Pastoral Excellence Project News


November 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
November 2006 edition

Please Complete and Return the 2006 PEP Survey

All of you have now received the 2006 PEP survey administered by our Project Evaluator, Sonja Simpson. Please complete and return the survey by December. Sonja is excellent at using a variety of evaluation techniques—and is careful to use surveys only when necessary. Please know that the information you provide helps Lilly Endowment recognize the importance of this Project to clergy across our state. br>
You have received a hard copy of the evaluation survey. Another version of the survey is available on the website (pepneb.org). Please return the survey to Sonja either through the mail or electronically at your earliest convenience. All responses will be kept anonymous.

CLG Retreat Forms Available

All CLGs have been invited to use up to $4,000 in 2007 to engage in group retreats and learning projects. The retreat application forms are now on the Project website, at www.pepneb.org. Completed applications should be sent to Rev. Russ Seger for review. Please provide ample time for the Project staff to consider and process your application. If you have questions, feel free to contact me or Russ.

Celebrating Women in Ministry Event Registrations Coming Soon!

You are invited to attend Blessed and Bloodied: Celebrating Women in Ministry, April 16-18, 2007, in Aurora, Nebraska. This event is free to PEP participants. The conference center in Aurora requires advanced registration; you will therefore be receiving registration forms for the event in December. I would encourage you to plan on attending this exciting event, which promises to be hopeful, creative, and spiritually alive. Registrations are limited to eighty-five people. If you have questions about the event or registration, contact Rev. Jane Ellefson at janeabra@yahoo.com.

Cotner College and PEP Determine Teleconference Schedule for 2007

Cotner College in partnership with Pastoral Excellence will host three teleconferences in 2007. Our tentative speaker schedule is as follows:

  • February: Rev. David Osterdorf of The Center for New Community
  • May: Rev. Dr. Rick Lowery, Professor of Hebrew Bible at Philips Theological Seminary
  • September: Rev. Dr. Fred Craddock, Professor Emeritus of Candler School of Theology
More details will be forthcoming. Many thanks go to Rev. Tim Adams for coordinating these teleconferences.

October 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
October 2006 edition

2006 PEP Annual Event: A Journey into Mainline Church Transformation

The adjective that I heard most following the 2006 PEP Annual Event was “inspiring.” Dr. Diana Butler Bass gave us a way of looking at transformational ministry that was at once easy to understand and yet also challenging to those of us who are comfortable approaching our church contexts in a certain way. Some of her words that stayed with me—and challenged me—included her comments “Small is the new big” and “Embrace your traditions, but find that one thing that gives vision and purpose to your church.” Dr. Butler Bass’ visit seemed to fit perfectly with this particular moment in our Project—a time in which ideas about transformational ministry and new approaches to rural ministry are gaining prominence. Rev. Steve Miller, moreover, provided us with refreshment, camaraderie, and spiritual energy. I was amazed by Rev. Miller’s ability to seamlessly connect innovative approaches to worship with more traditional modes of praise that we are familiar with.

Finally, CrossBridge Christian Church and Rev. Dr. Jim Gordon provided us with a beautiful, welcoming space that reminded all of us entering this incredible new church that in God all things are possible. Thank you, Jim and CrossBridge!

Videos Now Available

CLG Facilitators have received DVD or VHS copies of the new Project video, which was shown at the recent event in Lincoln. All CLG members may borrow and show these copies. Copies are also available at the Region and Conference. Those of you who would like copies of your own may contact me directly. I have DVDs to share—and I have been amazed at the response so far from participants and church members.

Don’t Forget about the Teleconference on October 30!

Cotner College and PEP are pleased to host a teleconference with Rev. Dr. Dick Hamm, former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The subject of Dr. Hamm’s presentation will be “Leading Adaptive Change in the Congregation.” The teleconference will be held on Monday, October 30, from 1:30 until 3:00 p.m. (CST). All CLGs are invited to attend at the NETV teleconference sites nearest them. If you have questions, feel free to contact Sharon Shields at shieldscotner@alltel.net.

September 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
September 2006 edition

Dear Pastoral Excellence Project Participants:

Event Schedule for the 2006 PEP Event
Pushing the Envelope in Ministry: Celebrating Our Contexts



Monday, September 25

11:30 – 12:45 Registration at CrossBridge Christian Church
1:00 – 1:45 Opening Worship led by Rev. Steve Miller
1:45 – 2:00 Welcome and Introductions
2:00 – 2:45 Keynote Presentation: Dr. Diana Butler Bass
2:45 – 3:00 Break
3:00 – 3:30 CLG Discussion Groups
3:30 – 4:30 CLG Discussion with Dr. Butler Bass
4:30 – 5:00 Break
5:00 – 5:45 Dinner at CrossBridge Christian Church
6:00 – 7:00 Evening Worship led by Rev. Steve Miller

Over eighty of our participants will be attending this event. I am looking forward to seeing all of you later this month. If you have any questions about the event, don’t hesitate to contact me.

