05.22.24 | Leader Development, Congregational Development, Discipleship Formation
Tea leaves transform water into tea and we--as bearers of God's love--are called to transform hate, division, and loneliness into a beloved community.
The Catalyst Initiative is designed to help your Church do two things. First, it’s designed to help you love better; love one another and love your community. And second, it will help you discover your congregation’s call and the unique gift that you can bring to your community. It is a year-long congregational cohort process of discovery, exploration, and renewal. It empowers a church to initiate a Spirit-led vision and understanding of its community; ignite faith into action, and invigorate people to claim God’s vision for your lives and community.
Participants will learn to more deeply and intentionally cultivate discipleship, to discern and experiment, to build better relationships with one another and those in the community, to evaluate and design ministry for the most meaningful impact, to identify and leverage assets and to create alignment and systems that sustain ministry into the future. As a result, congregations will increase their skills, confidence and resilience so that more transformed lives transform lives. Congregations are placed into cohorts guided by a Synergist who journeys with them.
This 12-month congregational cohort process of discovery, exploration, and renewal empowers a church to initiate a Spirit-led vision and understanding of its community; ignite faith into action, and invigorate people to claim God’s vision for their lives and community.
| Sept 1 |  |
Intent to Apply opens |
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Nov 1 |
Intent to Apply due/ Application opens |
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Feb 15 |
Application Closes |
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Feb-Mar |
Conversations with applicants available |
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Mar 15 |
Decisions announced and Welcome Packets sent
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April 1
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Team contact list and covenant due |
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May 17
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Orientation
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Even if your congregation isn't selected to be a part of the Catalyst Initiative, the application process will ensure you find the right pathway to take your next faithful step.
Catalyst Information for Congregations Catalyst Intent to Apply Form Catalyst Application Worksheet
The Catalyst Initiative was made possible by a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created to support the causes of religion, education and community development. The grant was given to help congregations assess their ministries and draw on practices in their theological traditions to address new challenges and better nurture the spiritual vitality of the people they serve.