The Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in partnership with Turner Theological Seminary has received a grant of $1,000,000 from the Lilly Endowment, Inc to advance efforts in supporting pastoral leaders in rural congregations.
Since 2018, the Sixth Episcopal District, under the leadership of Bishop Reginald T. Jackson in partnership with Turner Theological Seminary, under the leadership of Dr. John F. Green, has been very intentional about advancing the leadership development of pastors through continued research. Dr. Cynthia Parnell McDonald, research director and grant writer for the Lilly Endowment grant comments, “What we have learned as a result of this research project is that we must place more focus on supporting our pastoral leaders by developing creative new models of support that will strengthen the quality of pastoral leadership in small, rural churches. This initiative is critically important as church leaders and congregations are faced with a changing time of uncertainty and social unrest.”
The focus of the Lilly Endowment Thriving in Ministry 2020 grant will center around the following: 1) pastors leading congregations that serve communities of color and 2) pastors serving small, rural membership churches. This will be done by addressing two specific areas: 1) clergy entering ordained ministry leading to the first pastorate, and 2) pastors who have pastored between 1 and 5 years of ministry in small, rural membership churches. “As we attempt to build this new style of pastoral leadership development, our main goal for the program is to offer multiple opportunities for leaders to work together and to learn through self-awareness and integration.”
Recognizing that the face of our churches and congregations are changing, the Sixth Episcopal District is committed to excellence in leadership development by developing a new paradigm of pastoral leadership. As such, “we are ecstatic about the opportunity to partner with Turner Theological Seminary and other stakeholders to play a dynamic role as change agents in the training and support of pastors”
The Sixth Episcopal District expresses deep appreciation for the leadership of Dr. Cynthia Parnell McDonald; Turner Theological Seminary staff; research and planning consultants, Dr. Teresa Fry Brown and Dr. Jeffrey Tribble; and workshop facilitators, Dr. William D. Watley and Dr. Eugene Robinson for providing significant support throughout this process.
The Sixth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in partnership with Turner Theological Seminary has received a grant of $1,000,000 from the Lilly Endowment, Inc to advance efforts in supporting pastoral leaders in rural congregations.
Since 2018, the Sixth Episcopal District, under the leadership of Bishop Reginald T. Jackson in partnership with Turner Theological Seminary, under the leadership of Dr. John F. Green, have been very intentional about advancing the leadership development of pastors through continued research. Dr. Cynthia Parnell McDonald, research director and grant writer for the Lilly Endowment grant comments, “What we have learned as a result of this research project is that we must place more focus on supporting our pastoral leaders by developing creative new models of support that will strengthen the quality of pastoral leadership in small, rural churches. This initiative is critically important as church leaders and congregations are faced with a changing time of uncertainty and social unrest.”
The focus of the Lilly Endowment Thriving in Ministry 2020 grant will center around the following: 1) pastors leading congregations that serve communities of color and 2) pastors serving small, rural membership churches. This will be done by addressing two specific areas: 1) clergy entering ordained ministry leading to the first pastorate, and 2) pastors who have pastored between 1 and 5 years of ministry in small, rural membership churches. “As we attempt to build this new style of pastoral leadership development, our main goal for the program is to offer multiple opportunities for leaders to work together and to learn through self-awareness and integration.”
Recognizing that the face of our churches and congregations are changing, the Sixth Episcopal District is committed to excellence in leadership development by developing a new paradigm of pastoral leadership. As such, “we are ecstatic about the opportunity to partner with Turner Theological Seminary and other stakeholders to play a dynamic role as change agents in the training and support of pastors”
The Sixth Episcopal District expresses deep appreciation for the leadership of Dr. Cynthia Parnell McDonald; Dr. John Green, Grant Development and Program Consultant; Turner Theological Seminary staff; Research and Planning consultants, Dr. Teresa Fry Brown and Dr. Jeffrey Tribble; and workshop facilitators, Dr. William D. Watley and Dr. Eugene Robinson for providing significant support throughout this process.
