March 9-11 and November 9-11, 2026
Leadership in Ministry is a twice-a-year, peer-based clergy leadership development program. It is part of the Pastoral Excellence Program 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 or non-profit ministry contexts;
- Help participants develop a theoretical framework for interpreting ministry practice and context using Bowen Systems Theory;
- Help clergy and organizational leaders to accurately identify and name the particular challenges of ministry in their context;
- Provide clergy and other regligious professionals with a safe and stimulating peer group experience for renewal and challenge.
The Leadership in Ministry online 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. Most of the 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
Facilitators
Israel Galindo, Vanessa Ellison, Dan Koger, Michael Lee Cook, Skip Johnson, James Lamkin
Schedule
The spring session begins at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 9, 2026 and concludes at noon on Wednesday, March 11.
The fall session begins at 10:00 AM on Monday, November 9, 2026 and concludes at noon on Wednesday, November 11.
Participants may register for one or both sessions.
Program Fee
$1,000 for both sessions, $600 for a single session. A nonrefundable deposit of $200 is included in the program fee.
All balances are due one month prior to your first session. Cancellations must be received at least two weeks before your first session to receive a refund of the program fee minus the deposit.
Accommodations & Meals
Accommodations will be at the Harrington Center on campus. There are queen suites with one queen bed and twin suites with two twin beds. All rooms come with a private bathroom and linens.
Housing is built to accommodate a Sunday arrival through Wednesday departure (3 nights). If you wish for a Monday arrival, please complete your registration and select "pay by check". Let us know you would like a Monday arrival and we will adjust your registration accordingly.
Meal fees are built into housing costs. Meals will start with Monday lunch and end with Wednesday breakfast, except for Tuesday dinner, which will be out on your own. Coffee and refreshments will be available throughout the day.
Please see below for a full list of prices.
| Twin Suite - Single Session |
$388.08 |
| Twin Suite - Both Sessions |
$776.16 |
| Queen Suite - Single Session |
$426.96 |
| Queen Suite - Both Sessions |
$853.92 |
| Commuter Fee - Single Session |
$90 |
| Commuter Fee - Both Sessions |
$180 |
Additional Information
Limited scholarships are available. Submit your financial aid request
HERE. Aid is limited to 25% of the program fee. Payment plans can also be arranged
If requesting aid, you can still complete your registration to hold your spot, just select "pay by check" on the payment page. You will be able to pay with a card once your aid has been applied. Please do not pay in full and then request aid.
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