We get up in the morning, eat breakfast, go to work or school, and come home again. Most likely sometime during the day we will also be disappointed about something. “The main emotion of the adult American who has had all the advantages of wealth, education, and culture is disappointment,” novelist John Cheever once wrote. …
View course details “Dealing with Disappointment – 2023”

What is the future of small congregations (the fastest growing segment of North American Christianity)? Join us for lectures, workshops, worship, and conversations that will inspire your leadership; and receive practical, usable wisdom for giving your congregation a future. This year’s keynoter Will Willimon has been listening to pastors and congregations in hundreds of American churches and has a hopeful, Christ-centered word …
View course details “Looking Forward: Church, Hope, and the Future of Congregations”

Leading Adaptively, led by priest, researcher and revitalist Clara King, is open to lay leaders and clergy from any denomination. This 3-session Zoom course helps participants discover new ways to lead adaptively with skills they already have. You’ll encounter the core theory of Adaptive Leadership in a vibrant new way and come away with usable …
View course details “Leading Adaptively,”

Are you planning to change, grow or add a ministry? A Theory of Change is your ministry’s story of how you believe change will unfold. June 12th to August 3rd What impact are you having? How do you know? What difference is your ministry or program making? Learn what your mission is and understand the …
View course details “Theory of Change (Summer 2023)”

The Convocation on the Rural Church is an annual opportunity for pastors from the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Conferences of the United Methodist Church to join with Duke Divinity School and The Duke Endowment to discuss issues that are important in transforming rural churches and communities and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. …
View course details “Gathering with Hope, 2023 Convocation on the Rural Church”

Learn new methods and gain the skills needed to empower the people around you. It might not have been included in your job description, and no one may think to acknowledge it during staff meetings, but when there’s a problem, you are probably who people – from your staff to the congregation – look to …
View course details “Segment One Basic Skills Coach Training”

An initiation to Evangelical Studies by way of an incursion into Scripture, theology, missiology and pastoral practices. The student acquires conceptual tools as well as basic skills necessary to interact with and serve both Church and society. The Minor in Pastoral Studies leads to a Université Laval diploma or can be the first year of …
View course details “Minor in Pastoral Studies (30 Credits)”

“Investing in women’s leadership is the way we are going to change a world from one of conflict and violence to one of peace and hope”- Leymah Gbowee. Change is driven from the ground up by women’s movements and leaders who provide the sparks and the hard work needed to prevent violence and maintain peace …
View course details “Sister-to-Sister Mentorship Program”

Can you honestly say you are meeting all the needs of your congregation? Is that even possible? The truth is that it doesn’t matter how motivated, dedicated, or organized you are, it’s still impossible to do everything yourself. And it’s critical to have others you can depend on. You need a team of motivated laypersons …
View course details “The Art of Coaching Teams”

What is the future of small congregations (the fastest growing segment of North American Christianity)? Join us for two days of lectures, workshops, worship, and conversations that will inspire your leadership; and receive practical, usable wisdom for giving your congregation a future. This year’s keynoter Will Willimon has been listening to pastors and congregations in hundreds of American churches and has a …
View course details “Conference: Looking Forward: Church, Hope, and the Future of Congregations”