New Funding Opportunity for CLGs in 2007

Each of you received a letter this week announcing that all CLGs will have the opportunity to apply for up to $4,000 in 2007 to attend retreats or engage in a group-oriented learning event. All CLG members are eligible to participate if they are actively involved in their CLG and if they are currently in good standing with the Nebraska Conference, United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska. Application forms will be available on the website at the end of the year.
August 9-11: Annual Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Meeting, Indianapolis, IN

Rev. Dr. Dick Hamm Joins Us for the Last Teleconference of 2006

Cotner College and PEP are pleased to host a teleconference with Rev. Dr. Dick Hamm, former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The subject of Dr. Hamm’s presentation will be “Leading Adaptive Change in the Congregation.” The teleconference will be held on Monday, October 30, from 1:30 until 3:00 p.m. All CLGs are invited to attend at the NETV teleconference sites nearest them. More information on registration and different sites across the state will be coming soon from Cotner College. If you have questions, feel free to contact Sharon Shields at shieldscotner@alltel.net.

Funding Guidelines and Eligibility Information

Please remember that a brief overview of funding guidelines and eligibility is available on the Project website at pepneb.org. If you have recently joined the Project and want to learn more about these issues, or if you simply need to refresh your memory regarding eligibility, take a moment to visit the website and click on “Participation Guidelines” in the toolbar on the left.

August 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
August 2006 edition

Dear Pastoral Excellence Project Participants:

Register Now for the September Event



Every PEP participant has received registration materials for our annual large-group gathering on September 25-26 in Lincoln, Nebraska. Please send in your registration materials, either by surface mail, fax, or email, to the Conference Office or directly to me (fax number 402-420-9319). If you live in Lincoln or the vicinity and do not plan on staying overnight, please indicate this on your registration form and/or contact me by email and let me know about your plans.

Attending this event is not mandatory, but it is highly encouraged—especially for pastors new to the Project or to the Conference and Region. Our large-group events are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy one another’s company, learn from and dialogue with first-rate speakers, and engage in self-reflection about excellence in your ministry. Also this year, we are encouraging CLGs to attend together as there will be time for our groups to meet and converse about the ideas presented at the event. If you have questions about the event, do not hesitate to contact me at 402-202-7233.

Finally, please note that this event DOES NOT conflict with Congregational Vitality Workshops, which were originally scheduled for this date but have since been moved.

PEP Publicity in the Record and Nebraska Christian

You may have noticed that recent issues of both the Record and the Nebraska Christian included substantial information about PEP written from the perspective of some of our participants. These special issues are part of an ongoing effort to encourage awareness of the grant among congregation members. Why are we interested in spreading the news about Pastoral Excellence?
August 9-11: Annual Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Meeting, Indianapolis, IN

  • Because congregations that recognize the value of continuing education, time away for self-care and collegial interaction, and the creation of innovative new ministries will be more likely to support these elements of the Project after our funding is gone;
  • Because in some cases it is difficult to explain to congregations why you are pursuing educational opportunities that take you out of the office or away from the pulpit—and it helps to spread the word about the value of these pursuits;
  • Because pastoral excellence includes laity. It is easier for you to pursue your calling in ministry if your congregation supports, enhances, challenges, and nurtures this calling in partnership with you.
I encourage you to use these publications in your conversations with congregation members about the importance of this Project to your ministry. Hopefully, these special issues of the Record and Nebraska Christian will continue to spark dialogue among our clergy and laity about what “pastoral excellence” means in our Nebraska setting.

Discernment Process Nearing Conclusion

All of you are currently involved in a discernment process within your CLGs to discover what elements of this Project have been especially valuable to you and your ministry—and why. Our evaluator, Sonja Simpson, is collecting these data and will be sharing initial results at the August facilitators’ meeting and providing final results shortly thereafter. I will also give an update about this discernment process at our September gathering. If you have questions about this process, feel free to contact me at pepneb@inebraska.com or Sonja at simpsonrl@charter.net.

June 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
June 2006 edition

Dear Pastoral Excellence Project Participants:

If You Enjoy the New Image Above . . .



. . . then you’ll love the new PEP bookmarks that you will receive at our September 25-26, 2006 event in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Of course, you have already received one bookmark already. Your CLG leaders were recently sent copies of The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church, by our keynote speaker Dr. Diana Butler Bass. Each book contains a bookmark and a letter inviting you to join your colleagues and friends for fellowship and education at our September gathering. These bookmarks are not only a useful tool as you are reading but also a publicity tool that you can use while speaking with congregation members and others about the Project. I look forward to sharing more bookmarks with you—as well as another special gift from PEP—in September.

