Congregational Renewal Cohort
The Congregational Renewal Cohort program is designed to support congregations in assessing and adapting their ministries to thrive in a changing world. We will partner with religious congregations to strengthen their ministries, deepen relationships with their communities, and contribute meaningfully to the world around them.
Each congregation will identify 3–5 congregants to participate in a 10-month-long, community-based learning journey on PSR Collective, a digital platform facilitated by leading theological experts from the PSR faculty.
Scholarships are available for your congregation. Submit an Info Request in the sidebar to learn more.
Program Highlights
- Online Coursework: Participants will access and complete online course content ahead of weekly group sessions and are expected to engage with materials outside of facilitated meetings.
- Weekly Facilitated Sessions: Each cohort will engage in one prescribed facilitated session with faculty (lasting no less than one hour).
- Congregational Meetings: Each congregation will plan at least one additional meeting with their group between facilitated sessions.
- Renewal Project Focus: Each course will contribute to a renewal project identified by each cohort in consultation with their pastor and the appropriate leadership bodies of their local church.
- Mentorship and Support: Participants will receive mentorship, tools, resources, and firsthand knowledge to support long-term sustainability and community impact.
- Earned Certificate and Academic Credit: Upon successful completion, participants will receive a Certificate in Theological Education for Leadership, which can be applied as 3 academic credits toward a PSR graduate degree program.
Capstone Project
Over the course of the program, congregational cohorts will design and implement a meaningful initiative to strengthen their ministry. Projects may focus on expanding outreach to specific demographics, introducing new worship practices for mental health and wellness, fostering deeper community engagement, or bridging political, racial, and cultural divides.
Course List
Explore how design thinking can drive positive social impact by creating intentional, just, and effective solutions. Through a hands-on project, learn to apply human-centered design to organizations, services, and ventures while integrating a theological understanding of creative praxis.
Examine theology as “faith seeking understanding” by engaging with historical and contemporary theological ideas. Through lectures, small groups, and writing assignments, explore theology’s role in social transformation and develop your own theological reflections.
Deepen your spiritual life through contemplative practices, mystic teachings, and inter-spiritual traditions. Learn to cultivate vitality and creativity in faith, leadership, and social justice work while discerning sustainable spiritual practices.
Understand how knowledge and ministry are shaped by social contexts, with a focus on race and intersectionality. Engage historical, theoretical, and theological perspectives to develop cultural humility and cross-cultural competency through self-exploration and dialogue.
Develop skills in close reading, historical analysis, and critical interpretation of sacred and secular texts. Apply rhetorical strategies to create inclusive and socially conscious interpretations that address contemporary issues.
Explore ethical theories in Christian traditions with a focus on ecological well-being. Engage case studies on human and non-human relationships to practice ethical discernment and Christian moral responsibility.
Examine transformational leadership as a force for justice and social change. Explore prophetic imagination, social entrepreneurship, and strategies for inspiring communities to pursue shared goals and vision.
Survey Christian history through the lens of social change, examining how Christians have shaped society across different eras. Engage with primary and secondary sources through lectures, discussions, and group activities.
Apply social entrepreneurship principles to congregational ministry and nonprofit leadership. Gain hands-on experience in adaptive strategic planning, resource development, and venture creation to support mission-driven initiatives.
Program Cost: $2000 per individual participant
*Scholarships available*
FAQs
What is the program format?
The program will be delivered in a remote, hybrid format, combining online, self-paced coursework and live cohort meetings and facilitated sessions.
What is the time commitment?
Participants should expect to commit at least 10-12 hours per month for the duration of the 10 month program.
Who should apply?
We are seeking congregations that are:
- Committed to growth and adaptation
- Interested in exploring new models of ministry
- Ready to engage in collaborative learning environments
- Facing challenges such as declining membership, changing demographics, or a disconnect between mission and community need
- Serve or are seeking to serve marginalized and under-resourced communities
Congregations should identify participants who have:
- Already been engaged in leadership in the local church at some level
- Ability to commit approximately 10-12 hours per month for a 10-month period
- Technological capacity to access and engage in coursework online and participate in online meetings
- Self initiative with the capacity to work collaboratively
How academically rigorous is the program?
The courses are designed to be accessible to participants from a wide variety of educational backgrounds. Participants do not need to have previous theological education in order to engage with course materials.
What is the Certificate in Theological Education for Leadership?
Participants who complete the program will earn a Certificate of Theological Education for Leadership, which can be applied as 3 credits toward a graduate program at PSR. Participants who earn the Certificate in Theological Education for Leadership are also eligible to participate in PSR’s graduation ceremony in May.