Each cluster consists of 6-10 pastoral leaders who study and discuss leadership dynamics and organizational issues that are relevant to their ministries. Participants are encouraged to translate their learning into their own personal lives and the lives of their congregations. These clusters are generally facilitated by COR Associates who have significant experience in ministry and consulting with congregations and other organizations. The clusters provide skill building, practical tools for ministry, Christian community, small group interaction, and peer mentoring. Various learning modules help participants build and lead healthy congregations. The learning modules include:

• Understanding congregational culture
• Power and politics in the church
• Perspectives on responding to congregational problems
• Understanding congregational lifecycles/types/transitions/ and founding influences
• Resistance to change and how to be an effective change agent
• Understanding congregations as systems

In addition to these six modules, participants have the opportunity to identify other areas for study such as leader self-care (staying emotionally and spiritually healthy in ministry), dealing with congregational conflicts, trust building and repair, and effective leadership in congregations.

Cluster Objectives

• Meaningful conversation and reflection, utilizing the best in classical and contemporary leadership and organ-izational theory.
• Learning and practice that focuses on developing critical skills for effective ministry today.
• Mutual learning and support in a safe collaborative environment.