Registration materials will be mailed in July.

August-September Calendar

As usual, August and September will be busy months for the Pastoral Excellence Project. Here is a brief list of some of our activities as we approach the fall:
August 9-11: Annual Sustaining Pastoral Excellence Meeting, Indianapolis, IN
August 21-22: Bi-annual CLG Facilitators’ Meeting, Lincoln, NE
August 23: PEP Executive Committee Retreat, Lincoln, NE
September 12: Project Advisory Team Meeting, Lincoln, NE
September 25-26: Annual PEP Gathering for all Participants, Lincoln, NE

Reminder: Congregational Resource Team Is Available

If members of your congregation wish to learn more about the Project and its value to ministry in Nebraska, feel free to invite the Congregational Resource Team to visit with your church. We are available any day of the week except Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, send me an email at pepneb@inebraska.com or call at 402-202-7233.

Newsletter Hiatus in July

I will be suspending the email newsletter in July. If you have questions about the Project that come up next month, do not hesitate to contact me.


May 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
May 2006 edition

Congregational Resource Team Available to Speak to Your Church

The Pastoral Excellence Project has launched a Congregational Resource Team comprised of four pastors: Jerry Albright, Steve Berry, Lynn Strandt, and Charlene Wozny. The purpose of this team is to address congregations and other groups interested in learning more about the Project and the impact it is having on our UCC and DOC churches across the state. This team is now available to speak with church groups. We will also be presenting at the Nebraska Conference UCC Annual Meeting from 10-11:30 on June 10 at Doane College. If members of your congregation wish to learn more about the Project and its value to ministry in Nebraska, feel free to invite the Congregational Resource Team to visit with your church. We are available any day of the week except Saturdays and Sundays. For more information, send me an email at pepneb@inebraska.com or call at 402-202-7233.

2006 PEP Event Update

The annual Pastoral Excellence Project event will take place on September 25-26, 2006, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Diana Butler Bass, who is Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Project on Congregations of Intentional Practice, a Lilly Endowment funded study of mainline Protestant vitality. The majority of our event sessions will occur at CrossBridge Christian Church in Lincoln. The event is free to all PEP participants.

Here is some addition information about the event:

  • Worship will be led by Rev. Steve Miller, minister at First Congregational Church in Vermilion, South Dakota.
  • Event registration will be from 11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. on Monday, September 25. The event will begin at 1:00 p.m. (look for a complete schedule with your mailed registration materials).
  • Dinner on Monday and lunch on Tuesday will be provided at CrossBridge; a free breakfast will be available for those staying at StayBridge Suites.
  • There will be shuttle service available to transport participants from CrossBridge Christian Church to StayBridge Suites as needed.
    • Prior to the event, all participants will receive a free copy of Dr. Butler Bass’ book, The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church (Alban, 2004) from Cotner College and PEP.
  • Soul Desires Bookstore will also have a booth set up during the event.
  • Registration materials will be mailed in July.
We’ll look forward to seeing you at the September PEP event! If you have questions, feel free to contact me directly at 402-202-7233 or pepneb@inebraska.com.

Check Out the Website

The website is always being updated, and now has a slideshow of event photos on the home page. Also, you will find a link to an article featuring our Project in the May issue of the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence newsletter. This article has given our Project publicity on a national level and it also provides some background on the Project and its inception. Enjoy!


April 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
April 2006 edition

Mark Your Calendars for the 2006 PEP Event!

The annual Pastoral Excellence Project event will take place on September 25-26, 2006, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The theme for this year’s event will be: “Pushing the Envelope in Ministry: Celebrating Our Contexts.” Our keynote speaker will be Dr. Diana Butler Bass, who is Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Project on Congregations of Intentional Practice, a Lilly Endowment funded study of mainline Protestant vitality. Dr. Butler Bass will be speaking to us about intentional practice as a way of re-envisioning ministry within our specific contexts and denominational traditions. This event will also be focused on the Covenantal Learning Group experience. Discussions of Dr. Butler Bass’ talks will take place within CLGs, and we will also have time during the event to explore different covenantal models and why they are effective.

Our event sessions and worship will occur at CrossBridge Christian Church in Lincoln; accommodation will be provided at StayBridge Suites, which is adjacent to CrossBridge. The event is free to all PEP participants. Registration materials will be mailed in early July. Look for more information coming soon!

Congregational Resource Team Launching this Summer

The Pastoral Excellence Project is launching a Congregational Resource Team comprised of four pastors: Jerry Albright, Steve Berry, Lynn Strandt, and Charlene Wozny. The purpose of this team is to address congregations and other groups interested in learning more about the Project and the impact it is having on our UCC and DOC churches across the state. This team will be available to speak with church groups beginning in June 2006. If members of your congregation wish to learn more about the Project and its value to ministry in Nebraska, you are welcome to invite the Congregational Resource Team to visit with your church. For more information, send me an email at pepneb@inebraska.comor call 402-202-7233.

