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FRESH START is a diocesan-led
program for clergy in new cures and for lay
leaders in the congregations where they serve.
Fresh Start is designed to:
- assist with the transition issues inherent in any
new ministry;
- sharpen the skills of lay leaders and clergy for
congregational development;
- strengthen relationships needed for ministry
among the clergy of a diocese;
- deepen the trust and interconnectedness
between clergy and the lay leaders of congregations and the bishop and bishop's staff.
Fresh Start seeks to strengthen the
relationships among Episcopal clergy,
congregations and dioceses during critical periods of transition in clergy leadership of the
congregation.
BENEFITS
- Helps to honor the ministry of all leaders, lay
and ordained, in the life of the congregation.
- Helps to establish a common language to talk
about issues of transition.
- Increases participants' capacity to minister to
each other and the wider community.
- Provides an opportunity for leaders, both lay
and ordained, to experience each other's
openness to God and to deepen their capacity
to be ministers of Jesus Christ.
Q&A
What is the format?
Fresh Start is a monthly gathering of clergy, between September and June. The program takes advantage of theories, pratical tools and small group discussions on issues of concern.
When does the group meet?
The group meets every third Tuesday at St. George’s, Glenn Dale (7010 Glenn Dale Road, Glenn Dale, MD; 301/262-3285; www.stgeo.org) unless
otherwise announced.
When can a new clergy in the diocese join?
New clergy are invited to join the group twice a year in September and Feburary.
How are parish lay leaders included?
Special Saturday sessions are held twice a year to
purposely include Wardens and lay leaders.
What topics are discussed?
The program is designed to be signficant and flexible. A variety of topics are offering including Systems Theory, Understanding Transition and Managing Change. Some subjects addressed are based on
theoretical models such as role clarity, decision
making, power and influence, conflict awareness
and church size. Other modules are more focused on
relationships and self care.
Each year the participants contribute to the topics that will be discussed making the program relevant to their new cure.
“A crucial time in the life of anyone's ordained ministry is the start of a new call. Times have changed in the church that I knew when I experienced my first call in 1972 as curate in the diocese of Newark. I was blessed to serve on multiple staffs, and with each subsequent call I was mentored by some of the best rectors and deans in the church. But such mentoring is clearly becoming a thing of the past and congregational life is for many cultural, domestic, and global reasons a much greater challenge than it was even a few short years ago.
FRESH START, led by nationally trained facilitators the Reverend Susan Keller and Ms. Sandra Kolb will assist all clergy entering new cures to build relationships necessary for the growth of successful ministry within their congregations, among each other as colleagues, and with me and diocesan staff. I am excited about this program and am delighted with the input received by those clergy who have already participated in their first year of the program. Together, we can make our parishes centers of new life, good health and emerging growth during these challenging times.”
The Right Reverend John Bryson Chane D.D.
Bishop of Washington
FRESH START
Contacts in the Diocese of Washington
FreshStart@edow.org
Office of Deployment
(202) 537-6531
Diocesan facilitators
Ms. Sandra Kolb
The Rev. Ms.Susan Keller
FRESH START is a collaborative effort of The Episcopal Church, sponsored by Cornerstone, a
ministry of the Episcopal Church Foundation, the Office for Ministry Development and the Church Deployment Office.
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