Educational Resources

One of our goals in the Department of Leadership Development is to see that our pastoral leaders have great opportunities for continuing education and personal development while they practice ministry in their local settings. Here’s how we attempt to accomplish that goal:

• Quality speakers at events such as the ReIgnite Pastors’ Conference, our annual Assembly and our New Pastors’ Orientation.
• Strong links with our educational institutions, like McMaster Divinity College, and sometimes even funding for ministers to pursue courses in higher education. Contact the Department of Leadership Development to inquire about support options.
• Seminars and workshops led by our CBOQ staff, as well as other strong leaders from our family of churches. If you have an interest in seeing a local workshop on some issue in pastoral leadership, contact our office and we’ll work with you to develop an event.
• On-line educational resources are being developed presently. These will bring the value of some of our most requested seminars and workshops to a computer near you. Links will be available at this website and publicized through our Milestones and Messages, as well as Connexion.
• For those serving as lay leaders in our congregations who wish to have more formal training, the Owen Sound and Guelph Associations have developed a Lay Pastors’ Training Course. Follow this link to their website to explore this option. (www.laypastor.ca)

Mentoring

One of the strongest resources many pastoral leaders find for effective ministry is relationships forged with other colleagues in ministry. We strongly encourage all our pastoral leaders to develop mentoring relationships. To whom can we each go for support and to talk through the issues confronting us in ministry? Identify someone you perceive to be a role mode and ask to begin a mentoring relationship. Or, if you see someone in need of your support, offer to become a mentor. If you wish to have a mentor, contact us and we’ll help you identify someone near you who will be willing to walk with you.

We have created a manual to help you develop mentoring relationships. To obtain a copy, contact the Department of Leadership Development.

Supervision