Reminder: Electronic Project Reports Requested

As you complete your individual learning projects and send hard copies of your follow-up reports to Russ Seger, please also forward electronic copies of these reports directly to me at craigandelizamac@aol.com.  I am collecting these copies for evaluation and publicity purposes. Thank you for your help with this.


March 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
March 2006 edition

Reminder: Sue Monk Kidd to Speak at Countryside Community Church

The author of God's Joyful Surprise, When the Heart Waits, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, The Secret Life of Bees, and The Mermaid Chair will be speaking as part of Countryside’s superb speaker series occurring in 2006. Monk Kidd will speak on Sunday, April 2, 2006, at 7 PM. The ticket price is $15.00. For more information, visit Countryside’s website, at www.countrysideucc.org.

Retention in Nebraska UCC and DOC Churches Affected by PEP

Our Project Evaluator reports that recent survey data show that twenty-one out of sixty-seven respondents indicated that the Pastoral Excellence Project is positively affecting their decision to continue serving churches within the Nebraska Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Nebraska Conference, United Church of Christ in Nebraska. Survey data also show that Covenantal Learning Group experiences and individual learning projects continue to provide important resources and opportunities for our Project participants.

Tex Sample to Provide Workshop in May

Dr. Tex Sample will be leading a workshop on theological ethics May 1 (beginning at 6:00 p.m.) through May 3 (ending at noon) at First United Methodist Church in Kearney, Nebraska. Registration is free for all PEP participants. Dinner on May 1 and lunch on May 3 will be provided. Lodging will be available through the Comfort Inn in Kearney. More information will be forthcoming soon from Cotner College.

Electronic Project Reports Requested

As you complete your individual learning projects and send hard copies of your follow-up reports to Russ Seger, please also forward electronic copies of these reports directly to me at craigandelizamac@aol.com. I am collecting these copies for evaluation and publicity purposes. Thank you for your help with this.


February 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
February 2006 edition

Celebrating the PEP Teleconference with Dr. William Sloane Coffin!

The second PEP-sponsored teleconference occurred on Monday, February 6. This teleconference featured Dr. William Sloane Coffin. Over half of our Project participants enjoyed listening to and dialoguing with this profound and prophetic speaker. Dr. Sloane Coffin challenged our Nebraska clergy to preach on controversial issues without alienating our congregations. Here are just a few of his words of wisdom to our pastors:

  • “Where is your prophetic fire? It’s not easy to preach prophetically, but it is absolutely necessary to do so.”
  • “We must engage in a lovers’ quarrel with our country, just as God is engaged in a lovers’ quarrel with the whole world.”
  • Regarding nuclear proliferation, Dr. Sloan Coffin said: “Only God has the authority to end life on the planet. All we have is the power to do it.”
  • “When you preach on a controversial issue, be sure to provide an invitation to your congregation to speak with you about it. Tell them at the start of your sermon: ‘After this is over, bring your coffee, come talk to me, and tell me where you think I was wrong.’”
  • “Hope springs from the soul and not from the circumstances that surround our days. The opposite of hope is not despair; it is fear.”
Thanks to Sharon Shields and Janeen Bruner for organizing the teleconferences and to Marilyn Mecham for emceeing the event. Look for more information about upcoming teleconferences on the email newsletter, the Project website, and Cotner’s website.

Haven’t Done the Survey Yet?

If not, then please do so as soon as possible. Send the survey via email or surface mail to Sonja Simpson, Project Evaluator, at simpsonrl@charter.net or 2203 Woodridge Ct., Grand Island, NE 68801. A copy of the survey is available on the Project website, at www.pepneb.org. These surveys are required for all participants.

Educational Opportunities and Discussion Board on Website

Check the website for information on educational opportunities for Project participants. These opportunities are updated monthly—and there are a lot of good ideas on this page!

Michael Stein, pastor at First Christian Church in Scottsbluff, has raised a question about your reactions to Winter Convocation on the Project discussion board. Take a look and join the conversation!

Sue Monk Kidd to Speak at Countryside Community Church

The author of God's Joyful Surprise, When the Heart Waits, The Dance of the Dissident Daughter, The Secret Life of Bees, and The Mermaid Chair will be speaking as part of Countryside’s superb speaker series occurring in 2006. Monk Kidd will speak on Sunday, April 2, 2006, at 7 PM. The ticket price is $15.00. For more information, visit Countryside’s website, at www.countrysideucc.org.


