Updates

July 2009
  • Total grants awarded to date (from May 2003 to May 2009):
    • 118 Pastor Peer Learning Grants (first time grants)
    • 153 Pastor Peer Learning Grants (first time and renewal grants)
    • 12 Pastors’ Spouses’ Grants (first time grants)
    • 14 Pastors’ Spouses’ Grants (first time and renewal grants)
  • Since the beginning of the SPE Project (May 2003) there have been:
    • 714 pastors from 545 congregations involved in SPE pastor peer groups (approximately 67% of all CRC pastors and 53% of all CRC congregations)
    • 92 pastors’ spouses from 81 congregations involved in SPE pastors’ spouses peer groups
  • The CRC SPE project is participating in a national study on peer learning groups.  Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is heading up the study with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc.  Two hundred and eight CRC pastors completed the survey sent out in 2008.  Survey results are available.  The findings from the entire study will be presented at the SACEM (Society for the Advancement of Continuing Education for Ministry) conference in January 2010.
  • SPE is currently conducting a study on pastoral support.  All clerks of council in the US and Canada have been asked to submit stories and ideas of how their congregation is showing support for their pastor, pastor spouse, and pastor couple.  The goals of the study are to identify best practices of pastoral support and to promote these practices for use by other congregations.  The findings will be published later this fall.  Look for them on the SPE website.
  • A group of 12 students participated in the June SPE/Calvin Theological Seminary Course (The Theology and Practice of Pastoral Ministry) held in Grand Rapids, MI.
  • Several SPE articles have been recently published.  To view them, please click here.
  • Twelve proposals for Peer Learning groups received funding in May 2009:
    • Cultivating and Collaboration for Healing Communities – MI
      Focus: equipping pastors to minister to released prisoners
    • Disciplines for a Deeper Journey – MI, IL
      Focus: growing in the spiritual disciplines
    • Explorers of Faith – CA
      Focus: enhancing capacity for servant leadership
    • Korean Reformed Worship Study Group – MI, IL, OH
      Focus: Reformed worship and the Korean congregation
    • Large Church Cluster – MI, ON, IL, MA, WA CO, IN
      Focus: impacting the city for Christ
    • Larger Church Network – IL, IN
      Focus: leaders of larger churches developing, encouraging, and being accountable
    • Los Visionarios Del Rio – CA
      Focus: growing in ministry by breaking ethnic barriers
    • Pastors’ Network – NE, IA
      Focus: developing leadership
    • Seattle Chung-Sol-Mo – WA
      Focus: inductive Bible study and sermon preparation
    • Soul Tenders – MI
      Focus: learning and practicing the spiritual disciplines
    • Transitioning Churches – IL, IN
      Focus: leading the church into the future
    • Word Sculptors – CA
      Focus: preaching in postmodern days
  • In May 2009, SPE began offering pastors in newly formed peer groups a free copy of the book Living Your Strengths, by A. Winseman, D. Clifton and C. Liesveld.  Pastors who accept the offer may also choose to participate in free coaching with a CRC Strengths Trained Coach.
  • Four proposals for Pastors’ Spouses’ groups received funding in April 2009:
    • Pastors’ Spouses’ Support Group – MI
      Focus: offer support, encouragement, prayer, and laughter
    • Pastors’ Spouses Sharing Together (P.S.S.T.) – ON
      Focus: grow deeper, building on the foundation laid to help touch each other’s lives
    • Saving Our Sanity (S.O.S.) – ON
      Focus: support, encourage, uplift, share, and pray together on a regular basis
    • Texas Bluebonnets – TX
      Focus: build fellowship among members and support each other in their role as pastor’s spouse
  • Work has begun on the next SPE training tool which will provide tools for evaluating pastors and ministry leaders.  The publication will be available in the spring of 2010.  A copy will be sent to every pastor and clerk of council.
  • An SPE learning event was held in January 2009 in Cocoa Beach, FL with 16 pastor couples attending. The topic was “Pastor Couples in Parish Ministry: Engaging and Reframing – the art of living large in a fishbowl environment.”
  • Nine proposals for Peer Learning groups received funding in November 2008:
    • Band of Brothers – MI
      Focus: support and encouragement in pastoral spiritual growth
    • Clergy-led, Faith-based Community Organizing – MI
      Focus: seeking justice for the poor and those facing injustice
    • Cross Cultural Church Partnership Exploration – BC
      Focus: investigate and explore cross cultural partnerships between churches
    • Fostering Healthy Inter-Cultural Congregations – ON
      Focus: identify mono-cultural barriers to inter-culturalism
    • Korean Canadian Pastors Group – BC, AB
      Focus: sharing lives and pastoral experiences
    • Pastors of Large Rural Churches – MN, IA, SD
      Focus: enhancing ministry in areas of population decline
    • Speaking with an Accent – FL
      Focus: effectively communication the gospel with a Reformed Accent
    • The “A” Team – ON
      Focus: being healthy pastors who can build healthy teams
    • The Exiles – WA, CA
      Focus: exploring pastoral excellence in families ministering in post-modern, post-Christendom contexts
  • The Peer Learning Group Coordinators’ Meeting was held in November 2008 in Grand Rapids, MI. Twenty-eight pastors representing 28 peer learning groups attended.
  • Three proposals for Pastors’ Spouses’ groups received funding in October 2008:
    • Asian Pastors’ Wives Support Group – WI, CA, NJ, MN, MI, ON, CO, NH
      Focus: understanding their roles as spouses to their pastor-husbands in a culturally changing ministry among Southeast Asian & Pacific Island people
    • Los Angeles Samo Group - CA
      Focus: learning, encouraging, accountability and dreaming
    • Northern Michigan Gals - MI
      Focus: provide encouragement, support, refreshment, and fellowship to and for each other
  • The Pastors’ Spouses’ Conference was held September 30 – October 2, 2009 in Grand Rapids, MI. The theme for the event was For the Many Hats You Wear. Ninety-six spouses gathered to celebrate the unique roles and responsibilities they balance in their marriage, family, and ministry. The next conference will be held in April 2010 in Vancouver, BC. Brochures will be mailed to all pastors’ spouses in December.
  • Marriage and Ministry was published in September 2008.  Written by pastors and their spouses, this booklet addresses important issues related to marriage and ministry and includes action steps for both the pastor couple and the church council which will nurture the couples in their ministry. Free hardcopies are available through Faith Alive. They’re shipped at no cost to you.  To order, please click here.