Kim Shockley, Coordinator for Pathways of Spiritual Leadership
The mission of Susquehanna Conference is to grow spiritual transformational leaders, equip vital congregations and create new places for new people, and connect with each other and the world so that alive in Christ together, the Susquehanna Conference will embody the beloved community of disciple making congregations. The Grow Team has defined spiritual transformational leaders as those who engage others in abundant Christian love that transforms lives wherever they go! We firmly believe that it is these leaders, both clergy and laity, who will equip vital congregation, connect with each other and the world to be a beloved community!
The Grow Team has worked diligently this past year to research, write, and train trainers to offer a learning experience for Lay Servant Ministries: GROW! Living as Spiritual Transformational Leaders. It is now being offered in most of our districts as an online Zoom class. It is our hope that as we move into 2021 the opportunities to receive the GROW! training will multiply. Those who are inclined to teach the class within their own congregation can do so once they have experienced the whole course. Each of the eight sessions provides ample opportunity for conversation around new practices of spiritual development and leadership experiences that can be practiced between each class. It is the rhythm of learning, trying, and conversation about successes and failures that will help to produce spiritual transformational leaders.
Now, our Grow Team is setting its sights toward how we help congregations invigorate a culture of call – we all have ways in which we were made and equipped to be useful to God’s purposes! Having a Culture of Call, then, is about creating an environment where both young and old alike are listening for God’s voice and responding in bold and meaningful ways. How does your congregation extend a culture of call?
Please share your stories with Kevin Witt (KWitt@susumc.org) or Kim Shockley (KShockley@susumc.org) so that we can encourage one another with stories of how God is using us to empower our people! The Grow Team is also moving toward creating short online learning experiences for local church leaders, specifically the Lay Leader and the Nominations and Leadership Development Team. Watch for links and more information as this is developed for you!
