Wake Forest University, through its School of Divinity, a multi-denominational school rooted historically in the Baptist theological tradition, seeks a five-year grant for the Shared Wisdom for Thriving in Ministry program, an effort to bring together and build supportive relationships among inter-generational cohorts of pastors who serve congregations in multiple contexts. The Wake Forest School of Divinity will work in partnership with the Center for Congregational Health in the Wake Forest Medical Center FaithHealth Division and identify 72 clergy who serve in different ministry contexts (including solo pastors, heads of staff, associate pastors, intentional interim pastors, church planters and bi-vocational pastors). These pastors will be formed into three peer cohort groups. The program will connect each pastor with a pastor-mentor and a clergy-coach, and the pastor peer cohorts will participate in a series of leadership development opportunities led by Center for Congregational Health and divinity school faculty. To sustain this work, the divinity school will fold elements of the program into its doctor of ministry degree and certificate programs, and the Center for Congregational Health will incorporate the work into its ongoing clergy continuing education programs.
Project NameShared Wisdom for Thriving in Ministry
Project Audience
EcumenicalMenWomenLGBTQ+ persons
AddressWinston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
LocationWinston-Salem, North Carolina
Institution Type
Seminary or School of Theology
Denominational Tradition
Ecumenical/Interdenominational
CategoriesAssociate PastorsBi-vocational/Multi-vocational/Part-timeChurch plantersEarly CareerEcumenical/InterdenominationalIntentional Interim pastorsLate CareerLGBTQ+ personsMenMid-CareerRuralSenior PastorsSuburbanUrbanWomen
Contextual or Transitional Challenges
Bi-vocational/multi-vocational/part-timeSenior PastorsAssociate PastorsIntentional Interim pastorsChurch PlantersRuralUrbanSuburbanEarly CareerMid-CareerLate Career