WELCOME TO THE ACADEMY FOR LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE
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| Irene Brownlee |
I am so glad you have stopped by to learn more about the Academy for Leadership Excellence in the North Carolina Conference. To date, 494 persons have been served by the Academy, 366 clergy leaders (73%) and 128 lay leaders (27%).
The Academy for Leadership Excellence…..
• is a place of specialized learning and experience to develop lay and clergy leaders of excellence.
• is discovering, equipping, and supporting clergy and lay leaders for transformational ministry.
• occurs at different locations around our conference based on the learning needs identified.
• is a unique opportunity for lay and clergy leaders to learn together.
• provides practical, real-world learning about church leadership.
The mission of the Academy is to discover, equip, and support lay and clergy leaders for transforming ministry.
The three primary pathways are:
• The identification and assessment of a clergy leadership pool for new church plants.
• The equipping of lay and clergy leaders of small, medium, and large-size congregations through challenging, practical educational events led by regional and national leadership teachers and practitioners.
• The supporting of clergy leaders through a coaching and mentoring network.
Academy for Leadership Excellence
Program Highlights as of February 2008
The Academy at Work in the Discovery and Assessment Phase
• The Academy has established a leader development process for the discovery, identification, and assessment of potential new church pastors. Twenty-four pastors were invited to participate in a period of discernment concerning their calling and giftedness.
• The five steps of this leader development process are:
Step One:
Written application that includes spiritual autobiography, recent learning events, books read, and a vision statement.
Step Two
Four self-assessment instruments are completed
1) NCCUMC New Church Pastor Profile
2) The Team Profile
3) The Conflict Management Style Inventory
4) the Personal Profile System (DiSC).
Step Three:
Interpretation of assessment data in a summary report by the Academy Executive Director.
Step Four:
An in-depth interview with the Conference Assessor Team. Written report to designated District superintendent.
Step Five:
The celebration and confirmation of call and gifts which may result in further discussions with the District Superintendent and feedback to the Bishop and Cabinet.
• Twelve persons were trained as our Conference Assessor Team on November 7 and 8, 2007 with Rev. Jim Griffith, a national expert in the assessment process.
The Academy at Work in the Equipping Phase
• Three clergy and three lay persons participated in the “Basic Training Course for New Church Planters,” in April, 2007. This 30-hour course focused on the practical knowledge and skills needed to launch a new church plant.
• “How to Develop a Coaching Ministry” seminar was provided on May 15 th to 95 lay and clergy leaders of small, medium, and large-sized churches by Rev. Jim Griffith, a leading coaching ministry expert.
• In August, 2007 newly-appointed new church planters attended the national School of Congregational Development .
• On September 18 and 19, 2007, a group of 48 persons (25% clergy and 75% lay) were guided by Don Cousins, a national church equipper, in the processes of implementing a disciple-making, equipping model of congregational life. This learning group was composed of three church staffs and leaders who are implementing an equipping model for servant-based empowerment. These congregations have each been involved in the processes of clarifying mission, vision-casting, leader alignment and empowering the laity. Mr. Cousin's new book Leadershift provided the foundation for this learning.
• On September 20, 2007, a seminar titled “Vision-casting for an Equipping Church ” was held for the Raleigh District clergy at White Plains UMC. Eighty-one clergy and 25 lay persons from small, medium, and large-sized congregations learned the basics of becoming an equipping church. The learning leader was Don Cousins, a national presenter on transforming congregations, establishing lay ministries, and mobilizing church servants.
• On October 7-12, 2007 , four clergy and two lay persons participated in a comprehensive practical leadership experience called Breakthrough Leadership Conference in St. Louis , Missouri presented by Stephen Ministries .
• On October 14-19, 2007 , six clergy and two lay persons from our conference participated in the first session of the Academy for Spiritual Formation in Baltimore , MD. The Academy is designed to develop spiritual leaders who will effectively lead congregations in the inner journey of prayer and spiritual disciplines (inner holiness) and the outward journey of ministry, mission, and service (social holiness).
• On October 30, 2007, Charlie Halley , a layperson and executive director of Covenant United Methodist Church, presented a one-day seminar on “Shifting to a Culture of Equipping in our Congregations.” that was attended by 84 persons; 51 clergy (61%) and 33 lay persons (39%). Fourteen churches provided learning teams of between two and nine staff and program teams comprising 68% of all registrants. Mr. Halley's unique combination of church and business experience provided the setting for practical, relevant, and purposeful learning. This practical learning seminar was attended by clergy and lay leaders from small, medium, and large-sized congregations who were seeking to learn how to become a more effective disciple-making, equipping congregation.
• November 6 and 7, 2007 a “Church Planter and Leader Team Tune-Up Conference” was held for 22 persons; 12 lay and 10 clergy leaders of our conference new churches at Edenton Street UMC, facilitated by a national church planting consultant. Participants attended from the Western North Carolina Conference and the South Carolina Presbytery. This event was for pastors, spouses, and lay persons on the original leader team.
• November 7 and 8, 2007: “How to Identify and Assess New Church Start Pastors” trained 25 clergy leaders and three lay persons who are responsible for identifying and assessing the leadership for new conference projects. Twelve of these participants were from the North Carolina Annual Conference, joining with others from the Virginia , East Ohio , and New Mexico Annual Conferences.
• On January 22-27, 2008 , seven clergy and two lay persons from our conference participated in Session Two of the Academy for Spiritual Formation in Baltimore , MD.
• On February 26-28, 2008, two clergy will attend the Franklin Covey “Great Leaders, Great Teams, Great Results” Conference in Orlando , FL.
The Academy at Work in the Supporting Phase
• In 2007, nine clergy and five coaches were involved in a coaching network facilitated by the Academy. Coaching manuals were prepared and 6 month evaluations were completed.
• May 14 and May 16, 2007: One-on-one consultations were held with six new church projects by a national church planter consultant.
• June 23-25, 2007, Jim Griffith, national church planter consultant, conducted four site visits to our conference projects.
• November 5, 2007: Jim Griffith conducted 1.5 hour consultations with four new church conference projects.
• January 11, 2008 : A new coaching initiative was launched with Dr. Jim Robey for four clergy. This initiative will last until April 2008.
• February 1, 2008: One new coaching initiative was begun.
The Work of the Academy in Connection with NCCUMC
427 clergy and lay leaders participated in leader development events provided by the Executive Director:
(1) January 2007, “Spiritual Leadership for Laity,” Rocky Mount District
(2) September 2006 and January 2007, “Days Apart for Spiritual Formation and Leadership Learning,” Leadership team; Raleigh District
(3) March 2007, “Looking in the Mirror: Spirituality of Leadership,” Sanford District
(4) May 2007, “Day of Empowering for Clergy in Transition,” NC Conference
(5) September 2007, “Spiritual Equipping for Lay Leadership,” Burlington District
Other Important Academy Updates
• Ms. Shannon Williams, a Senior Advisor of Armstrong McGuire, LLC is providing interim leadership as the Director of Development and overseeing Academy fund-raising and development efforts.
• As of December 2007 the Academy has been established as a stand-alone entity from the Congregational Development Fund, Inc. Mr. Wilson Hayman , Conference Chancellor, is providing counsel and preparing the necessary incorporation documents. Future plans include a presentation of this new structure to the Cabinet for their action.
• Nine persons, including our Bishop, gathered to discuss shared space by the Academy in Edenton Street United Methodist Church's renovation to its first floor unfinished area. Possible completion of the ESUMC renovation will be in 2008.
• Eleven persons have agreed to serve as an Academy Program Advisory team and will meet quarterly beginning in the first quarter of 2008.
Update on Academy Pledges:
125 donors have pledged $1,711,221 and paid cash totaling $491,170
Balance on total pledges of $1,219,133.
Pledges received since June 15, 2006 : $144,477
55 donations of $4,399 in memory of Dr. Jerry Lowry
To learn more about the Academy and current news:
• Raleigh District Clergy Day Apart - Vision-Casting for an Equipping Church with Don Cousins
• Shifting to a Culture of Equipping with Charlie Halley
• Church Planter & Leader Team Tune-up for NCCUMC with Rev. Jim Griffith
• Church Planter & Leader Team Tune-up Seminar for Others with Rev. Jim Griffith
• How to Identify & Assess New Church Start Pastors with Rev. Jim Griffith
• May 15 Seminar: How to Develop a Coaching Ministry with Rev. Jim Griffith
• What's happening in the Academy for Leadership Excellence
• A further description of the Academy: What, Where, How, Who, and Why?
• A Time to Grow Update as of March 1, 2007
• Academy for Leadership Excellence: Historical Origins and Context
• Upper Room to Match NCC Money for Academy for Spiritual Formation Participants for a Total $2000 Grant
• Becoming a New Church Pastor
Dr. Irene Brownlee , Executive Director
1307 Glenwood Avenue, Suite 151
PO Box 10955 , Raleigh , NC , 27605
919-832-9560, Ext 299
ibrownlee@nccumc.org
