Come, let us rebuild

Is this your ministry? If so, consider the

NEHEMIAH LEADERSHIP NETWORK

A three-year adventure to prepare you to lead congregational transformation

You will

Deepen your relationship with God through Christ

Discern your strengths and areas for growth

Develop an individualized learning plan

You will be supported by

Meetings with a colleague group

A trained mentor

An annual conference for sharing and learning

The purpose of the Nehemiah Leadership Network is to provide specialized training, guidance and support for persons identified as having high potential for leading congregations to become renewed and transformed and who feel called by God to this form of ministry. Participants will be identified and nominated by region staff and will complete an assessment of leadership skills and emotional intelligence at the Center for Career Development and Ministry as part of their application process. After acceptance, each pastor will propose an individualized learning contract that will address four areas: spiritual growth; emotional maturity; leadership skills and mental models of systems and change processes. It is expected that most pastors will participate in the Network for three years. The Nehemiah Leadership Network is a ministry supported by the American Baptist Churches of Connecticut, the American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts, the American Baptist Churches of Metro New York, The American Baptist Churches of New Jersey, the American Baptist Churches of New York State, the Philadelphia Baptist Association, American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware, the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island, the American Baptist Churches of the Rochester/Genesee Region and the American Baptist Churches of Vermont & New Hampshire, The American Baptist Churches of Greater Indianapolis, and the American Baptist Churches of Indiana & Kentucky with support from the Ministers and Missionaries Benefit Board and the American Baptist Home Missions Societies.Some Testimonials From NLN Graduates

“The three year journey of the Nehemiah Leadership Network has been a wonderfully enriching experience. As a novice pastor, I was grateful to have received the collegial support and mentorship. Nehemiah’s yearly retreat served as a refreshing time of learning and connecting with fellow co-laborers of Christ.” ~ Rev. Mia Chang

“My participation in the Nehemiah Leadership Network gave me balance in my ministry. I was chosen to attend in my first year of my first pastorate and through this experience I have been able find my personal voice in ministry. The Nehemiah Network provides invaluable workshops through the retreats and mentor groups. Nehemiah retreats are wonderfully crafted to help us tap into ourselves and critically engage our call and commitment to be effective in the context in which we serve. The instruction on family systems theory and various readings have aided in my transformation as an effective pastor and servant of Christ. The past three years I have made new friends and become a healthier disciple of Christ. I thank God for the vision of all my American Baptist family that recommended and supported me through this whole process of growth. I’m a better man and pastor for this experience.” ~ Rev. Rodger Harris

“There are many benefits that I received from NLN that have impacted my ministry and the church’s effectiveness in fulfilling its gospel call. For me, as a leader, it gave me tools to discern God’s vision for my church and act as a change agent for shifting mental models that impeded the church’s growth and outreach. With the help of a mentor experienced with needed change and transformational outcomes along with a peer group committed to one another in this process of learning and implementing the knowledge gained, I grew in confidence and discovered new ways to work with my congregation more effectively.” ~ Rev. Lynn Sullivan

“I think my experience with NLN has contributed significantly to the effectiveness and sustainability of my ministry. Learning about system theory and the dynamics of congregational transformation helped me to appreciate why my congregation responds to leadership in some of the ways they do. It has given me an appreciation of the process that has allowed me to stay the course when things have been difficult. I would add that the work at the center for ministry and emphasis on self-care has given me greater self-awareness. It has helped see parts of my personality that contribute in unhealthy ways to my reactions as a leader. It also gave me a clear sense of my strengths, allowing me to trust my leadership. That fact that this learning took place over 3,years in a peer group with a mentor is crucial. The group dynamic allowed me to wrestle, test, and absorb these principals in ways no 2-day sit down, drive away conference could. The learning and friendship are still shaping my ministry years after.” ~ Rev. Matt Yukon

“The Nehemiah Leadership Network has benefited my pastoral ministry in many ways. A few ways stand out. First, the collegial support and encouragement I received from my covenant group was invaluable. During challenging times in my first call, they were there to listen, encourage and provide me with new insights through their questions to me. While I haven’t kept in touch with all members of my covenant group, I have kept in touch with one member. In fact, he preached the installation sermon at my new call this past May. The second way Nehemiah has benefited me is through the Learning Covenant process. This process involves developing Learning Goals with objectives and a specific plan of action. I have continued this practice even after my participation in Nehemiah ended. The practice keeps me focused in my leadership. As a result, I am a better leader and can lead transformations. The third, but not the final way Nehemiah has benefited me is through introducing me to the book A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix. I continue to return to the truths in this book over and over. When I experience leadership challenges and opportunities, I often think about the principles in the book and apply them. As a result, I am a more effective leader.”~ Rev. David Braneky NEHEMIAH LEADERSHIP NETWORK

