George Fox University seeks a five-year grant for its Portland Seminary to launch the Institute for Pastoral Thriving. This effort will build one-year peer cohorts of eight to twelve pastors each to foster authentic relationships, offer safe spaces for exploring pastoral leadership challenges, nurture spiritual disciplines, and provide a network of allies to support their own thriving in ministry. The Institute will directly address challenges to pastoral thriving, particularly professional transitions and the rapidly changing demographics of the Pacific Northwest. It also will offer an annual symposium for all cohorts to gather as a larger body alongside the seminary community with the intent to foster fruitful conversations regarding pastoral spiritual renewal. To sustain this project, George Fox University will seek funding from denominations and congregations and provide advanced standing credit in the seminary degree programs for project participants.
Institute for Pastoral Thriving
Oregon, Portland
Theological School
Ecumenical/Interdenominational
Associate Pastors
Bi-vocational/Multi-vocational/Part-time
Black/African American/African diaspora
Church planters
Clergy couples
Early Career
Ecumenical/Interdenominational
Hispanic/Latino/a/x
Men
Mid-Career
Millenials in ministry
Multi-cultural contexts
Multi-lingual context
Native American/Indigenous
Post-Christian context
Senior Pastors
Suburban
Urban
White
Women
Asian/Asian American/Pacific Islander