Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS) —affiliated with the United Church of Christ— in an effort to support new pastors in their first years of ministry after seminary graduation, hosts a program specifically curated for new and bi-vocational clergy who are serving congregations in economically disadvantaged and marginalized communities. The CTS “Resilience in Leadership” initiative will gather pastors into five regional cohorts across the country that will meet quarterly for two years and convene annually at a consultation featuring exemplary pastors and experts. Each Resilience in Leadership program participant will also meet monthly with an experienced pastor-mentor to cultivate a vision for and negotiate the challenges of leading a small and under-resourced congregation.
Project NameEcology of Support for Pastors From and Serving Marginalized Communities
Project Audience
WomenMenLGBTQ+ personsAsian/Asian American/Pacific IslanderBlack/African American/African diasporaLatino/a/x/HispanicNative American/IndigenousWhiteEcumenical
AddressChicago, Illinois, United States
LocationChicago, Illinois
Institution Type
Seminary or School of Theology
Denominational Tradition
United Church of Christ/Congregationalists
CategoriesAsian/Asian American/Pacific IslanderAssociate PastorsBi-vocational/Multi-vocational/Part-timeBlack/African American/African diasporaEarly CareerEcumenical/InterdenominationalHispanic/Latino/a/xIntentional Interim pastorsLay ecclesial ministers/Lay pastoral leaders (non-ordained)LGBTQ+ personsMenMulti-cultural contextsNative American/IndigenousRuralSenior PastorsSuburbanUrbanWhiteWomen
Contextual or Transitional Challenges
Multi-cultural contextsBi-vocational/multi-vocational/part-timeSenior PastorsAssociate PastorsIntentional Interim pastorsLay ecclesial ministers/lay pastoral leaders (non-ordained)RuralUrbanSuburbanEarly Career