Vibrant
Ministries:
American Baptist College and Lilly Endowment, Inc.
American
Baptist College was awarded a five year grant from Lilly Endowment,
Inc. in order to develop a Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program for
constituent churches of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc in
2003. In 2008 Lilly Endowment, Inc. awarded American Baptist College
a renewal grant which extended this program four more years. Our goal
for 2009-2012 is moving the Vibrant Ministries program toward sustainability
and national visibility.
American
Baptist College’s Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Program provides
pastors with networking opportunities with a broad spectrum of talented
guest faculty and participants from churches across the nation. Program
participants gather here annually for contemplation and study, prayer
and dialogue, relaxation and renewal, and to broaden their systems of
support and ministry. It is our belief that congregations thrive when
churches and parishes are led by spiritually strong, thoughtful, able
and imaginative pastors and lay leaders. The goal of the Sustaining
Pastoral Excellence Program is to provide the type of spiritual renewal
and rejuvenation needed to keep church leaders vibrant.
Lilly Endowment,
Inc. also endorses the inestimable value pastoral leaders have in congregations
across this nation.
Duke Divinity
School currently hosts the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Coordination
Program where data is collected and maintained from each institution
that supports these programs. For more information regarding how American
Baptist College is connected to the network of institutions that offer
a Sustaining Pastoral Excellence program, go to FaithLeadership.com
The Vibrant
Ministries Program at American Baptist College seeks to encourage pastors
and lay leaders to:
a. Assess
personal strengths, resources, and options
b. Learn self-care and its importance to a long ministry and healthy
family life
c. Reflect theologically and creatively about worship, ministry, and
public life
d. Gain a renewed sense of purpose and mission
e. Nurture collegial relationships with other pastors and encourage
peer mentoring
f. Be a life-long learner
g. Cultivate larger networks of ministry and support
