of groups to enhance clergy
effectiveness and achievement.
Training For Facilitators Of Pastor
Peer Learning and Support Groups
Conducted by The Clergy Committee
----- DATE ALERT! -----
Some of our ads have the incorrect dates
listed for this event. The correct dates are
August 24-26, 2009.
The Basics:
What: A training event for current or prospective facilitators of peer learning and support groups
for pastors in any denomination.
When: Starting at 1 pm on Monday, August 24, 2009 and ending at 3 pm on Wednesday, August 26, 2009.
Where: Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 100 East 27th St., Austin, Texas
Cost: Room: $70.00 for two nights
Meals: at cost
Tuition: $500.00 per person BUT:
1. Due within one year after the event
2. Scholarships available
(In other words: if this event would help you and the group(s) you are
currently facilitating or expect to facilitate in the future, please do not
make the tuition for the event the determining factor regarding your
attendance.)
Who is this training for:
1. Individuals who currently facilitate such groups, especially those who may have been
originally funded by the Lilly Endowment Sustaining Pastoral Excellence grant program.
2. Representatives from middle judicatories who are considering establishing such groups.
3. Church consultants / Pastoral Counselors who are looking for new “models” for
delivering such services to pastors.
What are the objectives of this training:
Our goal is that at the end of this training participants will be equipped with methods, tactics and tools that will help them:
1. Build community and trust among the members of the group
2. Facilitate learning of both knowledge and skills
3. Process strategic issues that pastors are facing in such a way that they
return to their churches with actions to take to address those issues.
4. Nourish the spiritual growth of pastors
5. Hold one another accountable in a supporting and encouraging way
6. Recruit, initiate and sustain a group of pastors
Who will conduct this event: The training is being co-sponsored by:
The Seminary of the Southwest (Episcopal, in Austin)
TMF Institute for Clergy and Congregational Excellence ( UnitedMethodist; A Lilly
Endowment Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Grant Recipient currently operating ten groups for United Methodist pastors, district superintendents, and bishops. )
The Clergy Committee
The staff for the event will be:
Fredricka Brecht: TCC Board Chair and chair / facilitator of three groups of
CEO’s and senior executives using a model that has evolved over the
past 50 years for personal and professional development of leaders
and executives. She also recruits and trains the facilitators of nine different
Clericus groups for Episcopal priests in the Texas Diocese.
Michael Murray: Ordained Presbyterian pastor and a trainer and facilitator
for the past 35 years with churches, companies, government agencies
and non-profits. Mike has spoken to more than 400 groups that use the
model of personal and professional development of leaders and executives
mentioned above and serves on the Board of The Clergy Committee
Jim Turley: Ordained United Methodist Minister and President of the TMF Institute
for Clergy and Congregational Excellence, a Lilly Endowment Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Grant recipient. Jim trains and oversees the facilitators of ten support groups for United Methodist Pastors, District Superintendents
and Bishops in Texas. Jim also serves on the Board of The Clergy Committee.
Why is this training important:
Lilly Endowment research on pastors who thrive in ministry indicates that there are three critical elements that need to be present in their lives and ministries:
- Pastors need to participate regularly in the “means of grace”. That is,
pastors need to have times when they are led in worship, rather
than always having to lead. They need to have communion really
served to them rather than just serving. They need to be led in
Bible study and prayer, and to be prayed for, rather than being
responsible for seeing that these things happen. Belonging to
a group of peers that is well facilitated can help nourish their
spiritual growth. (Also, see Roy Oswald’s book, written for the
Alban Institute, “How To Build a Support System for Your Ministry”,
especially pages 42-43 on “Oscillation”.)
- Pastors need to belong to a competently facilitated group of peers.
Certainly it is possible for groups to lead themselves without
someone designated and perhaps even compensated to be in that
role. However, pastors have been known to succumb to the
temptations to either spend a lot of time bragging or a lot of
time complaining about their congregations. A competent
facilitator can make sure the group stays focused on those
things that will make the group experience educational, helpful and supportive.
- Pastors need to have the freedom and the courage to use their unique
gifts for ministry in their current position or call. Competent
facilitators of groups can help the group help individual pastors identify
their unique gifts and find the courage to exercise those gifts.
Without the support of a competently facilitated group both the
identification of the gifts and the courage to use them may be
lacking.
(Again, for more information and helpful resources for pastor peer learning and support groups, please visit our training or resources pages or call Mike Murray at (512) 288-7945.)