Your Presenter Today is Rev. George Bullard, D.Min.

2. Your Presenter Today isRev. George Bullard, D.Min. Executive Coach Lake Hickory Learning Communities www.BullardJournal.org GBullard@Hollifield.org www.Hollifield.org

3. Lake Hickory Learning Communities’Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Process A Four-Year Process Funded by the Lilly Endowment www.sustainingpastoralexcellence.org

4. Purpose of the LHLC Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Process To come alongside 35 New Generation Pastors and 35 Leading Edge Pastors, who are currently perceived to be models of pastoral excellence . . .

5. Purpose of the LHLC Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Process To help them discover, discern, and execute excellent ministry practices based on past, present, and future patterns of pastoral life and congregational ministry . . .

6. Purpose of the LHLC Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Process In a manner that will empower sustained pastoral excellence throughout the tenure of their ministry.

7. New 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.

8. New 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 . . .

9. New 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.

10. Leading 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.

11. Leading 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 . . .

12. Leading 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.

13. Rationale 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.

14. Rationale 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.

15. Rationale 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.

16. Overview 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.

17. Overview 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.

18. Overview 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,

19. Overview 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,

20. Overview of Process The 88 pastors will, 3. Benefit from the services of a Personal Ministry Coach for the three years,

21. Overview of Process The 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,

22. Overview of Process The 88 pastors will, 5. Engage in up to six capacity building learning experiences for sustaining pastoral excellence,

23. Overview of Process The 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,

24. Overview 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 . . .

25. Overview of Process The 88 pastors will, 8. Have their personal stories and learnings communicated for the benefit of the North American Church at-large.

26. Overview of Process Of the 88 pastors, seventy pastors are anticipated to complete this entire process.

27. For More Information and Regular Updates on the Process Connect with the following weblog: www.sustainingpastoralexcellence.org

28. Your Presenter Today isRev. George Bullard, D.Min. Executive Coach Lake Hickory Learning Communities www.BullardJournal.org GBullard@Hollifield.org www.Hollifield.org