All active, CRC parish pastors who fit into one of the three ministry transitions—Exploring, Starting Anew, or Finishing Well—are eligible to form a group and apply for a grant. There are some requirements that need to be met.
What is mentoring?
What is the Mentoring Groups Program?
Who is the program for?
Which ministry transitions may be explored?
What is the makeup of the group members?
How does the funding work?
What kind of proposal is required?
What do I have to do to submit a proposal?
How do I find a group to join?
What does the group facilitator do?
What is a Birkman Assessment?
How long does a mentoring group grant last?
What size grant will be given?
Are any in-kind or other matching contributions required?
What will the grant money cover?
What happens when a proposal is approved?
Is there a deadline for submitting proposals?
Are there any reporting requirements?
What is mentoring?
Mentoring is a relationship in which vocational reflection, learning, and maturing are nurtured. Mentoring implies that one person is more experienced than the other in a specific area: a sharing of wisdom, wondering, and walking along with each other, provides the ingredients for growing skills, nourishing souls, and gaining clarity about vocational identity.
What is the Mentoring Groups Program?
It’s a program which brings together active, Christian Reformed Church (CRC) parish pastors to explore a specific ministry transition—while supporting, caring for, and encouraging one another. The Mentoring Groups Program has grants available to fund groups of four to six pastors (plus a facilitator) who desire to gather together to learn from each other while fostering wellbeing in their ministry, lives, and relationships.
Who is the program for?
It’s intended to assist pastors actively serving in congregational ministry in the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). For this program, a pastor is understood to be an individual who is ordained (minister of the Word or commissioned pastor) and pastoring a congregation in a parish setting. Pastors in specialized ministry, such as chaplains or campus ministry, aren’t able to join a group as the focus is on transitions while in congregational ministry.
The mentoring groups must be made of both those who are currently in a time of transition and those who have gone through the same type of transition. The three transitions on which this program is focusing attention are these: Exploring, Starting Anew, and Finishing Well..
Note: A person may not be a part of two different mentoring groups at the same time.
Which ministry transitions may be explored?
There are three ministry transitions for which a group of pastors may request a grant.
- Exploring:
Pastors who are exploring the possibility of moving to a different church, taking a different position within the church, or even leaving ministry would fit into this transition. This can be the most challenging of transitions as rarely is there a safe place to work through the complexity of things to be considered. Confidentiality among group members will be key. - Starting Anew:
Pastors who have started in a new ministry congregational ministry context within the past two years. The particular emphasis will shift based on expressed needs and could include those entering a second call, those stepping into a lead or solo pastor role for the first time, or those who are planting a Christian Reformed congregation. - Finishing Well:
Almost one third of CRC pastors are 55 and older. Vocational identity is just as important at this stage of life as it is during a pastor’s “earlier years”. Pastors need to be effective in the last chapter of their calling, and beyond—an especially complex challenge when ministry expectations and contexts have changed significantly. A unique challenge to later career pastors is that it can be difficult to receive a call.
What is the makeup of the group members?
Each group will have 4 - 6 pastors (plus a facilitator). The groups are to include a mix of pastors who are currently experiencing the transition which the group is exploring and pastors who have already had experience in it. (The types of transitions are: Exploring, Starting Anew and Finishing Well.) During the mentoring group’s year together, the "experienced pastors" will act as mentors to the pastors currently in the transition. For example, a group is formed exploring the transition into a pastor's second call. The group includes: four pastors who have moved into a second call in the last year or so, two pastors who have been in their second call for several years, and the facilitator.
How does the funding work?
Thrive's mentoring group opportunities are supported through CRC ministry shares, church offerings, and a grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. Grants are awarded to groups of pastors who covenant to walk together for a period of one year. Pastors submit a proposal/application to engage in mentoring around one of three transitions. Proposals are reviewed and grants are awarded as they are submitted. Because funds are limited, some proposals may not receive funding or may receive less than requested. The grant period is one year from the time of approval. A mentoring group may only receive one grant between January 2024 and December 2028. Requests for a renewal or second grant will not be accepted.
What kind of proposal is required?
We encourage a variety of proposals. A one-size-fits-all approach to mentoring in a variety of transitions is neither possible, nor wise. Plans may include face-to-face gatherings, attending a conference, going on a retreat, reading books, times of refreshment, etc. As each group of pastors is unique, so too will be the groups’ plans.
What do I have to do to submit a proposal?
- Carefully read this entire overview document.
- Carefully review the Plug & Play” Guide to Mentoring Groups for great information on putting a proposal together.
- Connect with Thrive for some wisdom and helpful tips that will make the proposal writing easier for you.
- Complete the application form.
- Name the group facilitator—who must be a CRC pastor.
- Designate one group member as the treasurer.
- List all confirmed group members. We aren’t able to work with “members to be determined”.
How do I find a group to join?
There are three ways to become part of a mentoring group.
- Someone asks you to join a group.
- You take the initiative to form a group.
