VALLEY FORGE, PA (7/22/19)—American Baptist Home Mission Societies (ABHMS) is seeking American Baptist pastors to enroll in its 2019-2020 “In Support of Excellence” (ISOE) pastors financial-empowerment cohort to begin meeting in November. The application deadline is Aug. 28, 2019.
A pastor’s ability to effectively lead a congregation to be an agent of transformation in the community is significantly diminished when he or she is saddled with education-related debt, financial trauma and undercompensation. Ministries of excellence are the desired fruit of the ISOE program. Through ISOE, ABHMS continues its commitment to providing American Baptist clergy and lay leaders with an increased awareness of resources available to do the following:
- prevent financial crisis,
- constructively address financial situations before they reach crisis, and
- better manage financial crisis, if it does occur.
Program components are as follows:
- Education and training
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- personal financial literacy (clergy/lay);
- personal stewardship;
- financial management; and
- congregational financial stewardship.
- Coaching/counseling services
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- financial planning;
- financial coaching; and
- clergy executive coaching.
- ministrElife online platform (virtual community of practice)
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- pastoral chat groups;
- webinars; and
- peer support.
- Debt reduction (clergy/lay)
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- debt-relief resources;
- debt-reduction strategies; and
- campaign-development assistance.
To be eligible to participate in ISOE, a pastor must be a pastor of an American Baptist church, submit a reference from his or her regional executive minister and demonstrate key criteria, including: pastoral excellence, significant financial hardship, and potential for increased congregational generosity and stewardship as well as willingness to commit to full program participation and requirements.
Apply online by midnight on Aug. 28, 2019. Those chosen will be notified by Sept. 30. Additional information is available online.
Orientation and Learning Lab Retreat will take place Nov. 7–9, 2019, at ABHMS’ Leadership and Mission Building, King of Prussia, Pa. Future training sessions will be announced to cohort participants. Participant costs for onsite sessions are provided through funding from the Lilly Endowment’s “Addressing the Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders” initiative.
American Baptist Home Mission Societies partners with American Baptists to promote Christian faith, cultivate Christ-centered leaders and disciples, and bring healing and transformation to communities across the United States and Puerto Rico.
American Baptist Churches USA is one of the most diverse Christian denominations today, with approximately 5,000 congregations comprised of 1.3 million members, across the United States and Puerto Rico, all engaged in God’s mission around the world.