Flourishing Together
Supporting Clergy and Congregations in a Rapidly Changing World
A justice-centered leadership formation initiative supporting clergy, students, and congregational leaders through webinars, retreats, peer cohorts, and innovation grants.
Hosted by the Reuben P. Job Institute for Spiritual Formation at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Why This Project?
Todayu2019s clergy and seminarians face urgent challenges that demand adaptive, trauma-informed, and justice-centered responses.
Burnout & Spiritual Fatigue
Trauma-Informed Support
Racial & Cultural Competency
Civic Polarization
AI & Digital Ministry
Peer Networks & Belonging
Vocational Renewal
Our Purpose
To support clergy, students, and ministry leaders in cultivating resilience, justice-centered leadership, intercultural competence, and ethical digital fluency for ministry in a rapidly changing world.
Goals
• support spiritual and vocational renewal
• strengthen adaptive and trauma-informed leadership
• deepen racial literacy and cross-cultural competency
• equip leaders for ethical AI and digital ministry
• foster peer networks and mentoring relationships
• generate sustainable resources for future learning
Who Is This For?
Seminary Students & Alumni
Clergy of Color
Women Clergy of Color
White Clergy
AI / Ministry Leaders
District Superintendents
Ministry Leaders in Complex Contexts
How the Program Works
A. Webinar Series
5 curated webinars per group on resilience, justice, technology, and trauma-informed leadership.
B. Restorative Retreats
Two-night, in-person retreats for vocational renewal, healing, strategic leadership, and solidarity building.
C. Leadership Summit
Annual 1.5-day summit: plenary speakers, workshops, collaborative planning, and commissioning.
D. Micro-Grants
$1,000 mini-grants for mentorship-centered innovative ministry projects.
Program Flow
From identified challenges to long-term impact, cohorts move through webinars, retreats, micro-grants, and a leadership summit.
Identified Challenges
Identity-Based Cohorts
Webinars + Retreats
Micro-Grants
Annual Leadership Summit
Long-Term Impact
What Participants Will Gain
• deeper spiritual, emotional, and vocational resilience
• adaptive, intercultural, and bridging leadership capacity
• digital and AI literacy for ministry
• peer mentorship networks
• trauma-informed and justice-rooted pastoral practice
• practical tools for congregational leadership
Impact
For Participants
renewal, resilience, confidence, skill-building
For Congregations
healing, belonging, inclusive leadership, innovation
For Garrett & the Wider Church
visibility, retention, partnerships, continuing education, sustainable networks
Timeline
Year 1 – Pilot Year
recruit 3 pilot cohorts; baseline assessments; first micro-grants; one pilot retreat; begin resource archive; formative evaluation
Year 2 – Full Rollout
expand to 5 cohorts; five retreats; first annual Leadership Summit; second micro-grants
Year 3 – Integration
recruit new members; third micro-grants; second summit; begin certificate development
Year 4 – Collaboration & Visibility
cross-cohort tracks; third summit; public webinar; first certificate launch; expand to new conferences
Year 5 – Sustainability
institutionalization; final summit; second certificate; publish impact report
Retreat dates will be announced. Program calendar coming soon. Sign up for updates via Contact.
Core Themes
• Trauma-Informed Leadership
• Bridging and Belonging
• Racial Justice and Intercultural Competency
• Adaptive Leadership
• AI and Digital Ministry Ethics
• Spiritual Renewal and Vocational Resilience
• Mentorship and Innovation
Partners & Collaborators
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Reuben P. Job Institute for Spiritual Formation
Northern Illinois Conference
Wisconsin Conference
Ohio Conference
External consultants and peer institutions (e.g., AI and Faith)
Leadership & Team
Project Director: Dr. Rolf Nolasco
With supporting faculty and offices across Alumni Relations, Academic Affairs, Student Life, Field Education, and Technology.
Resources & What Will Be Created
• webinar recordings and public webinars
• retreat reflections and digital archives
• toolkits and curricular frameworks
• certificate pathways
• on-demand resources via The Garrett Collective
FAQ
What is Flourishing Together?
A multi-year formation initiative supporting clergy, students, and ministry leaders through webinars, retreats, peer cohorts, and innovation grants.
Who can participate?
Clergy, seminarians, alumni, district superintendents, and ministry leaders, with particular attention to clergy of color, women clergy of color, and leaders navigating complex ministry contexts.
Is the program online or in person?
Hybrid: live/recorded online webinars, in-person retreats, and an annual leadership summit.
What topics will be covered?
Trauma-informed leadership, racial literacy, adaptive leadership, conflict transformation, AI ethics, digital ministry, spiritual resilience, mentorship, and vocational renewal.
Will there be grants available?
Yes. Participants may apply for $1,000 micro-grants to implement mentorship-centered innovative ministry projects.
When will retreats or summits take place?
Program dates will be announced by cohort and year. Interested participants can sign up for updates.
How can I stay informed?
Join the mailing list or contact the project team.
Will resources be available later?
Yes. Select materials will be archived and shared through The Garrett Collective.