Note: It doesn't matter where you live. Groups will be made up of pastors from all over Canada and the U.S.
What does the group facilitator do?
The facilitator will be a person who has the affirmed gifts to guide and shape the group’s activities, conversations, and learnings. While it’s not required that the facilitator has experienced the particular transition being explored in the group, it's preferred. Facilitators are required to prepare for, and be present at, all group gatherings and events.
The facilitator will receive a stipend of $1,500 USD, regardless of whether they live in Canada or the United States. This amount is not part of the awarded grant funds (which can be up to $5,000 USD). Facilitators who live in the United States will be required to complete a W9 form for tax purposes.
The group facilitator is required to engage in a Birkman assessment prior to a group beginning to meet.
The Birkman Assessment helps pastors find their vocational sweet spot - the place where their heart sings and where God is glorified. The process involves taking a 45 minute online survey followed by a two hour virtual debrief with a trained consultant. Many CRC pastors have already engaged in a Birkman, and all seminary students are now required to take it during their first year. It’s been very helpful to many and significantly impactful to some.
Group members are encouraged to take the Birkman. While it’s best for all group members to engage in a Birkman, it’s not a must. Everyone who takes it will be enriched by doing so.
How long does a mentoring group grant last?
The grant period is one year. The group will decide on the start and end dates when preparing the proposal. Groups, and expenses, may not start until after proposals have been approved. Thrive expects all grants to run for a full year and to complete all their proposed activities within that one year time frame.
Proposals are reviewed as they’re received. You’ll hear if you’ve received a grant within six weeks of submitting your proposal. Be sure to plan your first group meeting after the “six weeks”. Funding will only pay for expenses incurred after the approval process has taken place.
What size grant will be given?
The maximum grant awarded is $5,000 USD.
Are any in-kind or other matching contributions required?
No.
What will the grant money cover?
Mentoring group grants are intended to cover a range of possible expenses including learning resources (books, DVDs, etc.), travel, conference registration, lodging and meals while at a conference, face-to-face meeting costs, pulpit supply for the weeks when there’s an extended meeting (face-to-face meeting, attending a conference), and refreshments for meeting times. If spouses attend a face-to-face meeting, their expenses will be covered.
Ordinarily, funds requested for a continuing education event will account for 50% or less of the total amount requested. Exceptions will be considered. If an exception is requested, the reason why the costs are higher than 50% of the budget will be needed. The facilitator’s stipend ($1,500 USD) is not part of the grant request. It’ll be paid directly to the facilitator by Thrive. U.S. facilitators will be required to complete a W9 form for tax purposes.
Grant money may not be used to: offset other organizational or personal expenses, cover activities initiated prior to the approval and processing of the grant, cover the purchase of any equipment, pay for items not listed in the grant proposal, purchase alcohol, cover any expenses for children to join their parent(s) at mentoring group meetings/events, travel outside of Canada/the U.S., compensation for the treasurer’s grant work, or any administrative expenses associated with the mentoring group.
What happens when a proposal is approved?
A proposal agreement and instructions will be sent to the facilitator. The agreement must be signed by the facilitator and the group members. The signed agreement, and revised proposal if required, are to be returned to Thrive within 90 days. Failure to do so may result in the grant being reversed.
One-half of the grant amount will be sent to the group treasurer’s church. (An amount greater than one half may be sent, but only if warranted by the nature of the proposal.) The other half will be sent after six months, pending receipt of the group’s mid-year written and financial reports. At the end of the proposal year, unused funds must be returned.
Is there a deadline for submitting proposals?
Proposals are accepted two times a year with the deadlines being May 1 and November 1. Receipt of your proposal will be acknowledged with an email to the facilitator—usually within 2 days. If you’ve not heard from us, please call us to verify that the proposal was received. Groups are strongly encouraged to connect with our office for some wisdom and helpful tips that will make the proposal writing easier for you. It’s our goal to assist you in preparing the best proposal possible for the staff who will review it.
Thrive notifies applicants about the grant awards no later than June 15 (for the May 1 due date) and December 15 (for the November 1 due date).
Are there any reporting requirements?
The facilitator will submit a simple mid-year written report on the group’s experiences. The group treasurer will submit a mid-year financial report, including receipts, which accounts for use of the grant funds. When both reports have been received and are in order, the remainder of the funds will be sent to the treasurer’s church. At the end of the group’s year, the facilitator will complete a short final report of activities, outcomes, and learning. The group treasurer will send in the final financial report with receipts.
Note: Upon approval of a mentoring group proposal, specific reporting information and forms will be sent to the facilitator and treasurer.
Information in mentoring group proposals and reports may be used by Thrive on its website, in its promotional materials, or in its reporting to the CRCNA’s Council of Delegates, synod, and/or in the required annual reports to Lilly Endowment Inc. Nothing confidential will be shared with anyone at any time. No financial information will be shared outside of Thrive.
For further information please contact:
Margie Brenner
Thrive - Administrative Coordinator
800-272-5125 x2173
[email protected]