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Table of Contents
Fall
Leadership Conference 2002
District
President’s Column
Qiyamah’s
Corner
Ministerial
Matters
October is
Clergy Appreciation Month
Lifespan REmarks
Field Staff
Calendar
Greetings from
TJD RE Committee
Your Wild(e)
Trustees Report
District
YouthCON
TJD Welcomes
New Comp. Cons.
TJD Fair Share
Support Beacon
Press
UUs Reflect on
Ann. of Sept. 11
Healthy Cong.
Cons. Team
In Memoriam
Large Church
Conference Info
District
AntiRacism Trans. Team
News From the
Greenville UU Fellowship
TJ UUs to Visit
Transylvania
Learning Center
for Leadership Report
Open Positions
District
Calendar |
Learning Center for Leadership Report
Learning Center for Leadership Report to The Mountain Board of Trustees
August, 2002
The two leadership schools, one for religious educators and the other for congregational lay leaders, were again very successful this year. Leadership School for Religious Educators (LSRE) served 31 participants in early July, and The Mountain School for Congregational Leadership served 43 participants two weeks later.
LSRE offers religious educators the opportunity to acquire systems thinking and look at congregations through the lens of religious education. The School is unusual in that ordained clergy, parish, RE and community-based, can attend, which is not true for other leadership schools. The curriculum is based on the principles of action learning, in which adults are responsible for their own learning, and faculty observe their behaviors in small groups and offer feedback about how their personal and interpersonal leadership styles affect group dynamics.
Participants consider how programs such as religious education and music affect congregational systems, and look at principles of volunteer management and conflict management in terms of leadership.
MSCL utilizes the same educational principles as LSRE, working from the perspective of lay leaders, particularly committee and board members. Congregations in Mid South, Thomas Jefferson, Florida and Southwest Districts sent their leaders to the School this year, and both Mid South and Thomas Jefferson Districts hosted gatherings for their participants to increase the likelihood of people networking with others in their districts, and learning more about the services their districts provide. Eunice Benton, District Executive of the Mid South District, met with Mid South people, and Laurel Amabile, Program Consultant for the Thomas Jefferson District, and Shannon Cocheo, administrator for TJ District, met with their participants.
In the coming year, the Learning Center for Leadership will be developing a new brochure for Leadership Schools, describing the educational methods used and the rationale behind them, as well as curriculum, process observation, feedback and things participants are likely to experience during the School. This brochure will be used as a means of improving the dialogue between LCL and congregations. In addition, participants will be asked to complete an application process for the 2003 Schools, involving congregational sponsorship and mentoring in their home congregations and districts.
The Mountain is increasingly regarded as a valuable resource for congregations and districts seeking high-quality leadership education and consulting services. One of LCL's goals in the coming year is to increase knowledge across the continent of the services and resources we provide, and to market them effectively. Another is to work closely with Phil Irwin, Director of Institutional Advancement, to carry the message of our vision and mission to people who can support our efforts through development and fundraising, and with Susan Grider, Director of Grants and Special Gifts, to pursue further foundation funding. We appreciate the ongoing support for LCL of The Mountain's board and staff.
Respectfully submitted,
Helen Bishop
Director, Learning Center for Leadership |