The Association of Partners in Christian Education is happy to announce that through a partnership with the Office of Christian Formation in the Presbyterian Mission Agency we will offer the following FREE cohorts this Fall!

What is a cohort?

Our cohorts are a group of 5-8 leaders that have a similar focus or interest in ministry development. Cohorts provide a setting where colleagues learn, and support one another while identifying goals, challenges, and options for the future. Each cohort is led by an ICF (International Coaching Federation) trained coach and meets over zoom for a designated number of sessions. Cohorts are a process of transformation in which you identify your goals, consider your challenges, explore your options, and create a plan of action to meet your goals.

Attendance in a cohort is very important. Your presence matters for your development, as well as the others in the group. Read each description carefully and the date/times the cohort will meet before you register to ensure that you understand the cohort’s purpose and that you are able to attend. If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Fritz stephanie.fritz@pcusa.org

These 90-minute cohorts will meet once a week for 6 weeks beginning the week of October 14.

Registration will be open from September 23 – October 4.

Each cohort will automatically close when 8 participants register. Each will receive a confirmation email asking them to contact us if they can not commit to regular participation.

Veteran Youth Ministry Leaders (10 plus years experience)

This cohort is for our youth ministry veteran leaders! You’ve seen quite a transformation of the church and youth ministry over the last decade or more. How do you continue to innovate? Which models do you hold on to? What is it time to let go of? What’s new? Are you mentoring new leaders? Expect to gather with other experienced youth workers to support one another, share new ideas and see the hope for our ministries with young people.

Coach: Shannon Guse

Time: Thursdays 2 pm Eastern

Broadly Graded Youth Ministry

Many faith communities have youth ministry programs that include middle and high school youth. How do you plan for a 6th grader and 12th grader? How do safety policies differ in this environment? This cohort will provide space to share tips and strategies with one another and set goals for your ministry.

Coach: Kim Ness

Time: Thursdays Noon Eastern

Essentials for Older Adult Ministry

There are many ways that churches are in ministry with older adults and offer supports that are relevant to this stage in life. This cohort will explore with one another the myriad of models and ideas for serving older adults. It will also use and build upon the Expressions of Older Adult Ministry training modules that explore theological frameworks and best practices.

Coach: Sarah Erickson

Time: Wednesdays 2 pm Eastern

New to Faith Formation Ministries

Is this your first call or position that includes faith formation ministries with children, youth, adults, older adults, or a combination? Whether you are full-time or part-time, educator or pastor this is a valuable cohort to network for best practices, get coach facilitated support and discussions and set your own goals for ministry.

Coach: Julie Gvillo

Time: Tuesdays 1pm Eastern

Becoming an Intergenerational Community

Becoming an intergenerational church or faith community is more than offering programming. It’s about lasting relationships where mutuality and reciprocity are core. It takes time and commitment from the community. This cohort will have ministry leaders explore and share best practices, introduce resources and tools, share successes and failures, and set goals for their individual
contexts.

Coach: Becky D’Angelo Veitch

Time: Mondays 1:30pm Eastern. October 14, 21, 28, November 4, two week break, November 25 and December 2.

Reviving Weary Spirits

The last 4 years have left us weary as we continuously try new ministry models and seek out ways to innovate. This cohorts will explore adaptive leadership skills, how we engage in self-care and sabbath and look at new ways to get support, continuing education, and care for ourselves as a whole person. Expect to set individual goals and support one another.

Coach: Lauren Peters

Time: Mondays 2pm Eastern

Young Adult Faith Formation

Young Adults are not only dealing with many life transitions and changes, they also have varying backgrounds and relationships with faith. They may be coming to faith for the first time, they may
be doubting and reconstructing and they often have religious trauma. How do we support faith formation with all of this in mind? This cohort will explore these questions together. Whether you are a leader in campus ministry or in a faith community this cohort is for you!

Coach: Shannon Guse

Time: Thursdays 11 am Eastern

Mission and Partnerships

Mission trips and local mission work can be transformative in one’s faith journey. This cohort will explore healthy and non-toxic models of mission both local, national and international for all ages. Share with one another how you have partnered with organizations and how you look for organizations to partner with. You will discuss models of mission for your youth group, intergenerational groups and your mission committees. Resources from the denomination will be shared.

Coach: Kim Ness

Time: Tuesdays 3 pm Eastern

Enhance and Innovate: Starting something NEW

So many new and innovative ministry models have been emerging and maybe you find yourself starting one! Whether you are beginning a new program, a new approach or even letting go of old programs to see where the spirit leads, this is for you! This cohort will engage participants in sharing models, talking about leadership when beginning new ministries and support one another. Expect to be encouraged and inspired by one another and set goals for your own ministry.

Coach: Jeffrey Crawford

Time: Tuesdays 11am Eastern

Enhance and Innovate: Worship and Faith Formation

Faith formation is every experience, practice or relationship we experience or engage in as we shape the way we interact with God and grow in our faith. This includes worship. Worship can be a place where our communities forms faith together. This cohort will engage participants in thinking about innovative ways that we can enhance our times of worship so that we are all growing in faith together. Expect to share resources and set goals for your ministry.

Coach: Sandy Safford

Time: Wednesdays Noon Eastern

Enhance and Innovate: Collegiate Ministries

Is your church or worshiping community thinking about how best to support college students? Maybe you are a campus minister or you are a church leader that seeks to start a new ministry on a local campus. This cohort will have participants explore together new and innovative models for collegiate ministry.