January 2006

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
January 2006 edition

Telecourse Coming Up with Dr. William Sloane Coffin

The next PEP-sponsored telecourse, offered through Cotner College, is scheduled for Monday, February 6 at 1:30 CST, 12:30 MT. The course sites will be in Hastings, North Platte, Lincoln, Omaha, Norfolk, Scottsbluff, and potentially one additional site in the southeast. Dr. Coffin is one of the best-known theologians and ministers in the United States. He has served as head minister at Riverside Church in New York City, chaplain at Yale University and Williams College, and was particularly active in the civil rights, anti-war, and nuclear freeze movements. This telecourse, which is free to PEP participants (and all mileage is reimbursed), is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be in dialogue with a foremost religious figure of our time. More information is forthcoming from Sharon Shields and Cotner College. Look for updates on the PEP website (under the Cotner Teleconference link) and send questions to Sharon at shieldscotner@alltel.net.

Gathering Information for New Database

This email newsletter is not reaching all of our PEP participants who are on email. Why? Because the database we are working from has not been updated since the start of the Project. As you meet in your CLGs this month, please take a moment to provide your facilitator with your complete contact information—and, in particular, your email address. Sinda Dux of the Nebraska Conference, United Church of Christ is compiling this information for a new database that will allow us to reach everyone involved in the Project. Thank you for your cooperation!

Tell Us about Pastoral Excellence in 2005

As you look back on all of the new connections, ideas, and experiments that enhanced your ministry in 2005, please ask yourself the following question: Where did I see or experience pastoral excellence in the past year? We would love to hear your observations, and your stories, conveying moments of epiphany, recognition, and growth brought about through learning projects and covenantal relationships. Please send me an email with your thoughts and/or provide your insights via our discussion board on the website. This kind of reflection will help us continue the conversation about what excellence in ministry means, especially as we evolve from year to year within this Project.

Please also remember that these kinds of insights offer a perfect segue into a short essay on how your learning projects and covenantal relationships have transformed your ministry—the subject of our PEP book project that we will be trying to get off the ground in 2006. Make it your goal for this year to complete this short reflection and send it electronically to me at craigandelizamac@aol.com or pepneb@inebraska.com.

May the many activities associated with Advent be overshadowed this season by the peace and solace of God’s love.

Reminder: Complete the Mandatory Evaluation Survey This Month!

All clergy participating in Transforming Covenants will be asked to complete evaluation surveys in 2006. The first of these is now available on the Project website (www.pepneb.org). The purpose of such surveys is to collect data from our participants to share with the Lilly Endowment regarding the overall success of our grant.

These surveys must be completed and returned to the Project Evaluator, Sonja Simpson, no later than January 31, 2006. The surveys will be kept confidential.

The surveys can be downloaded off the website or they can be sent to you via surface mail by the Project Evaluator. Your CLG facilitator should also have copies of the survey. The survey may be returned to Sonja by email or surface mail.

Sonja’s email address is: simpsonrl@charter.net
Sonja’s surface mail address is: 2203 Woodridge Ct., Grand Island, NE 68801

Thank you for completing these surveys. The information you provide will be invaluable to us and to the Endowment as we enter year three of the Project.


December 2005

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
December 2005 edition

Mandatory Evaluation Survey Available on the Website

All clergy participating in Transforming Covenants will be asked to complete evaluation surveys in 2006. The first of these is now available on the Project website (www.pepneb.org). The purpose of such surveys is to collect data from our participants to share with the Lilly Endowment regarding the overall success of our grant.

These surveys must be completed and returned to the Project Evaluator, Sonja Simpson, no later than January 31, 2006.

The surveys can be downloaded off the website or they can be sent to you via surface mail by the Project Evaluator. Your CLG facilitator should also have copies of the survey. The survey may be returned to Sonja by email or surface mail.

Sonja’s email address is: simpsonrl@charter.net Sonja’s surface mail address is: 2203 Woodridge Ct., Grand Island, NE 68801

Thank you for completing these surveys. The information you provide will be invaluable to us and to the Endowment as we enter year three of the Project.

PEP Presentations at Winter Convocation

Please join your fellow clergy in Grand Island beginning at 9:15 on Wednesday, January 25th—the last day of Winter Convocation—to hear presentations on grant-funded learning projects completed in 2005. The presentations will last for approximately an hour and there will be time for questions and general discussion about the Pastoral Excellence Project following the presentations.

Project Guidelines and Educational Opportunities on the Website

Do you have questions about basic aspects of the Project, such as funding restrictions, eligibility, and Pastor/Parish Team approval? If so, be sure to visit the website and click on “Project Guidelines.” This new link provides a quick refresher course on basic rules of eligibility, funding, and other issues.



Also, the website’s link on Educational Opportunities will soon be updated for the winter. These updates will include information on speaker series, seminars, and the upcoming telecourses sponsored by PEP. If you have additional educational opportunities you would like to share with your colleagues, send them to me and I will make sure they are added to the website.

