Leadership in Ministry Boston 2024

May 6-8, 2024 and September 30 to October 2, 2024

Course Description: Leadership in Ministry is a twice-a-year, peer based, clergy leadership development program. It is part of the Pastoral Excellence Programs of the Center for Lifelong Learning of Columbia Theological Seminary. Many participants have attended for several years, with some participating for over a decade, reaping the benefits of long-term commitment to personal and professional growth. This program’s goals are to

• Provide a peer-learning forum for clergy to explore the issues particular to their congregational contexts;

• Help participants develop a theoretical framework for interpreting practice and context using Bowen Systems Theory;

• Help clergy accurately identify and name the particular challenges of ministry in their context;

• Provide clergy with a safe and stimulating peer group experience for renewal and challenge

The Leadership in Ministry Boston workshops will apply Bowen Family Systems Theory as further developed by Edwin Friedman, author of Generation to Generation and A Failure of Nerve, to ministerial and organizational leadership. The majority of time is spent in peer group case studies led by experienced faculty coaches. As such, participants work to apply the theory to the “real world” realities of their ministry context.

Location: Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center, 660 Great Pond road, North Andover, MA 01845

With: Elaine Boomer, Israel Galindo, Meg Hess, Rebecca Maccini, and Margaret Marcuson

Schedule: Gathering will begin at 2pm on Monday and end at noon on Wednesday.

Program Fee: $875 full program fee for both spring and fall sessions. $525 single session rate.

Housing: Housing will be at the Rolling Ridge Retreat and Conference Center. Single occupancy is $720 for both sessions (total of 4 nights, Mon/Tues) and $360 for a single session (2 nights, Mon/Tues). Commuter meal rate of $320 for both sessions and $160 for a single session

Meals: Meals begin with Monday dinner though Wednesday breakfast

Additional Information: Single housing is limited and is first come first registered. Rooms reserved as double occupancy will be released for single occupancy 2 weeks before the event.

Limited scholarships and financial aid are available. Submit your financial aid request HERE. Aid is limited to 50% of the program fee and is not applicable to travel or housing expenses. Payment plans can also be arranged. If requesting aid, you can still complete your registration to hold your spot, select “pay by check” on the payment page. You will be able to pay by card once aid has been applied.

Contact: lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu