The Leadership Commission serves the local church by recruiting, assessing, and training pastoral leaders within the Evangelical Congregational Church.

The commission shall also provide leadership resources and training for local church lay leaders.

The Leadership Commission may serve as a resource to the Conference Relations Committee. These are Standing Committees of the National Conference and report directly to the Conference. This commission may also serve as a resource to the Nominating Committee but it, too, is a Standing Committee of the National Conference.

The Leadership Commission will have direct oversight and responsibility for the following programs:

• Leadership Training: The commission will oversee the Local Preacher's Course of Study, the Evangelical Leadership Academy, pastor's reading programs and other leadership training programs.
• Transitional Ministry: The commission shall implement and oversee the transitional ministry program of the Church by providing for the recruitment and training of transitional pastors. (See Conference Special Rules, 905)

The commission will review and, as needed, revise and expand this brochure series "So You're A..." which explains various Evangelical Congregational leadership roles and "Steps to Ministry" which explains the steps to licensed and ordained ministry.

Chaplaincy: The commission will appoint a Chaplaincy Committee to develop the chaplaincy ministry of the Church (military and others types of chaplaincy). The Bishop will continue to serve as the denominational endorser for military chaplains.

Seminary-Church Partnership: The Leadership Commission will develop the partnership of the Evangelical Congregational Church with its seminary, Evangelical School of Theology, through regular dialogues focusing on curriculum development, financial support and trustee recruitment. This commission will provide Evangelical Congregational personnel to assist in faculty/administrative search committees and educational task forces.

Lay Education: The Leadership Commission will also seek to meet the longstanding need for lay education and training.

LINKS

• Future Watch Blog
• Audio/Visual Library
• Youth Network
• Leadership Contact for FALL 2007