May the many activities associated with Advent be overshadowed this season by the peace and solace of God’s love.

November 2005

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
November 2005 edition

Lilly Sponsored Clergy Renewal Program

The Lilly Endowment recently sent me a reminder about their National Clergy Renewal Program. This program provides grant awards of up to $45,000 to cover extended Sabbath retreats for clergy. The program is open to Christian congregations served by a pastor who has earned a Master of Divinity degree from an accredited theological seminary. The Endowment is encouraging interested pastors to learn more about the program and to apply if they feel called to do so. I have received informational booklets on the program that I would be pleased to share these with interested pastors in our Conference and Region. You may also learn more about the program by visiting the Endowment’s website, at www.lillyendowment.org/religion. If you would like an informational booklet, please let me know. This is a tremendous opportunity for pastors; I would encourage you to learn more about the program.

Introducing Project Advisory Team Members

As you know, the Pastoral Excellence Project has adopted a new leadership structure as we enter into the latter years of the grant. In addition to an Executive Committee comprised of the Conference Minister, Regional Minister, Project Director, and Covenantal Learning Group Coordinator, the Project will also be led by a Project Advisory Team (PAT) comprised of ministers and judicatory from across the state. These PAT members include: Jim West, Russ Seger, Doug Pfeiffer, Donna Boren, Winston Baldwin, Sharon Shields, Rich Jensen, and Elizabeth MacLeod Walls. This team will be responsible for organizing events and helping to shape the future direction and goals of the Project. If you have questions about PAT or suggestions for future Project events and activities, feel free to contact me or any other member of this new advisory team. Our next meeting will be in January 2006.

Advertise Learning Opportunities Here!

Have you been involved in a learning program that you would like others in the Pastoral Excellence Project to be aware of? Has your learning program led you to discover new opportunities for pastors that could benefit your clergy colleagues in Nebraska? If so, feel free to write up a blurb about these discoveries and submit them for inclusion in the PEP email newsletter. I would also encourage you to discuss your learning projects and other experiences on our Project discussion board available on the website (www.pepneb.org). Several of our Project participants are still searching for the learning opportunity that will best fit their call to ministry. These discussion forums provide the perfect space through which our participants can explore different educational options and hear from those who have pursued excellence in ministry through their individual learning plans.

Return from Leave

I have officially returned from my maternity leave. If you have questions concerning projects, CLGs, or any other aspect of the Pastoral Excellence Program, do not hesitate to contact me. Thank you for all of the well wishes and prayers during and after the birth of our son!


August 2005

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
August 2005 edition

Cotner College and PEP Sponsor Talks by Elaine Pagels and Lisa Davison

Dr. Elaine Pagels, renowned theologian and professor at Princeton University, will be speaking at the Lied Center for Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska on Thursday, September 15 (time TBA from Cotner).  All PEP participants are welcome and encouraged to attend; the talk is open to the public, so seating is first-come, first-served.  Pastors are also invited to attend a Ministers’ Breakfast with Elaine Pagels on Friday, September 16.  The topic will be:  “But How Does It Preach?”  Cotner College has set aside rooms for those who will be traveling in for the event.  For more information on attending the talk, the breakfast, or arranging for accommodation, contact Sharon Shields, Administrator of Cotner College, at 402-474-3207 or shieldscotner@alltel.net.

 

Dr. Lisa Davison, professor of Old Testament at Lexington Theological Seminary and our speaker at the May large-group PEP event in North Platte, will be leading participating CLGs in the first ever telecourse sponsored by Cotner College and the Pastoral Excellence Project.  The topic for the telecourse is still being determined.  The telecourse will occur on October 13 from 1:00-3:30 CST (12:00-2:30 MT) at eight locations across the state.  Your CLGs will be invited to travel to the site nearest you to participate in this dialogue.  More information is available on the PEPNEB website and will soon be given to your facilitators at the August facilitators’ gathering.  Please contact Sharon Shields or Elizabeth MacLeod Walls with questions regarding the telecourse.

 

New Advisory Team Formed 

The Pastoral Excellence Project has undergone a structural shift this summer.  The Project Oversight Team (POT), which was comprised of the Conference Minister, Regional Minister, Cotner College Administrator, Associate Conference Minister, Project Director, and Covenantal Learning Group Coordinator, has reorganized.

  Our goal is to facilitate the creation of a new advisory team whose purpose will be to encourage participants to be more involved in the long-term development and sustainability of the Project.

 

“PAT,” or the Project Advisory Team, will be launched in September 2005.  This group will be comprised of the Project Director, Covenantal Learning Group Coordinator, the Cotner College Administrator, and five pastors with standing in the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nebraska.  The Project Advisory Team will be responsible for reviewing all aspects of the Project and will help to coordinate future events sponsored by PEP.  The Project Oversight Team will cease to exist as of September.  However, Conference Minister Roddy Dunkerson and Regional Minister Ken Moore will lead a new Executive Committee that will oversee activities associated with the Pastoral Excellence Project.

