Southeast Conference Participates
in Hosting Annual New Church Leadership Institute (NCLI)
The Seven Secrets

The Southeast Conference, with its ministry partners Local Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ, The Center for Progressive Renewal, and Hope for Peace and Justice participated in hosting the fourth annual New Church Leadership Institute in Decatur, August 9-13.  The event, which began its life as an institute to gather and equip new church start pastors, has since last year developed a track for renewing churches as well as birthing new churches.

Organized around the theme of “The Seven Secrets of New and Renewing Congregations” the event significantly featured some of the significant leadership of the Southeast Conference among its presenters.   The secrets include; knowing why you are in ministry, where you are going, communicating effectively, managing carefully, being engaged in mission outward, creating transformational community and worship.  There was considerable attention to the emergent church movement, and reflection on the ways in which the church will need to change its behavior to be well equipped for the future.  Presenters from the Southeast Conference included Dwight Andrews, pastor of First Congregational UCC, Atlanta, speaking about appreciative inquiry, and Cameron Trimble with Steve Sterner who addressed strategic planning.  As Executive Director of the Center for Progressive Renewal, Cameron was instrumental to the organization of the event and to its great success.  Other presenters of worships and keynotes from the Southeast Conference included Gregg Carlson, Kathy Clark, Tim Downs, Susannah Davis, Susan Mitchell, Cindy Andrews-Looper and Angie Wright.  Also presenting was Glenna Shepherd, pastor of Christ Covenant, Decatur, GA.

One participant in the Institute noted that the theme could have been, “Don’t be Stupid”, if the definition of being stupid is trying the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results. The focus of the event was equipping ministers with new tools, perspectives, and new ways of support for changing the behavior of churches, so that they can develop ministries which meet not only the needs of those in the pews, but more importantly, those who are not in their pews yet.  Notably, the Institute is also providing coaching for ministers, knowing that simply teaching and sharing new skills is not sufficient to effect change in leadership behavior.  Conference Minister Tim Downs noted with appreciation, “not only did our Conference provide much of the leadership for the event, but I was pleased to see a number of our ministers as participants, including Bob Hurst from Huntsville, John Gill and Leslie Etheredge from Knoxville, and Michael Pater from Atlanta.

Follow this link to read full release from the Center for Progressive Renewal.