The board of TransformingChurch.org (a 501C-3) has submitted a $500K grant request to the Thrivent Foundation to support the launch of the
Transforming Leaders Initiative this fall. We are recruiting a pilot class in Ohio now. We are expecting over 20 leaders.
We plan to launch regional classes in Lincoln/Omaha, Minneapolis, Atlanta/Charlotte, and Chicago in the next two years. After that, we plan to launch four regional classes a year with 72 participants starting the three year learning journey each year.
Our vision is to reach 10% of ELCA pastors under the age of 55 in ten years. But, this initial grant funding is critical to laying the foundation for a sustainable leadership development effort for the TLi. See more details here:
www.TransformingLeadersInitiative.org. See our latest strategy
hereand
here. Donate to our cause
here.
We the undersigned speak in support of the Transforming Leaders Initiative grant request recently submitted to the Thrivent Foundation. Seeing the impact of the Pastoral Leaders Initiative in equipping parish leaders and bringing health and renewal to the LCMS, we seek to establish leadership development opportunities in the ELCA.
We appreciate the deep support Thrivent offered in the startup of the PLI, grant money that was crucial to a successful launch. A team of leaders from across the ELCA has worked for three years creating a leadership development initiative that fits our time and the culture of the ELCA. Thrivent's $25,000 planning grant helped TLi through the planning phase. With over twice as many churches, members and leaders in the ELCA, we ask Thrivent to invest in our future and demonstrate appropriate support to our church body.
We understand the difficult financial situation we are experiencing. However, with 500 pastors slated to retire each year over the next decade, and only 300 being ordained each year, effective measures to equip pastoral leadership in the parish need to start this year.
There is an emerging crisis filling pulpits across the ELCA. The trends indicate that pastors will be taking on much greater responsibility sooner as boomers retire. In the lack of leadership, organizations inevitably drift to mediocrity.
Pastors and lay leaders from across the ELCA are joining this grassroots network in support of the Transforming Leaders Initiative. Please approve grant funding so this important work can begin this year. Thank you for considering the prayers of all who sign here as you consider this grant request.
