develop within the body of christ as you serve

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When you serve the Church, are you joyful and invigorated?  Do you seek ideas and methods for serving better? Perhaps you may sometimes feel your service is a thankless, lonely, or overwhelming burden.  As the body of Christ, we are called to encourage one another. To do this, we need connections!

Register

Register for the online Peer Learning cohort that fits your leadership role. Once we have at least 8 people interested in the group, we will send a meeting poll to find a good meeting cadence.  Once the meeting times have been established, you will be invited to finalize your registration with a $150 payment or by accepting a half or full scholarship we hope to provide through our sponsors.  Because we keep registration open, we plan to generate new cohorts of 6 to 8 people on an ongoing basis.  If the meeting schedule doesn't work for you, we will keep you on the list and invite you to the next emerging cohort until a meeting time works for you. Invite your friends and other contacts within your diocese to join you!

Peer Learning cohorts meet monthly under the guidance of a trained facilitator.  Before each meeting you will receive a short article, podcast, or video link related to the cohort's chosen topic as a way to kick-off the conversation.  Though not required, participants are encouraged to present in their areas of expertise. After enriching discussion, each member will be encouraged to implement one take-away concept or practice.  The cohort structure will keep us together, committed, and accountable as we strive to be faithful stewards in our leadership responsibilities.

Why make the investment in parish leadership development? Read More

Peer Learning Cohorts:

• Clergy
• Clergy Wives
• Parish Council & Ministry Leaders
• Church Treasurers & Stewards
• Church Office Administrators
• Nonprofit Directors

Sample Topics Include: 

• Resilience - responding to change
• Casting vision
• Engaging people in service
• Setting boundaries
• Avoiding burn-out
• Conflict resolution
• Active listening
• Cultivating trust
• Building consensus
• Good governance processes
• Onboarding new leaders
• Succession planning
• Running efficient meetings
• Aligning budget to mission
• How to talk about money
• Financial transparency
• Fiduciary responsibility
• Communication strategies

​CLICK to learn more in an interview with Peer Learning and Boot Camp facilitators!

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Register

peer learning facilitators
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Clergy Cohort Facilitator
Join this online Peer Learning group for Clergy to discuss topics like resilience, casting vision, avoiding burnout, and conflict resolution.  

 ​"There are no gurus in the Church. We are together taught by the Holy Spirit. So we listen to Him in scripture and in the communion we share. Those who love Jesus will be our teachers if we hear them, irrespective of their titles."
​​Fr. Paul Hodge serves the Antiochian Archdiocese  
​Read More...​​

Church Treasurers & Stewards Cohort Facilitators
  Andrew Schachtner, CPA, and Hollie Benton will facilitate this Peer Learning Cohort for Church Treasurers & Stewards to discuss topics like aligning budget to mission, inspiring generosity, transparency and best financial practices.

"Parish treasurers are a vital part of parish administration. Peer Learning is a great opportunity to share best practices and build relationships that can strengthen all our parishes."

Andrew Schachtner is a Certified Public Accountant and a former church treasurer in Louisville, KY. Read More . . .

"Church treasurers have a huge responsibility in the ministry and stewardship of the parish.  The Peer Learning format spurs us on with courage toward operational excellence and inspired generosity. "​

Hollie Benton serves as the Executive Director for the Orthodox Christian Leadership Inititiave.  Read More...​

Clergy Cohort Facilitator

"I love the support and camaraderie of peer-learning groups. There is no “sage on the stage” – everyone contributes and decides what to take away from the experience. Give a lecture and people forget. Peer learners have fun and remember."

Fr. Ian Pac-Urar serves Presentation of Our Lord in Fairlawn, OH.​
Read More . . . 

Enroll - Peer Learning

Clergy Wives Cohort Facilitator
 Join this online Peer Learning group to discuss the unique leadership role of clergy wives, including topics like setting healthy boundaries and active listening.

 "This group provides a space to be safely vulnerable and refreshed in our unique roles as clergy wives."
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​​Mka. Jennifer Levine serves the Orthodox Church in America in the Office of Pastoral Life, including .  Read More . . . 

Parish Council & Ministry Leaders Facilitator
Join this online Peer Learning group to discuss topics like building trust and consensus, and engaging people in service. 

“Orthodox Christians know that we cannot move through life as “free agents” - on our own strength, accountable only to ourselves. We live and grow as a body – Christ’s body – supporting each other, learning from each other, and accountable to each other and to God.”  ​

Dn. Sean Reid serves the St. Maria of Paris Mission in Hamilton, ON.  
​Read More...

Clergy Cohort Facilitator

"When two or three gather in Christ's name (Mt. 18:20), combining personal relationships and work that transcends each group member, they co-create an environment with tremendous transformative potential." 

Fr. Paul Lundberg​ serves the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Montgomery, Alabama and Orthodox Connect. Read More . . .​
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Beginning January 23, Boot Camp meets online every other Monday through April 3, at 4:30 pm PT / 7:30 pm ET.  Hollie Benton and Fr. Ian Pac-Urar will train new and potential board members to lead strategically, ensure financial stability and good governance, and to support your priest or executive director while serving as an ambassador for your church or non-profit.​

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Boot Camp - Learn More!

Please also consider making a DONATION to support others in Peer Learning development.