I have been contracted by the Atlantic School of Theology (AST) to do some research and planning for the school’s application for a Pathways for Tomorrow Grant of the Lilly Endowment. The focus of this research, leading to the grant application, is two-fold:
• What are the current and future leadership needs of Christian churches? What kinds of pastoral leaders are needed by congregations today and will be needed in the future?
• What is the role of the theological school in identifying, preparing and supporting these leaders? Specifically, how might AST best address the need for ministry leaders, using existing or new resources and approaches?
I am currently in the process of holding a variety of meetings with people, both online and in-person, to have conversation around these two areas. These gatherings are informal and confidential; I’m just really interested in hearing about the state of churches in your area, the leaders that you are looking for, and how AST might help address that need in new and creative ways. I am hoping that you might consider joining me in-person at one of the following locations:
Bedford United Church, 1200 Bedford Hwy, Bedford, 9:30 – 11am on Tuesday, April 8. Meeting will be in the church parlour, entrance off Sullivans Hill.
Woodlawn United Church, 54 Woodlawn Rd., Dartmouth, 1:30-3pm on Thursday, April 10. Meeting will take place in the Community Room. Use the front entrance, with elevator available.
St. James Anglican Church (Armdale), 2668 Joseph Howe Dr. Halifax, 7pm-8:30pm on Thursday, April 10. Church Hall entrance and parking lot off Joseph Howe.
If you are able to join me, I would ask that you send me a quick email (steven.chambers@astheology.ns.ca) and let me know you are coming (and when). If there is someone you would like to come along with you, please extend this invitation.
If you can’t meet at any of these times and would like to offer comment toward this project, you can contact me at the above email address to arrange an online meeting or to offer your comments in writing.
I hope that you will join in this exciting time of renewal, as AST seeks to serve you and the church in new and creative ways.
Faithfully,
Steven
The Rev. Dr. Steven J. Chambers
Consultant
Pathways for Tomorrow – A program of Lilly Endowment Inc.
Atlantic School of Theology
660 Francklyn St, Halifax NS B3H 3B5
Atlantic School of Theology acknowledges that the land on which we serve, study, worship, and learn is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq Peoples. This territory is covered by the Treaties of Peace and Friendship which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik people first signed with the British Crown in 1725. The treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources, but recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.