Clergy Boundary Training: Navigating the Thresholds of Ministry Today
This self-paced course equips spiritual and religious leaders, to navigate the thresholds of ministry today. This course does not replace boundary requirements focused on avoiding relational or financial violations. Rather, it explores the dynamic reality of faithful leadership today from the perspective of boundary thresholds or crossings that are required of ministers and lay leaders.
A threshold is a doorway into another space, a new field of exploration. Crossing borders is essential as we move across new thresholds. These can also be spaces of transition or transformation where our established norms, patterns and boundaries are questioned or redefined. New understandings emerge from the dynamic interplay of different forces and perspectives, as we respond to the invitation to new horizons in ministry. It is important in this space to understand appropriate limitations and how to engage new possibilities ethically and with integrity. This course is designed to assist religious leaders to cross the thresholds of emerging ministry today.
Through expert insights, reflective practice, and practical tools participants will develop a deeper understanding of the thresholds they are already crossing and learn best practices, tools for discernment and self-awareness that will guide further engagement in the new frontiers of congregational leadership today.
Why This Course Matters Today
The role of the clergy person continues to become more complex as congregations navigate the shifting landscape of congregational life in the world today. Clergy often feel ill-equipped or under prepared for the challenging thresholds they feel invited to cross or those their congregation wants or needs them to cross. Data shows that burnout among clergy persons is as high as it’s ever been.
Avoiding boundary violations in congregational relationships and finances are vitally important; and there is more to clergy health, wellbeing and resilience. This course assist clergy and lay leaders to discern the thresholds before them, equips them with tools for navigating those thresholds well, and enhances their leadership in new landscapes as they emerge.
This course was developed based on data collected from dozens of clergy persons active in ministry today. Many of their guiding questions are addressed in this course, with expert support and insight for discerning how, when and why to cross any of these thresholds and lead others across them well.
Participants who complete the course will receive a certificate of completion of six hours of boundary training, which may meet denominational clergy boundary requirements.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course participants will:
- Gain a clear understanding of the science of resilience and wellness, and the importance of prioritizing care for the self as a practice for longevity.
- Engage in a meditative practice that integrates the head, heart and body centers for resilience.
- Understand the distinctions among their personal, pastoral and public engagement and how to differentiate and navigate those spaces with wisdom.
- Identity the cultural divides they cross, their position in those relationships, and the frameworks for understanding the power dynamics.
- Explore emerging technologies from a faith lens, with particular attention to accompanying young people in a digital landscape.
- Understand the basics of AI by engaging with AI spiritual tools and begin to create a framework for the ethical use of AI in their context.
- Understand the complexity and necessity of engaging with ecumenical and interreligious persons and communities.
- Gain tools for navigating community based challenges in sustainable finance, building maintenance and use, and changes in mission and vision.
