TENDING OUR SOIL
The Tending Our Soil thriving congregations initiative seeks to cultivate the changed soil of our congregations so that God’s love might grow in our time and place.
Many resources for the Tending Our Soil initiative are available for every congregation. You can find these resources here.
Email the Rev. Jenifer Gamber if you are interested in exploring this initiative for your congregation for fall 2023.
Learn About The Initiative | Aprender sobre la iniciativa
Indicate intent to Apply | Apply to participate
Want to learn more?
3 Year Journey
We welcomed 12 congregations in September 2021 and 12 more in September 2022 into a three-year peer journey of learning and practicing to draw people to Jesus and embody his love for the world. We will begin to receive applications for the final 12 congregations in early 2023.
5 Key Practices
Accompanied by trained coaches, congregational leaders will be guided by five key practices of
- listening to God, each other, and your neighbors.
- reconnecting with core spiritual practices, theological commitments, and Episcopal identity
- discerning what God is up to and our call to join God on mission
- cultivating new and refreshed ministries and equipping leaders
- celebrating new learnings and successes
Through the process, congregations will build capacities for adaptive leadership through action and reflection for lasting impact.
Cultivate Relationships + Build Skills + Launch Ministries
Leaders, lay and ordained, will cultivate relationships marked by vulnerability, honesty, accountability, and partnership as they build skills and capacities to adapt to changing contexts. Congregations will learn together about themselves, their neighborhoods, and God’s will for them in this time and place as they experiment with innovative ways to fulfill a shared mission to “engage in a changing world with an enduring faith in Jesus Christ so that more people may know God’s love.”
Together, we will strengthen the culture of learning, creativity, and partnership in the Diocese and be transformed to thrive for years to come.
Final cohort applications due March 2023.
Interested in serving as a coach for Tending Our Soil?
The Tending Our Soil project is seeking four coaches to accompany congregations in the Tending Our Soil thriving congregations initiative. These are paid positions. In addition, EDOW will pay for every coach to receive 60-hour International Coaching Federation-certified training that can be applied to ICF coach certification. If you have at least three years of experience in a congregational leadership position, lay or ordained, and are interested in learning more, click the link below to read about the position. Applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a coaching open house.
Applications for the 2023 cohort of coaches will open in early 2023.
For questions about participating in the Tending Our Soil initiative or about coaching, please contact the Rev. Jenifer Gamber. Jenifer is available to give presentations to your vestry.
