At The Presbyterian College and the Montreal School of Theology, support of our students doesn’t end with their graduation. We continue to support ministers through our Spring pastor’s conference, webinars, our mentoring program, among other things. The Mentoring Program is designed to support grads as they set out in ministry and take on the challenges of pastoral leadership. For those transitioning into ministry, there are often experiences of loneliness, doubt, frustration, insecurity, and times of questioning. But even for experienced pastors there is a need to grow as a leader and deal with ongoing changes and congregational vitality.
Our mentoring program is a network of practicing congregational leaders from across Canada who meet online to share and support one another in congregational ministry. These groups are confidential and include sharing, discussion of literature, and prayer together. A great deal of peer-support, peer-learning, and networking also occurs. These groups began as an effort to support graduating students as they entered congregational work. Today they include new and seasoned leaders from across Canada who share a mutual calling to lead and serve the Church.
Our mentoring groups are communities of praxis and support the critical movement from experience to reflection and study, to new actions and experience. This process cultivates not only personal renewal in ministry, but also critical skills for leading renewal in congregations.
The mentoring program has groups for recent graduates transitioning into ministry and topical groups for more experienced ministers. Each of our groups is led by an experienced congregational leader and has its own rhythm, focus, and organically response to individual needs. Here are a few of the themes our groups have explored in past years.
The pastoral mentoring program is open to all ministers ordained to a ministry of Word and Sacrament or chaplains in good standing with their Christian tradition.
In addition to our monthly meetings, The Presbyterian College hosts an annual pastors conference on our campus in downtown Montreal. Mentoring groups receive a free registration for the conference, which includes all meals and free lodging. The yearly onsite meeting is a time of retreat, reflection, community building, and learning. Our schedule is intentionally light and includes morning prayers and worship, workshops , and time for personal solitude and reflection. Mentoring groups enjoy the opportunity to meet face-to-face in the lovely environment of the McGill campus in Montreal.
If you are interested in joining a cohort, would like more information, or have any questions please contact the Director of Programs at Presbyterian College, Adrian Langdon, at [email protected].
To register, please go here.