The LEAD cohort is continuing through its three-year program, with this past weekend seeing the first of the online retreats for Year 2 take place. With open minds and hearts, the cohort were excitedly anticipating our get together. During each retreat, a wonderful opportunity to deepen our leadership and learn from our guest presenters, and each other, is experienced.
The theme for our Year 2 series is Leading Outwards, where the goal is to deepen our leadership capacity in Community of Christ. Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith, our international guest presenter, led us through three insightful sessions, full of rich discussions based on the Exploring Community of Christ Basic Beliefs resource, specifically, the Discipleship and Ministry chapters. I felt particularly inspired by their incorporation of discussion around calling and the scaffolding exercise of identifying God’s calling, aligning our passions and calling, and dreaming about how these can combine to launch us forward in our ministry.
Kass Unger and Julian Archer each led sessions on camping ministry, which highlighted the significant amount of work that a leader puts into directing a camp, regardless of whether they are employed or volunteer ministers. Passion and resilience were standout themes of leadership qualities required to succeed in this important area of church ministry.
Lisa Yen led us in sessions on accessing World Church resources and Worship. Again, these provided useful tools for our ‘Leadership toolkit’ along with opportunity for meaningful discussions. Helen Taylor provided Evangelistic ministry for this retreat and Amelie Woodward and myself presented reflective moments and spiritual practices.
The LEAD program is now at its half-way mark through the three-year course, which give cause for a moment of reflection. As the initiator of this project concept during the Transformation ideation process and serving as one of the three project team leaders, along with being a participant of the program itself, I am incredibly proud of its progress and the impact it is clearly making on everyone involved. Ultimately, this whole experience has felt very Spirit-led. May this Spirit continue to guide each participant on their leadership journey as they each participate with vulnerability and experience growth and sense a deepening call to leadership in Community of Christ.
Kristie Woodward