Program - PINNE

Description

The PINNE (Pastoral Innovation Network of New England) initiative creates a cross-denominational innovation hub, where 20 creative, early-career clergy interact with experienced coaches to highlight effective approaches to ministry in the New England context. In ten gatherings over two years, pastor participants will problem solve, identify resources, grow professionally, maximize their creative and innovative potential, and move toward their visions for ministry revitalization. This network will enhance participants’ customized and contextualized efforts toward innovation through coaching, conversations around pastoral challenges, the voluntary undertaking of a project of congregational change, and opportunities to mentor one another. PINNE thus facilitates adaptive engagement with the unique ministry challenges of New England, and also seeks to improve ministry across New England by disseminating the learnings to clergy and denominations in the region.

Goals

To develop clergy as thriving ministry leaders, mentors of other clergy, and recognized trend setters within the region.
To provide a creative and supportive space, gatherings, and cross-denominational network to facilitate new ideas and energy for ministry where creative clergy can be nurtured and flourish.
To encourage entrepreneurial, early career clergy to innovate new approaches within their ministries, and test these ideas and share their results.
To create cross-connections among clergy over the artificial boundaries of denomination with the realization that all Mainline traditions within New England face similar challenges.
To disseminate findings and provide practical instructional resources on ministry thriving and innovation to the New England region.

This is an opportunity for pastors to share what is working in their ministries, wrestle over solutions for seemingly insurmountable challenges, build authentic and trusting relationships, risk failure, and learn from mistakes in an encouraging environment. Each gathering should leave each participant encouraged, refreshed, and inspired toward action.

The Clergy Participants

Nominees to the program should be early-career senior church leaders from Mainline Protestant denominations in New England who are in the first 3-10 years of their ministry career. The twenty participants selected will be chosen to ensure diversity of ministry placement, racial, gender, sexual orientation, denominational, and locational context. Participants should demonstrate a track record of creative competency and show potential for innovative and entrepreneurial ministry.

Expectation for Participants

Nominees will:

Be early career (3-10 years ministry experience) Mainline Protestant senior church leaders, serving in the New England region
Demonstrate creative competency and potential for innovative and entrepreneurial ministry
Demonstrate personal energy and optimism toward ministry in New England
Articulate the challenges facing their communities and churches
Engage contextual realities, working toward creative solutions to ministry challenges
Articulate a deep sense of calling or vocation

Program participation includes a commitment to:

Participate in all ten required gatherings and engage in (cohort determined) between-meeting activities
Fully and actively contribute to each gathering, cultivating a supportive, peer-learning environment
Identify the critical issues facing their communities, churches, and societies
Conduct a pre- and post-survey with his or her local congregation, to better understand the context of ministry and congregational dynamics
Respond faithfully and creatively to the contextual realities within their congregations
Complete a yearlong project of congregational change in their setting (encouraged, yet optional)
Serve as a mentor to future PINNE program clergy cohorts (optional)
Participate in interviews and other interactions to develop clergy profiles, best practices, and case studies to create resources that will disseminate program learnings across New England

Gatherings and Topics

Each gathering will bring together the cohort of twenty clergy, and will include time for plenary sessions and discussion. This engagement includes participation in 10 face-to-face gatherings at Hartford Seminary, including a summer conference. Participants simultaneously join a smaller group of four clergy and a coach, and will forge opportunities for through social media and/or video calls between the formal gathering dates. Clergy participants will receive an honorarium of $500 per each gathering (10 total) and reimbursement for mileage travel expenses.

The topical challenges to be addressed throughout the gatherings may include some of the following, but the exact list will be left up to the discretion of the group:

The attraction of young adults
The integration of new members
Development of greater sensitivity to and ministry of multiethnic, multiracial constituents
The greater incorporation of busy families into the life of the congregation
The creation of passionate missional outreach into the community
The effective utilization of technology to enhance ministry
The funding of programs and projects with a dwindling donor pool
Branding and marketing approaches as an evangelistic strategy
Ways of addressing building challenges

Application Requirements

Applications must include the following:

Applicant information: Using the online form, provide details about your congregation, ministry experience, and demographic information
Curriculum Vitae or resume (no more than 4 pages)
Application Essay: When you critically and imaginatively reflect upon your ministry, to what metaphor or simile do you aspire and why? How does this metaphor or simile present itself in your ministry (the context: opportunities and challenges) as well as in relationship with colleagues? What are the joys and challenges of embodying this metaphor or simile? How is this metaphor or simile related to your own views of what constitutes creative and innovative approaches to ministry? (600 to 750 words)
Letter of Recommendation: When uploading your application requirements, please provide the name, email address, and phone number for your recommender. The recommender should be able to speak specifically to your 1) personal qualities and commitments, 2) leadership style, 3) record of creativity and innovation. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research will email recommenders a link to confidentially submit their letters online. Applicants should contact their recommenders in advance to explain procedures and guidelines.

All documents must be submitted by May 6, 2019. Upload each requirement in .pdf format. Recommenders must submit their letters by May 20, 2019. Questions about eligibility or the nomination and application processes should be sent to Allison Norton: anorton@hartsem.edu.

Review and Selection Process

Hartford International University and Hartford Institute for Religion Research will appoint a selection committee to review applications. The committee membership and deliberations are confidential. The applicants whose applications are not selected for participation will be notified by email as soon as possible following the adjudication process.