Leading in Divided Times

Targeting: Teaching Elders and Commissioned Ruling Elders

Ministry has always been a heavy calling, but pastors and Commissioned Ruling Elders now face new challenges as we seek to navigate today’s fault lines. How can we build unity (which is different from everyone thinking the same way) in your congregation in times of division? How can we equip our members to do the same?

Join us for these training sessions as we explore leadership in divided times. We will begin with big questions like “What does science have to teach us about why we are so divided?” and move to pointed and practical questions like “How can two people have a real conversation about their disagreements?” Our hope is that we can start building an America that is more resilient to toxic forms of division and ready to address problems in our local neighborhoods.

During this two day training, participants will gain an understanding of why division happens and learn the symptoms and drivers of toxic polarization.  They will start to unpack where some of these symptoms and drivers might be happening in their own congregations or organizations and lastly will begin to explore how do we have productive conversations across lines of differences.

We will use a mixture of presentation, poll questions, and breakout rooms in order to help lead congregations through times of division.