 

Bulletin Board Discussion Launched 

There is now a fully functioning bulletin board on the PEPNEB website.  I have posted the first question for discussion.  I will subsequently post new questions every two weeks.

  I would encourage you to visit the site and contribute to the dialogue.  It is easy to use (simply hit “post message” to join the discussion) and will enable us to have a larger dialogue about the Project and your ministry in general.  I will look forward to reading and responding to your posts soon.

 

New Evaluator Hired

Sonja Simpson, RN, is our new Project Evaluator.  Sonja, who also works through Interchurch Ministries of Nebraska as the Health Ministry Coordinator, has devoted her professional life as well as her ministry to issues of health and wellness.  She has served in positions of leadership within nonprofit organizations and has a good deal of evaluation experience within health-related fields.  Sonja will be visiting with the facilitators at this month’s facilitators’ gathering in Lincoln.  We hope that you will invite her to a CLG meeting in 2006 so that she will have the opportunity to get to know participants in our Project.  Welcome, Sonja!

 

Maternity Leave

I will be on maternity leave in October and November.  During this time, Russ Seger will be fielding any questions that you may have about your projects or PEP in general.  His contact information is ucc@panhandle.net, (306) 432-3206.  I will be checking email, and you are welcome to contact me should you have a question that only I can answer.


May 2005

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
May 2005 edition

May Events Generate New Ideas and a Sense of Community

The large-group event in North Platte on May 2-3 was a great success and provided an important opportunity for participants to connect, ask questions, and explore new ideas for learning projects and Covenant Groups.  Dr. Lisa Davison presented two compelling talks on Old Testament (or, in her words, First Testament) interpretation and covenant.  Rev. Maren Tirabassi inspired and educated us through her spiritual yet provocative worship services.  Participants also had a chance to learn about four different Covenantal Learning Groups—the Clearing Committee, the Lincoln Disciples Support Group, the School of Prophets, and the “U4EA” group—as well as four different learning projects completed by Sue Burris, Jane Ellefson, Daryl Lauber, and Michael Stein.  Look for photos from this event on our website.   Thanks for joining us on May 2-3 in North Platte!

 

A Pastor/Parish Team workshop was held in Grant on May 14.  This event provided an opportunity not only to discern the purpose of these groups but also to answer questions, swap useful ideas for worship, and get to know one another as partners in ministry.  Pastor/Parish Team training will continue using various formats throughout the next two years

Volunteers Needed!

The Sustainability Committee, which is a sub-committee of the Project Oversight Team, is responsible for overseeing the long-term survival of the ideals supporting our PEP grant.  The Sustainability Committee has created four sub-committees designed to support the mission of promoting ministerial excellence after the grant has finished:  publicity, recognition, event planning, and grant writing.

 

We are seeking individuals who are interested in contributing to the long-term success of pastoral excellence to serve on these committees.  If you are interested in helping to promote excellence to congregations and pastors, then the publicity committee would be a strong fit for you.  If you would rather take part in recognizing congregations and pastors who promote excellence, then perhaps the recognition committee is your match.  Those interested in helping to plan events designed to encourage pastoral excellence or write and research grants that would allow us to sustain certain aspects of our current project would be perfect either for the event planning or the grant writing committee.

 

Do any of these descriptions fit you?  If so, please send me an email.  We would welcome your involvement as we promote pastoral excellence beyond the life of our PEP grant.

Educational Opportunities

Several participants have indicated that the list of educational opportunities now available on the Project website (www.pepneb.org) has been useful to them as they begin to decide upon learning projects of their own.   If you are aware of an educational opportunity that others in the Project would benefit from, then please let me know.  I will pass this information along to our webmaster, Frank Dolezel, to post on the website.

Summer and Fall

There will not be an email newsletter in either June or July.  But, there will be a lot to report on in August as we recap our summer experiences and prepare for fall.  In the meantime, please keep your questions and comments about the Project coming.

 

Dr. Lisa Davison and Sharon Shields, Administrator for Cotner College, discuss some of their favorite books at the large-group event in North Platte, May 2005.


April 2005

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
April 2005 edition

The Pastoral Excellence Project Receives Mini Grant

In February, our Nebraska Pastoral Excellence Project (Transforming Covenants) applied jointly with the Episcopal Divinity School located in Massachusetts for an additional mini grant from the Lilly Endowment. Lilly has agreed to fund this additional grant, which will help us explore ways that we can be more effective in sustaining excellence among pastors serving rural congregations. We will be co-hosting a conference exploring these issues in Indianapolis in August.

