Covenant Pastoral Leadership A Lilly Endowment Funded Project

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Covenant Pastoral LeadershipA Lilly Endowment
Funded Project

• 2006
• James P. Bowers, Ph.D.

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Why Do We Need Covenant Pastoral Leadership
Development?

• Healthy pastors are key to Healthy churches
• COG pastors are NOT healthy
• Covenant Leadership makes an impact!

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Healthy Pastors Healthy Churches

• Proactive leadership with shared ministry leads
  to effective congregations (Carroll)
• Empowering Leadership - working with people to
  discern Gods will - is top 10 strength (Bruce,
  et al)
• Covenant Pastoral Leadership develops a shared,
  empowering leadership model

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COG Pastoral Health

• 57 work less due to poor health (vs. 29)
• 53 achieve less due to emotional needs
• 75 feel depressed (vs. 46)
• COG pastors 3x more likely to feel isolated
  (Isolation doubt call, burn out, family ills)
• 68 have pastorates of less than 7 years
• 88 have no evaluation 73 want more
• 75 (vs. 66) had conflict in 2 year period
• 67 serve small churches

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What Is Healthy/Excellent Ministry?

• Adequate spiritual nourishment
• Discerning leadership
• Authority based on relationships of trust
• Staying connected (50 drop outs)
• Self-directed, life-long learning

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Covenant Leadership Impact!

• Pastors found supportive fellowship
• Pastors kept the covenant made
• Pastors developed more supportive and positive
  relationship with pastors
• Pastors set relevant goals
• Pastors benefited and accomplished personal
  goals in pastoral practice
• Pastors feel more positive about pastors,
  denominational leaders, and pastoral ministry
• Pastors believe other pastors encouraged,
  supported, and resourced effectively

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How Has It Worked?

• Pastoral Covenant Groups
• Pastor-centered and directed process
• Proactive Holistic Care and Affirmation
• Facilitative Leadership Practices
• Local/District Collaboration in Mission

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What is the Potential Future Impact?

• Hundreds of pastors no longer isolated and alone!
• Hundreds of pastors growing in pastoral
  excellence!
• Hundreds of pastors encouraged, better resourced
  and better connected for their ministry
  challenges and opportunities!