Your Presenter Today isYour Presenter Today is

Rev. George Bullard, Rev. George Bullard, D.Min.D.Min.

Executive Coach

Lake Hickory Learning Communities

www.BullardJournal.org

GBullard@Hollifield.org

www.Hollifield.org

Lake Hickory Learning Lake Hickory Learning Communities’Communities’

Sustaining Pastoral Sustaining Pastoral Excellence ProcessExcellence Process

A Four-Year Process Funded by the Lilly Endowment

www.sustainingpastoralexcellence.org

Purpose of the LHLC Purpose of the LHLC Sustaining Pastoral Sustaining Pastoral Excellence ProcessExcellence Process

To come alongside 35 New Generation Pastors and 35 Leading

Edge Pastors, who are currently perceived to be models of pastoral

excellence . . .

Purpose of the LHLC Purpose of the LHLC Sustaining Pastoral Sustaining Pastoral Excellence ProcessExcellence Process

To help them discover, discern, and execute excellent ministry practices based on past, present, and future

patterns of pastoral life and congregational ministry . . .

Purpose of the LHLC Purpose of the LHLC Sustaining Pastoral Sustaining Pastoral Excellence ProcessExcellence Process

In a manner that will empower sustained pastoral excellence throughout the tenure of their

ministry.

New Generation PastorsNew Generation Pastors

New Generation Pastors are pastors who are 35 or less years old, in their

first or second congregation as pastor, and are perceived to be models of pastoral excellence.

New Generation PastorsNew Generation Pastors

The congregations of which they are pastor are faithful, effective, and innovative in nature, perceived to be

in the top 20 percent of all congregations in terms of

excellence, and . . .

New Generation PastorsNew Generation Pastors

. . . they are considered by other pastors to be leading pastors of

congregations with various characteristics and patterns which

are a model for others.

Leading Edge PastorsLeading Edge Pastors

Leading Edge pastors are pastors who are more than 35 years old,

have a proven track record of high quality pastoral ministry, and are

perceived to be models of pastoral excellence.

Leading Edge PastorsLeading Edge Pastors

The congregations of which they are pastor are faithful, effective, and innovative in nature, perceived to be

in the top 20 percent of all congregations in terms of

excellence, and . . .

Leading Edge PastorsLeading Edge Pastors

. . . they are considered by other pastors to be leading pastors of

congregations with various characteristics and patterns which

are a model for others.

Rationale for This ApproachRationale for This Approach

New Generation Pastors and Leading Edge Pastors represent the

up to 20 percent of pastors who tend to be involved in excellent

ministry.

Rationale for This ApproachRationale for This Approach

The most important rationale of this proposal is that sustaining pastoral excellence assumes that pastoral

excellence already exists among the target group of pastors.

Rationale for This ApproachRationale for This Approach

The best way to impact the entire collection of pastors and to raise

the overall level of excellence is to help those who demonstrate

pastoral excellence to continue practicing excellent pastoral

ministry.

Overview of ProcessOverview of Process

Eighty-eight pastors will be identified, screened, and

invited to be participants in either the New Generation

Pastors Learning Community or the Leading Edge Pastors Leading Community for three

years.

Overview of ProcessOverview of Process

The overall process will be guided by Process Leadership

Community Coaches. A representative number of this

Process Leadership Community Coaches will be

present at each gathering or learning experience of these pastors to help discern and nurture the learnings.

Overview of ProcessOverview of Process

The 88 pastors will,

1. Receive mentoring in two learning experiences annually for three years by respected congregational practitioners and 21st century Christian ministry thought leaders,

Overview of ProcessOverview of Process

The 88 pastors will,

2. Participate in peer learning communities for three years

made up of fellow participants and nurtured by the Process

Leadership Community Coaches,

Overview of ProcessOverview of Process

The 88 pastors will,

3. Benefit from the services of a Personal Ministry Coach for

the three years,

Overview of ProcessOverview of ProcessThe 88 pastors will,

4. Tell and write the past, present, and future stories of their practice of ministry, and

use these as a basis for developing personal learning

goals, and project areas where capacity building is

needed,

Overview of ProcessOverview of Process

The 88 pastors will,

5. Engage in up to six capacity building learning experiences

for sustaining pastoral excellence,

Overview of ProcessOverview of ProcessThe 88 pastors will,

6. Have the opportunity to utilize resource grants to

participate in learning experiences that fit their

unique needs and contexts, and/or to allow self-selecting groups to implement learning

plans for common areas of skill development,

Overview of ProcessOverview of Process

The 88 pastors will,

7. Have the opportunity to be certified as coaches for

congregational leadership and practice the skill as a Personal

Ministry Coach with other pastors desiring to sustain

pastoral excellence, and . . .

Overview of ProcessOverview of Process

The 88 pastors will,

8. Have their personal stories and learnings communicated for the benefit of the North American Church at-large.

Overview of ProcessOverview of Process

Of the 88 pastors,

seventy pastors are anticipated to complete this

entire process.

For More Information and For More Information and Regular Updates on the Regular Updates on the

ProcessProcess

Connect with the following weblog:

www.sustainingpastoralexcellence.org

Your Presenter Today isYour Presenter Today is

Rev. George Bullard, Rev. George Bullard, D.Min.D.Min.

Executive Coach

Lake Hickory Learning Communities

www.BullardJournal.org

GBullard@Hollifield.org

www.Hollifield.org