In an effort to better equip motivated congregations to respond to God’s call, a collaborative Michigan Area Leadership Excellence Task Force has rolled out pilot versions of a clergy and lay member development program called the Vital Church Initiative (VCI) in the Flint and Albion Districts.
The voluntary initiative has been in development since the fall of 2010 and it will aim to intentionally use coaching to facilitate learning and increase accountability among leaders and members of churches of all sizes.
Bishop Keaton created the Task Force in late 2009 with the intention of addressing clergy excellence, believing that the health and vitality of local churches is often directly related to the leadership skills of clergy members.
Clergy and laity who agree to be part of the pilot programs are in covenant to attend each four-hour session, read the preparatory materials and take care of travel expenses.
Each church will come out of the VCI program with an action plan.
They will also have the opportunity for a full-day consultation of their church with a trained consultant.
Based on a comprehensive learning model called the “Healthy Church Initiative and Small Church Initiative” in the Missouri Conference, the “large church” component (more than 100 members worshipping on average) will be piloted in the Flint District and the “small church” component (less than 100 members worshipping on average) has already started in the Albion District. A similar pilot program is expected to begin in the Lansing District later this year.
The large church VCI includes parallel clergy and laity leadership development tracks for pastors and for chosen lay leaders
Twelve clergy will gather one Monday morning each month for eight months at the Detroit Conference Office in Flint, with approximately 24 laity meeting the following Saturday each month for their session.
