Continuing Education Grants

One of the keys to a healthy ministry is cultivating life-long learning. That's why we take continuing education opportunities seriously. New opportunities to gain fresh perspective on who God is and who we are as ministers keeps us sharp and relavant. We've found some of the most fruitful continuing education has happened when we learn in community.

Each of us has been blessed with a small group of colleagues from seminary who have supported us in our ministries. Our groups act as partners in discernment, prayer, accountability, and learning.  Every year, our groups gather to support one another in ministry. Last year Andrea's group was awarded a grant from the College of Pastoral Leaders at Austin Theological Seminary. The grants are awarded to help sustain pastors and other ministry leaders for long-term fruitfulness. Communion and shared meals have long been central to Andrea's group, so somehow they convinced the College to support them in sharing meals, having theological discussion about communion, bread baking and wine tasting. She returned from her most recent retreat with some great thoughts about our communion practices at church.

Another opportunity to learn in community is coming up for me this summer. I've been awarded a Bast Preaching Fellowship by Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. Our group of six will be focusing on how to be better preachers, discussing personal learning goals together and with Western's preaching professors. There will also be plenty of time for reading, personal reflection, and play. I plan to learn more about how to sustain a weekly preaching life as the Sundays pile up, read some books by Tom Long, head to the beach and make a stop at my favorite hometown brewery.

We're honored to have been granted these opportunities to lean and grow and ministry and plan to seek out many more opportunities in the future.