TRANSFORM YOURSELF & YOUR PASTORAL LEADERSHIP

These are but a few of the challenges faced by those engaged in pastoral ministry during these polarizing times. You do not have to face ministry challenges alone.

You can transform yourself and your ministry by engaging in a Pastoral Intelligence small group cohort focused on integrating emotional learning and theological intelligence.

The principles of Pastoral Intelligence are outlined in Pastoral Intelligence: Why Your Emotional Health is the Key to Your Church’s Health. (Shepherd’s Staff Ministry: Richmond, VA, 2024). However, Pastoral Intelligence cannot be acquired by simply reading this excellent book.

What has proven incredibly effective is engagement in a cohort where participants share case studies in a safe coaching environment focused on developing four essential Pastoral Intelligence competencies:

1. Self-Development (including emotional/theological self-awareness, confidence in your calling, and emotional self-control)
2. Self-Motivation (including accurate self-assessment, integrity/trustworthiness, adaptability, initiative, and optimism)
3. Congregational Awareness (including leadership empath and organizational awareness)
4. Relational Skills (including conflict management, developing others—teamwork and collaboration, inspirational leadership, leading change, and influence)

1. The ability to transform yourself. 
2. The ability to understand how your life story forms themes. 
3. The ability to have empathy in pastoral leadership.
4. The ability to think and act from a biblical theology.  
5. The ability to see God at work in your calling and identity.

By investing in this nine-month process of self-discovery and self-transformation, you gain self-
awareness, reclaim or renew your calling to pastoral ministry, discover and practice new ministry skills, and learn new behaviors that enrich your life and ministry.

I believe I have learned valuable skills to better assess and navigate through ministry challenges, and I now realize more than ever you cannot separate the minister from the ministry. (senior pastor)

Having just completed my first year as a minister, I am equipped to speak of the pressures for which I was ill-equipped to manage through my professional education. Dr. Graham’s approach has challenged me to address the emotional issues that influence both the personal and professional spheres of my life and those in the congregation that I serve. – (youth minister)

Seminaries do not adequately prepare students to handle the emotional stresses that come from
working every day in ministry. Dr. Graham’s process serves to help us as ministers, regardless of denomination or theological belief, to manage our own emotions so that we do not burn out as so many do, but rather we may be able to stay in ministry over the course of our careers. (associate minister)

The cohort has three components:

1. Introductory Session (in-person or virtually) includes:
   • Didactic presentation and colloquy to introduce Pastoral Intelligence.
   • Instructions on creating a personal genogram.
2. Eight sessions on core elements of PI followed by group coaching using the Call and Identity Coaching™ model.
   • NOTE: Call and Identity Coaching is informed by theology, emotional intelligence, and Bowen Family Systems Theory. The goal of this coaching approach is to empower ministers
     to gain clarity and direction in their calling and pastoral identity through increased spiritual and emotional self-awareness.
3. Utilize the “Transforming Self Triangle,” ministry and personal case studies, family genograms, and group dialogue to develop and apply the five PI abilities in one’s ministry context.

Cohort Profile:

• Designed exclusively for pastors or other professional pastoral staff who currently serve in congregational contexts or a church-related ministry.
• A new virtual cohort will be offered on Mondays, beginning January 27. See 2025 training dates below.
• The cohort will be limited to 6 participants.

PI Coaches and Cohort Facilitators:

• Terry Maples, MDiv
• Steve Booth, MDiv, DMin

Learn more about Terry and Steve at shepherd-staff.org/our-team.

Monday Cohort:

• Jan 27, 2025 – Introduction to PI, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
• Feb 24 – Group Discussion & Coaching, All remaining sessions will meet from 1:00-4:00 pm
• Mar 24 – Group Discussion & Coaching
• Apr 28 – Group Discussion & Coaching
• Jun 2 – Group Discussion & Coaching
• Jun 30 – Group Discussion & Coaching
• Jul 28 – Group Discussion & Coaching
• Aug 25 -Group Discussion & Coaching
• Sep 15 – Group Coaching & Evaluation

Contact Us.