Leadership in Christian Formation
Are you ready to enhance and expand your ministry? Are you in a season of vocational discernment? Is there a topic you would like to explore more deeply? The Leadership in Christian Formation (LCF) certificate program is designed for you. This year-long, project-based learning community combines faculty, mentors, and a group of 6-10 formation ministers (lay and ordained) for shared and independent learning, personal discernment, and discovery of God-given authority to claim personal voice and leadership. As part of a deeply relational cohort, you will build a network of mutually accountable peers to inspire, sustain, and help you live into your calling and your gifts.
This program:
- catalyzes discovery and application of individual skills and strengths
- enriches ability to nurture Christian formation for individuals and communities
- inspires spiritual, theological, and vocational growth
- equips courageous leaders for ministry in the 21st century
The one-year program begins and ends with 4 day residencies; and follows a schedule of monthly video conversations; personal feedback; planned reading and research; and insight gained by sharing experiences from your context. Participant growth results from self-assessment, group case study analysis, and a Capstone paper and project in a real-world formation context.
For more information, please contact [email protected]
REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM:
- The completed online application with your $50 application fee. (Once accepted the $50 fee will be applied to your total cost of $1750)
- Three letters of reference from a Christian Formation colleague, supervisor in ministry setting, teacher or mentor email to Julie Lytle
- Personal statement describing learning goals as well as the reasons such a program would benefit you and the church emailed to Julie Lytle
- Final Deadline is July 1, 2018 for applications. Acceptance notification sent by August 1, 2018
Questions? Contact Julie Lytle, CLLCF Program Coordinator
COSTS AND BENEFITS
Certificates are awarded by Forma in partnership with Virginia Theological Seminary. The program cost for 2018-2019 is $1750. We ask that 50% of the full payment be received before attending the in-person event in October. The full amount is due by March 31, 2017.
This fee covers room and board for two residencies (start and end of program), program instruction, mentoring, and online resources. The fee also includes a $100 discount to the Forma Conference and a one year Forma membership.
NOTE: Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements and costs. Participants are also expected to have sustained access to the internet and digital proficiency to facilitate active participation in an online learning community.
TYPICAL YEAR
You can earn a certificate in one year that includes:
Two Residencies
Cohorts meet for 2.5 days at the beginning and end of their program. The week is designed so that the returning cohort has time at the beginning of the week.They are joined by the new cohort for shared work, including Capstone Project presentations by the returning cohort.The new cohort ends the week by themselves sharing case studies to introduce themselves and their contexts and using the Anglican Communion Competency Grid to help discern learning goals.
The next residencies will be :
2018 Residency – Pendle Hill Retreat & Conference Center
338 Plush Mill Road Wallingford, PA 19086-6023
Returning Cohort
START: Monday, October 15, 20187:00 PM
END: Thursday, October 18, 2018 2:30 pm
Incoming Cohort
START: Tuesday, October 16, 2018 7:00 pm
END: Friday, October 19, 20182:30 PM
2019 Residency – Virginia Theological Seminary
3737 Seminary Rd, Alexandria, VA 22304
Dates in October – TBD
For a detailed program timeline for the 2018 cohort, click here.
Communal Reading and Personal Reflection
Each year, the faculty selects seminal readings in Scripture, Theology, and Leadership for cohort members to read. This enables us to develop community reference points and shared language.
Monthly Web Conferences
Cohort and faculty members meet each month to discuss texts, guide progress toward learning goals, support capstone project progress and encourage courageous leadership.
Independent Study
The certificate program is designed to customize learning to individual needs. After discerning personal goals, participants will develop a learning contract that specifies the research and resources to achieve them.
Monthly Meetings with Mentor
Individual Time with Faculty as Requested
Forma Conference
Certificates are awarded at the annual Forma Conference to participants who demonstrate proficiency in theology & practice of Christian formation by successfully completing and presenting capstone project at the second residency.
FACULTY
Julie Lytle
Julie Lytle, MDiv, PhD is the Executive Director of Province I developing ministry in the seven Episcopal dioceses in New England and is the Digital Evangelist at M3: Message, Method, then Media bringing distributive learning to theological education. She has been exploring the intersection of theology, education, and technology since her 8th grade religion teacher asked her to help run the filmstrip and movie projectors for the Sunday religious education program. Interested in how environments form and fashion individuals and communities, she has over 30 years experience integrating ministry and media in parish, diocesan, church-wide, academic, and health care contexts. When she's not trying to connect folks via web conferencing, you'll find her kayaking or capturing sunsets with her Canon on Cape Cod.
Lisa Kimball
Lisa Kimball, Ph.D. is the Associate Dean for Lifelong Learning and Professor of Christian Formation and Congregational Leadership at Virginia Theological Seminary. Growing up in a faithful, church-attending but shy-about-Jesus family, Lisa was introduced to intentional discipleship practices in college through Intervarsity Christian Fellowship (IVP). Her journey from IVP through Episcopal parish, diocesan, Church-wide and now seminary leadership has cultivated her commitment to lay ministry development and the significance of baptismal vocation in everyday life. In addition to teaching, advising, and program leadership at VTS, Lisa is currently directing Baptized for Life a 5 year, grant-funded initiative to equip congregations to form Christian vocations, people living confident and faithful lives of meaning and purpose. Whenever she gets the chance, Lisa relaxes watching Nationals baseball or exploring state parks with her wife, Patricia Lyons and their RV, Minerva.
Victoria Garvey
An educator for most of her life -- a perspicacious 1st grade teacher had her coaching others when she was 6 -- Victoria Garvey has a passion for learning and teaching, and unsurprisingly, for the Church. In her professional career she has taught at nearly every level from 2nd graders through graduate school, but she has spent most of that teaching time at one of our seminaries [Seabury-Western in Evanston, IL] where she taught biblical languages and biblical theology, her doctoral area. Most recently, those passions for learning/teaching/Church were fed in her position as Bishop’s Associate for Lifelong Christian Formation in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago where she even got paid for doing what she loves. These days, she serves on two faculties for the wider church, consults with a couple of dioceses concerning congregational vitality and she continues to speak locally, nationally and occasionally, internationally, facilitates workshops, leads retreats and in her spare time, serves the wider church as board member and committee member of several churchwide commissions and here at home as four-time deputy to General Convention.
Donald Schell
Diocese of California
President, All Saints Company
Co-founder of Saint Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco
