Gathering Of Leaders

THE GATHERING OF LEADERS ASSISTS IN THE EMPOWERMENT, SUPPORT, AND DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS DEDICATED TO THE MISSIONARY CALL OF CHRIST AND GROWING THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN SPIRITUAL DEPTH AND IN NUMBERS BY PROVIDING A PLACE FOR SUCH LEADERS TO COME TOGETHER WITHOUT CONTENTIOUSNESS AND PARTISANSHIP TO SHARE THEIR LOVE FOR CHRIST AND OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, TO EMPOWER EACH OTHER THROUGH MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT, TO DEEPEN THEIR SKILLS AS TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERS, TO ESTABLISH NETWORKS WHICH WILL AID THEIR MINISTRIES, AND TO CLARIFY THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD'S EMERGING VISION FOR THE RENEWED EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

THE PRINCIPAL ACTIVITY OF THE GATHERING OF LEADERS IS TO FACILITATE MEETINGS (REFERRED TO AS "GATHERINGS") FOR SPECIFICALLY SELECTED EPISCOPAL LEADERS WHO HAVE THE PROVEN LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN CREATIVELY THROUGH OTHERS. THE PURPOSE OF THE GATHERINGS IS TO ENHANCE THE MINISTRY AND MISSION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH THROUGH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND WITH PRAYER FOR DIVINE GUIDANCE AND INSPIRATION. THE AGENDA FOR EACH GATHERING PROVIDED FOR PRESENTATIONS FROM PARTICIPANTS THAT FOSTER OUR ATMOSPHERE OF PEER-LEARNING, SPECIFICALLY AROUND THE THEMES. THE GOAL FOR EACH GATHERING IS TO CREATE A SPIRIT-INFUSED, HOPE-FILLED, REVERENT, JOYOUS, AND MISSION-CENTERED CULTURE, WHICH WILL SERVE AS A HEALTHY MODEL THAT EACH PARTICIPANT WILL TRY TO CREATE AND/OR ENHANCE WHEREVER HE OR SHE SERVES. IN 2022 WE HELD FOUR IN PERSON GATHERING WHICH TOOK PLACE IN PHILADELPHIA, SAN ANTONIO, CLEVELAND, AND PORTLAND, OR. WE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED TWO NEW NETWORKS OF LEADERS: BIVOCATIONAL CLERGY AND LAY LEADERS. THREE OF THESE GATHERINGS WERE ON THE THEME OF THE MISSIONARY CHURCH AFTER CHRISTENDOM,X AND ONE GATHERING WAS ON THE THEME OF RACIAL RECONCILIATION & DISCIPLESHIP IN THE MISSIONARY CHURCH.2022 SAW THE BIGGEST SHIFT IN SCOPE FOR GATHERING OF LEADERS IN OUR HISTORY. THROUGH THE TRINITY WALL STREET LEADERSHIP GRANT AWARDED IN 2021, GOL WAS ABLE TO ADD TWO ADDITIONAL NETWORKS OF LEADERS TO THE ORGANIZATION: BIVOCATIONAL CLERGY AND LAY LEADERS. TO FACILITATE THIS GROWTH, GOL ENGAGED A LEARNING MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT TO HOST FOCUS GROUPS, SURVEY CURRENT MEMBERSHIP, AND GUIDE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF AN ONLINE COMMUNITY TOOL. THIS NEW TOOL WAS BUILT BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THE NETWORK TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT AMONG PEERS, COLLECT AND CURATE RESOURCES FROM THE NETWORK, AND HOLD SPACE FOR CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY DURING OUR IN PERSON EVENTS. RESEARCH FROM THIS WORK WILL BE APPLIED TO FUTURE YEARS AS GOL CONTINUES TO EXPAND THE TYPES OF LEADERS IT ENGAGES AND HOW THE CURATED RESOURCES GET SHARED WITH THE WIDER EPISCOPAL CHURCH THROUGH ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH FOUNDATION.