Fellows
Purpose and Program Format:
The purpose of the Academy for Leadership Excellence Leadership Fellows Program is to develop effective, Christ-centered servant leaders dedicated to the ministry and mission of Jesus Christ within the world today.
The Program annually brings together 15 clergy and 15 lay church leaders to form a community of learning and follows a two-year format. Participants will typically meet for two successive days each month for sessions held at Edenton Street United Methodist Church in Raleigh. Participants will receive continuing education credits through Methodist University.
The curriculum modules focus on the development of a variety of practical leadership skills. The first module will address core leadership competencies such as fundamentals of leadership, self-awareness, personal values and vision clarification, balance and self-discipline, building strong relationships, adaptive leadership, communication skills and coaching, and strategic thinking and vision-casting.
The second module covers understanding church fundamentals. These include a systems approach to understanding how churches work, understanding church finances, conflict management, guiding the church through transitions, staffing churches for excellence, small group ministry, building powerful teams, and making your church more inviting and inclusive.
For those who might want to continue their leadership development studies, there are additional modules on new church leadership, transformational church leadership, and effective lay leadership. The completion of the first two core leadership modules is a pre-requisite for enrolling in the optional modules.
The Faculty and Coaches:
The faculty of The Academy Leadership Fellows Program is a community of carefully selected, highly-skilled resource leaders drawn from universities, leadership development organizations, and the church. Each Fellow and lay leader will be assigned a pastoral and congregational coach to provide feedback and support during this course of learning.
The Leadership Fellows Program and The Academy National Leaders Series:
Leadership Fellows will be encouraged to attend The Academy National Leader Series and will be guests at these events. They will also be provided direct access to the visiting national leaders, either at a dinner or special session. National Leader Series speakers for 2011 are Alan Hirsch, James Hunter, Rick Rusaw, and Reggie McNeil.
How to Apply and the Selection Process:
Applicants may personally apply or be nominated by their District Superintendents, the Board of the Ordained Ministry, the Board of the Laity, the Conference Connectional Table, other Boards, agencies, or by the leadership of his or her own local congregation. Those being nominated must show evidence of possessing the temperament, character, spiritual gifts, passion, and heart required of Christ-centered spiritual leadership.
The vision of clergy and laity learning together is intentional. A clergy applicant must partner with a member of the lay leadership of his or her local congregation, and a lay applicant must be partnered with the clergy serving his or her local congregation. Both clergy and laity must be willing to meet the rigorous expectations and requirements of the program. Meeting this particular requirement will be mandatory within the selection process.
Applicants must be first approved by one of the respective nominating bodies, including the Pastor-Parish or Staff-Parish committee of the local congregation. This procedure is required even of those personally applying. Applications must be accompanied by three letters of recommendation including, for clergy, a letter from the Staff-Parish Relations Committee and the District Superintendent, as well as a non-refundable application fee of $100.
Tuition Fees and Fellowship Gifts:
The annual tuition for Leadership Fellows is $500. The $100 application fee is non-refundable and does not apply towards the annual tuition. The $500 tuition must be paid upon notification of acceptance into the program.
The annual tuition does not match or underwrite the total cost of each Fellow accepted into The Academy Leadership Fellows program. Private donors, local congregations, Sunday School classes, United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, and other groups are invited to invest in this vision of developing highly effective servant leaders in the ministry of Christ. The Academy Board invites such active support through an annual naming Fellowship Gift of $10,000.
Proposed Dates for 2012 Leadership Fellows Program (Mondays and Tuesdays)
January 9 and 10
February 6 and 7
March 19 and 20
April 30 and May 1
May 14 and 15
July 9 and 10
August 20 and 21
September 10 and 11
Application Deadline:
Applications for the 2012 Leadership Fellows Program must be received by the Director of The Academy Leadership Fellows Program by September 12, 2011. As stated above, applications must be accompanied by a completed application form, a $100 non-refundable application fee, and the above-stated three letters of recommendation.
The January 2012 class will be limited to 15 clergy and 15 laity.