Participant Covenant Promises

In order to prepare myself for transformational leadership in the local church, I covenant to:

Create an individualized learning contract containing my overall learning goals, draft specific annual learning objectives based on this contract, and share these documents with my Colleague Group, Mentor and the Coordinator;

Meet quarterly with my Colleague Group and Mentor, sharing progress toward my objectives ands goals and engaging in mutual support;

Maintain a relationship with the Mentor outside of group meetings in order to receive support and counsel;

Critique my learning through an annual self-evaluation that I will share with my Mentor and the Coordinator, and receive from the Mentor recommendations for objectives in the subsequent year;

Attend an annual conference;

Provide evaluation of the conference and of my overall Nehemiah experience;

Obtain congregational support of my participation in the Nehemiah Leadership Network and a commitment of financial support in the amount of $400 a year plus reimbursement for my travel expenses;

Personally pay $300 annually for participation in the Nehemiah Leadership Network.

I further agree that, if I find that I am unable to meet these obligations, I will inform my Mentor and the Coordinator of my withdrawal from the program. I understand that the Network reserves the right to terminate my participation if I do not meet these expectations.

______(Signature) (Name Printed) (Date) SAMPLE

Congregational Partnership Covenant, Nehemiah Leadership Network

As a congregation called out and led by Jesus Christ we recognize that we live and minister in a new day. We believe that for our witness to be strong in this new day we must prayerfully and diligently seek new directions and resources for ministry. We recognize the need and responsibility for our pastor to engage in ongoing educational experiences in fields of study related to congregational vitality and ministerial faithfulness. We further recognize our need and responsibility as a congregation to engage in self-study and skill building so that together, as church and pastor, we might ready ourselves for God in Christ to move powerfully in our midst.

To these ends, we support our pastor as a participant in the Nehemiah Leadership Network and we enter into covenantal partnership with him/her in that participation. Therefore, we agree to:

Consider and describe our current situation (size, ministry context, recent history, etc.);

Understand our present giftedness for ministry;

Consider what future our church is called to in the present and changing context for ministry and document that vision as we come to understand it;

Undertake appropriate training opportunities as we and our pastor identify need for them (for example outreach, stewardship, leader development);

Provide pastoral compensation in keeping with ABC regional guidelines;

Provide financial support of $400 and expense reimbursement for our pastor’s participation in the Nehemiah Leadership Network.

We celebrate with joy and anticipation this new venture into which God is leading our church and our pastor.

______(Name of church) (Date)

______(Signature of Congregational Representative) (Name Printed) Nehemiah Leadership Network Application for Participation

Name______Address______

City ______State ______Zip ______

E-mail address ______Phone (O)______(H) ______

I have a current professional profile/resume Yes____ No ____ If yes, please provide a copy If no, attach a separate page listing your education, pastoral experience and ordination (if ordained)

Please enclose a signed copy of the Ministerial Code of Ethics for your denomination.

Applicants are required to attend the Midwest Ministry Development Center, in Columbus, OH, for a Nehemiah assessment. This must be completed before the application can be processed. Appointments can be made at the Center by calling 614-442-8822, being sure to tell them that it is the Nehemiah assessment that you are scheduling.

I have scheduled an assessment at the Center for Career Development and Ministry ______(BE SURE THAT YOU ARE SCHEDULING THE NEHEMIAH ASSESSMENT.) Date

Respond briefly to the following questions, please. 1) Of the challenges facing congregations today, what in your view is the greatest challenge as it relates to leadership and transformation?

2) Relationships with a colleague group and a mentor are at the heart of the Nehemiah Leadership Network experience. What are your expectations and hopes related to the colleague group and the mentor? 3) What practices do you use regularly to renew yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually?

4) Share a time when you were unsuccessful in “rolling with the punches.” How did you get stuck? What would you do today in that situation?

In addition to completing this application form, please provide two letters of reference, one from a colleague in ministry and one from a parishioner, attesting to a) your character, b) demonstrated leadership skills and c) your potential for the personal and professional growth that will enable you to lead congregational transformation.

Ask the persons supplying your references to send them to Leon Runner, NLN Administrative Coordinator, 7484 South State Street Lowville, NY 13367. Send the completed application, the ABPS profile and signed Code of Ethics to the same address.

We join you in praying for God’s leading as you consider the Nehemiah Leadership Network.

Submit Application to: Dr. Leon E. Runner 7484 South State Street Lowville, NY 13367