Foundations for Spiritual Leadership

Overview

The Foundations for Spiritual Leadership Clergy Residency program (FSL) provides an intensive two-year experience in parish ministry. The clergy residents rotate through designated ministries of the parish. Each six-month rotation includes ministry assignments, committee meetings, and working with lay leaders, staff, and clergy.

Throughout the two years, a core curriculum for vocational development includes clergy mentoring, discernment, cohort projects, retreats, and weekly seminars. The core competencies for spiritual leaders are:

• Leadership in worship: preaching, liturgy, and music

• Leadership in teaching, stewardship, evangelism, and justice ministries at home and abroad

• Self-awareness and spiritual awareness

• Reading a congregational system

• Relationships with church staff

• Conflict management

• Developing leadership of others

• Church administration and finance

• Pastoral care

• Discernment of call