where they could cooperate to benefit the communities that they served.

            Since its inception TCC added groups sponsored by denominational leadership, and groups for clergy chaired by Vistage/TEC chairpersons as part of this exciting program. Clergy from many denominations including Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Roman Catholic as well as non-denominational evangelicals have participated.

            A new thrust of TCC was initiated by developing an instructional manual for group leaders on how to form, fund, and effectively operate a clergy group using the TCC model.  Using this manual, TCC sponsors training events in various parts of the U.S. for people wishing to form and lead clergy groups using this very successful model. This training program is now the primary focus of TCC.

            The reason for the success of TCC is its unique model patterned after the business model of TEC/Visatage.  Click on “model” tab on the home page for a more complete description. Also click on the “Manual” tab to see the table of contents of the training manual. 

*Now with leadership groups in all major cities in the USA and many overseas location under the name Vistage.