May 28 Pastor/Parish Team Workshop Cancelled

Due to lack of participation in the upcoming May 28 Pastor/Parish Team Workshop, the event has been cancelled. I would encourage anyone who was considering attending the event in Fremont to sign up for one of the other two workshops being held in Grant on May 14 and Kearney on May 21. For more information on these events, feel free to contact me directly.

Improved Website Up and Running

Our new webmaster, Frank Dolezal, has made some significant improvements to the website. He has posted a version of this new site and encourages all participants to review the site and provide him with feedback. The new site is easier to navigate, has new information on participants’ individual projects, and also provides a list of educational opportunities. I hope you will check out our new site soon.

Don’t Forget About May 2-3

The large-group PEP event in North Platte is just a few weeks away. This event will provide an excellent opportunity for Project participants to forge new connections, learn about one another’s educational projects and Covenantal Learning Groups, and enjoy keynote talks by Dr. Lisa Davison and worship led by Rev. Maren Tirabassi.
I will look forward to seeing you all there!

 

March 2005

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
March 2005 edition

PEP Prepares for Upcoming Events

May is the month for Pastoral Excellence Project events. The first of these will be our large-group event for 2005 held in North Platte on May 2-3. We will enjoy collegiality, excellent speakers, spirit-filled worship, a chance to learn about participants’ projects, and presentations on different models of covenantal learning. Send in your registrations, and come enjoy an invigorating retreat with your friends and partners in ministry.

The Pastor/Parish Team workshops will be at Grant First Congregational Church on May 14, Kearney First Christian Church on May 21, and Fremont First Christian Church on May 28. These events will provide an opportunity for you to forge connections with your Pastor/Parish Team and learn more about the role these teams play as you engage in continuing education projects. We look forward to receiving your registration forms soon.

Resources for PEP Participants

Personal Assistance Services, coordinators of our PASTORCare program, offer a free newsletter to individuals interested in learning more about opportunities for counseling and growth. If you would like to access their newsletter, visit their website at www.paseap.com. PASTORCare has been a valuable resource for our ministers. Please let me know if you have any questions about using the free PASTORCare service.

Beginning in April and continuing through November, the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is sponsoring Mediation Skills Training Institutes for church leaders in locations across the country. These training sessions “are designed to equip church leaders with the skills necessary to deal effectively with interpersonal, congregational, and other forms of conflict.” To learn more, visit the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center online at www.LMPeaceCenter.org.

Questions about Your Project?

If you have questions regarding logistical or philosophical aspects of your continuing education project, feel free to contact me. I welcome the opportunity to answer any questions you may have about learning opportunities or the grant process in general.

CLG Facilitators Meeting
The CLG Facilitators met at First-Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln,
Nebraska, February 21-22 to discuss positive experiences as well as current
challenges facing grant participants.  This fruitful discussion renewed
connections and sparked new ideas for all in attendance.  If you have questions about this event or the Project in general, contact your CLG facilitator, the
Project Director, or the Covenantal Learning Group Coordinator.

February 2005

Transforming Covenants Electronic Newsletter
By the Project Director, Dr. Elizabeth MacLeod Walls
February 2005 edition

Send in Your Project Abstracts
The Project Director invites participants to send abstracts of completed projects to be posted on the Project website. These abstracts will come together to form a book-length text featuring our pastors, Covenantal Learning Groups, and the various spiritual and intellectual journeys you are completing as part of the Pastoral Excellence Project. Your project abstracts will be an important component of this book, which will be given to the Lilly Endowment at the end of the grant. Please forward your project abstracts to pepneb@inebraska.com
or craigandelizamac@aol.com.

Pastor/Parish Team Workshop Events There will be three Pastor/Parish Team Workshop events in May:

May 14: Grant First Congregational Church, 11:00 – 3:00
May 21: Kearney First Christian Church, 11:00 – 4:00
May 28: Fremont First Christian Church, 11:00 – 4:00

At these events, you and members of your Pastor/Parish Team will discuss ways in which continuing education enhances the ministry of the entire church and provides a renewed sense of calling to pastors. After answering questions, breaking into small groups, and iscussing together as a larger group, you and your Pastor/Parish Teams will write brief covenants that will serve as a guidepost for you as you complete your grant-sponsored project. You will be receiving registration forms for these events in the mail soon. We hope to see you at one of these kick-off workshops this coming May.

 

New Participants - I would like to welcome new Project participants Rev. Dana Bainbridge, ordained as Disciples of Christ clergy and currently serving First United Methodist Church in Omaha, and Rev. Byron Singleton, who is Staff Chaplain at Saint Francis Medical Center in Grand Island. We are excited to include new folks, and thus new perspectives and voices, in our Covenantal Learning Groups.

-Are there new participants in your CLG? If so, please send Russ Seger and/or me an email with her or his contact information. Russ can be reached at ucc@panhandle.net.