Leadership Development Workshops
2023 Offerings
The Synod’s overarching theme is “In our Synod, we’ll try anything to equip leaders who attend to God’s creative, emerging future.” Working toward this goal, we offer regular equipping opportunities, beyond our monthly workshops to equip preachers. We are grateful for each of our partners in providing these ministries.
Watch this space for a schedule for these offerings, and more!
Childhood Sexual Abuse Prevention Training
(offered in Partnership with LeaderWise)
According to the CDC, approximately 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys in the United States will experience sexual abuse before the age of 18. And over 90% of these cases of child sexual abuse are perpetrated by someone who is known and trusted by the child or the child’s family. Our children are vulnerable. . . even in the church – numerous reports of child sexual abuse have been reported in churches throughout the country.
This child abuse prevention training has been developed to protect the vulnerable and prevent future abuse in the church by increasing knowledge and awareness about child sexual abuse. Through interactive dialogue, participants will learn healthy ways to talk about abuse in the communities they serve. In addition, this training is designed to equip leaders to assess their current environmental risk factors for “blind spots” and create action steps to reduce the potential for abuse and to respond in faithful and ethical ways in the event that abuse is discovered in their context.
This training is designed for both teaching and ruling elders, and satisfies the requirement for Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Training discussed at the 2022 General Assembly.
Dates: September 11 and 14, 2023 6:00 to 8:30 pm by zoom
Register Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUpcOCtpjguHNZpuQP8aalhJgv7HILa86bE
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Cost: Free for participants (covered by your presbytery and the Synod of the Covenant).

The Leader’s Table
(Offered in Partnership with The Missional Church Network)
The Leader’s Table is a four-part series empowering pastors and other church leaders to think differently about Christian ministry. The increasing division and violence around us, the great speed with which technology is changing our world, and the steady decline of mainline denominations as a visible and viable expression of Christian faith, point to an unraveling of cultural presumptions and expectations. Seminary education and training has not prepared pastors and other cultural leaders for this moment. To understand how to lead now, we must dig into how God’s story for the world works itself out in times of huge disruption. More importantly, we must do this together, in the Christian community, to discern God’s call.
Participants will be divided into cohorts of 12 and meet every two weeks via zoom four times for ninety minutes. Each cohort will practice Lectio Divina and discuss videos from missiologists such as Alan Roxburgh, who will host the cohorts as well.
Dates: 9/13/23, 9/27/23, 10/11/23, and 10/25/23, 10:00 to 11:30 by zoom.

Cohort Registration: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Cost: Participants contribute $50; the remainder is covered by the Synod of the Covenant.
Introduction to Boundaries Training
(Offered in Partnership with LeaderWise)
Not-Your-Average Boundaries Training is tailored to focus on strategies to foster mental health, emotional resiliency, and well-being. While we still cover the requirements—“Don’t sleep with a parishioner unless you’re married to them” and the like —we believe the best prevention is to encourage clergy to take steps to manage their stress in order to maintain balance and perspective when temptation arises.

Dates:
October 2-3, 2023 6:00 to 8:30 pm ET Register Here https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udeivpj4vHtUob-9S8R9nkVTsAJ_wAW-F
November 7-8, 2023 1:00 to 3:30 pm ET Register Here https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMkc-Csqz4oH9LsltJOHq3mu-bR8F9LtPsV
Cost: Free for Participants (covered by your presbytery and the Synod of the Covenant)
Antiracism Training
(Partner To Be Determined)
To Be Offered 2 times in 2023
Our largely white denomination and Synod best reflect the Kingdom of God when we pursue racial justice, equity, and representation. This training will provide perspective and strategies for reaching these goals. (Presbyteries are currently considering whether or not the Book of Order should mandate antiracism training; this training will fulfill that requirement should it be implemented.)

Past Workshops
Pathways for Belonging: Overcoming Clergy Loneliness
Offered by LeaderWise
Dates: 4/20/2023, 4/27/2023, and 5/4/2023
Science, the Church, and Mental Health
March 9, 2023, 1:00 to 2:00 pm by zoom: Science for the Church’s co-Director, Drew Rick-Miller, will evaluate research to answer the question, Does Our Faith Make Us Well? as he considers the ways church, religious practice, and our Christian faith promote (or not) mental and physical health.
March 16, 2023, 1:00 to 2:00 pm by zoom: Psychologist David Wang, Fuller Seminary’s Cliff and Joyce Penner Chair for the Formation of Emotionally Healthy Leaders, will address mental health and the wellbeing of Christian leaders.
March 23, 2023, 1:00 to 2:00 pm by zoom: Churches and mental health providers that have effectively offered services to their congregations and communities will share models, insights, and best practices on how partnerships between mental health professionals and the church can better confront this crisis.
Cost: Free for participants (covered by the Synod of the Covenant).
Introduction to Boundaries
Offered by LeaderWise
Dates: 11/16/2022 and 11/17/2022
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/introduction-to-boundaries-11-16-and-11-17-22/
Healthy Church Boundaries
Offered by LeaderWise
Dates: 11/08/2022 & 11/09/2022
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/healthy-church-boundaries-11-8-and-11-9-22/
Leading in Divided Times
Offered by One America Movement
October 25-26, 2022
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/leading-in-divided-times-10-26-26-22/
How to Try: Innovation in Ministry
Offered by TryTank
October 21, 2022
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/how-to-try-innovation-in-ministry-10-21-22/
Resilience and Renewal Retreat
Offered by Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
October 13, 2022
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/resilience-and-renewal-retreat-10-13-22/
Advanced Boundaries Training
Offered by LeaderWise
September 13-14, 2022
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/advanced-boundaries-training-9-13-14-22/
It’s Not Just Sundays: Expanding Your Virtual Ministry
Offered by LeaderWise
September 13-14, 2022
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/its-not-just-sundays-expanding-your-virtual-ministry-9-22/
Adaptive Leadership and Practicum
Offered by LeaderWise
August 4, Sept 1, Oct 6, Nov 3
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/adaptive-leadership-and-practicum-initiated-8-4-22/
Journey Groups (initiated 3/22)
Offered by LeaderWise
Meet Monthly from March to November
Timing to be Set by Group
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/journey-groups-initiated-3-22/
Race, Science, and the Church (2/22)
Offered by Science for the Church
February 16 and 23, 2022
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/race-science-and-the-church-2-22/
Boundaries Training
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/boundaries-training/
Training for Committees on Ministry and Committees on Preparation for Ministry (10/21)
October 13, 2021,
9:00 – 11:30 Eastern time by Zoom
Healthy Conflict, Healthy Church (9/21)
Wednesday Sept 29, 2021,
9:00 – 12:00 Eastern time by Zoom
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/healthy-conflict-healthy-church-9-21/
Racial Justice Training
May 26, 2021,
1:30 to 4:30 Eastern Time by Zoom
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/racial-justice-training-5-21/
Becoming an Emotionally Intelligent Leader (6/21)
Learn More: https://synodofthecovenant.org/becoming-an-emotionally-intelligent-leader/
Questions? Contact Interim Executive Chip Hardwick at 309-530-4578 or chip@synodofthecovenant.org.