The goal for leadership development at the Center for Congregational Health, Inc.® is to enable individuals to foster a personal leadership style that capitalizes on their unique strengths and abilities. Our distinctive approach is based on the Center’s extensive, 17-year experience in working with clergy and faith communities.
Congregational leaders – both clergy and laity – face unprecedented challenges in a leadership role that differs from any other. Traditionally, clergy and lay leaders were expected to have strong pastoral and relational skills. Today, faith communities demand that they be effective leaders, change agents, conflict managers, visionaries and strategic thinkers as well. Developing such skills is a life-long challenge and vital for effective ministry leadership.
Our philosophy is that the foundation of good leadership for any pastor is self-knowledge and an understanding of the context of the congregation. We believe in resourceful leadership - one that builds upon what a minister and faith community already possess and strengthens those areas where they have limitations.
We use proven assessment tools for personality, conflict style and emotional intelligence, as well as 360-degree feedback to increase individuals’ self-awareness and identify areas of natural abilities and deficits.
Our leadership development focuses on topics such as
- Responding constructively to conflict
- Revitalizing a church that lacks energy or feels “stuck”
- Developing and guiding a staff in functioning as a team
- Practicing emotionally intelligent leadership
- Strategic planning
- Engaging a critical issue in the congregation
The Center offers several long-term, intensive leadership programs as well as short-term workshops covering specific aspects such as time management, change management and church finance. Two of our most popular programs are Young Leaders, for clergy, and Emerge, for lay leaders. Both extend over a nine-month period and include three retreats.