Rural Ministry has a unique culture and requires a unique set of competencies. For ministry leaders, the rural church may feel like a small place to serve—we could refer to them as churches in the shadows. But we know that these congregations are of dynamic mission, creativity, and faithfulness. This mentoring group will encourage you and help you explore what makes rural ministry different. During each meeting, we will look at a topic of interest, share our joys and challenges, and prayer together.
Rev. Dr. Christine O’Reilly, is an experienced rural pastor and writer with deep expertise in this unique context.
Navigating the early years of ministry can be both exciting and challenging. These groups provide support for new appointees in the United Church, offering guidance and community as they grow into leadership.
This group, while also supporting each other in ministry, is focused on what leadership in the church requires today. The group has been exploring Tod Bolsinger’s helpful, and missionally-oriented, book Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territories.
Rev. Chris Clarke is the pastor at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Ottawa. He is a graduate of The Presbyterian College and has been a part of mentoring groups for a number of years. He also has interests in Christian spiritual practices and blogs at www.christian-spirituality.ca/. In his spare time, he is an avid cyclist and volunteers with the Ottawa Bicycle Club.
This group is the longest-standing mentoring group of the program, and is led by the seasoned and gifted (retired) pastor Chuck Congram. The pastoral leaders who join regularly in this group are in various seasons of life and ministry, and continue to pray for each other, support each other, and learn together for ministry.
This group is led by missiologist and director of PC’s Master of Theological Studies program, Glenn Smith. The group meets in Ottawa in person and focuses on church planting and making community connections and benefits from Smith’s decades of reflecting on urban missions.
If you are interested in joining a cohort, would like more information, or have any questions please contact the Director of Programs at Presbyterian College, Adrian Langdon, [email protected].
To register, please go here.
