The Shape of Leadership

The Shape of Leadership is designed for clergy who want to renew their leadership so they can make a significant impact on the future of the church.

The past three years have been incredibly difficult for ministry leaders. Clergy are tired, if not burned out, and need safe places where they can reflect on all the demands of ministry and develop their leadership for whatever is next for the church. They need brave spaces where their whole being is accepted as it is and where they can, therefore, show up authentically and vulnerably before taking their learning back to their contexts. 

In this ecumenical program, Shape participants retreat together four times throughout a year to develop their leadership in adaptive and experiential ways: by experimenting with innovative practices, deepening self-awareness, and learning to navigate change, conflict, and the daily challenges of ministry leadership. Shape facilitators work hard to cultivate an ethos that allows leaders to wrestle with new ideas in the safety of a generous and compassionate group.

Participants integrate theological and biblical commitments with innovative practices in leadership from a variety of disciplines,  especially the adaptive leadership framework. The program is highly experiential and collaborative and offers the opportunity
to develop long-lasting support systems among high-potential leaders in the church.

In the Shape program, each retreat is two nights.  Between retreats, participants meet in small groups to journey the year together, supporting each other and deepening the learning.

Retreat Format

The large group gathers for 4 retreats (2 nights each) over the course of the year. Between retreats, learning communities meet to deepen the learning and support each other. Note that adjustments will be made if meeting in person is not advised due to pandemic concerns.

What past participants say about Shape . . .

Shape is the best thing I’ve done since seminary (which was wonderful). Each retreat has renewed and enriched me. Thank you!
–Beth

Shape has been a wonderful asset for me professionally and personally. The relationships and
leadership skills I have gained are invaluable.
I would encourage all . . . in church leadership
to invest in this process.
–Annemarie

The learning and the presentations
were great. The format of going through a year, rather than a short week conference, is really good. …  one of the great gifts of Shape is the colleagues you get to know so well and learn to trust. There is a network of support beneath that
I can call upon to work through challenges in ministry, and that is a really great thing.
–Jon

I was concerned that the leadership
literature would be dry and lifeless,
and instead experienced approaches that honor just what the church needs to be about in this time of change and challenge:
self-knowledge, experimentation,
relationship building, risk taking, creative conflict, and undergirding it all: purpose.
To share this journey over time with
brilliant colleagues has made for deep learning and courage for change.
–Jill