Q&A NGLI: Target 2030

Q: What is the vision of NGLI: Target 2030? A: Next Generation Leadership Initiative: Target 2030 also commonly referred to as NGLI: Target 2030, Target 2030, and the Initiative) is a 20-year focus on energizing and sustaining younger, United Church of Christ local church pastors, believing that healthy, catalytic pastors lead to healthy, vibrant congregations. NGLI: Target 2030 seeks to honor and challenge young clergy who demonstrate significant potential, who have accepted the high calling to parish ministry, who view parish ministry as a career path, and are willing to make a long-term commitment to service in congregational settings of the United Church of Christ. In sum, the hope of the Initiative is to develop and support transformational leaders for ministry in local churches of the United Church of Christ. Q: What is a transformational leader? A: A transformational leader is one who manifests the capacity to: Practice self-reflection Articulate a personal mission/purpose statement for leadership in a parish setting Recognize dysfunction and avoid becoming enmeshed in dysfunctional issues and behavior Synthesize solutions within the congregational context Empower teams of persons who experience trust and realize desired outcomes Engage with a congregation to develop a mission/purpose statement and set of core values that will shape the congregations life and vocation Actualize an appreciation of the United Church of Christs historical, cultural and missional identity Q: What would make me a good candidate for NGLI: Target 2030? A: From now until the year 2020, NGLI: Target 2030 will identify a select group of 10 to 20 clergy. We believe those selected will form the nucleus of leadership transforming local churches of the United Church of Christ into vibrant, relevant Christian communities in the twenty-first century. The ideal candidate will: Be 35 years of age or under at the point of admission to NGLI: Target 2030 Have served a total of five years or less as a called pastor in United Church of Christ parishes Hold a called position of 25 hours per week or more in a parish Be authorized for ministry in and on behalf of the UCC by an Association/Conference Be committed to long-term ministry in local churches of the United Church of Christ Applicants will be considered without regard to race, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.

Q: What will the Selection Committee look for in my application? A: The Selection Committee is made up of clergy and lay members of the United Church Board for Ministerial Assistance. They each carefully review each written and video application, then gather together to discuss the selections. They are looking for candidates who demonstrate the following characteristics: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Be committed to the culture of the United Church of Christ Have exposure to various settings of the United Church of Christ Be able to articulate a personal mission/purpose statement for leadership in a parish setting Demonstrate experience in and love for the local church Demonstrate ability to think critically Demonstrate capacity to think creatively when confronted with complexity, new ideas, shifting paradigms, and challenging situations Have an excellent command of language both written and verbal Have experience with team building, conflict utilization, and theological reflection Be conversant with various approaches to enliven congregational mission Have familiarity and facility with twenty-first century communications technologies PERSONAL TRAITS Be persons of faith Be trusting, trustworthy, and able to engender a sense of trust in others Demonstrate emotional and spiritual maturity appropriate to their age Be persons of integrity what you see is what you get Have a lifestyle committed to well-being in body and spirit Be able to deal with pressure Be open to expressions of diverse ideas and relationships with people of diverse backgrounds Be able to think on their feet Be vigorous and enthusiastic about life and ministry Be resilient and persevering Be teachable Be self-confident without being self-centered Be intellectually curious Q: Can you say more about what participants gain by being involved in the Initiative? A: NGLI: Target 2030 will provide each participant with: An initial, four-year core educational program that engages participants in transformational leadership skill and gift development: o Year One focus: Family Systems Theory, with an emphasis on how it applies to differentiated leadership within local church settings o Year Two focus: Adaptive Leadership, with an emphasis on the changing context of pastoral leadership and its implication for the practice of the art of leadership

Year Three focus: Personal Leadership Styles, Communication Systems, and Team Building, with an emphasis on invigorating the leader/group dynamic for congregational health o Year Four focus: Natural Church Development, with an emphasis on applying transformational leadership qualities via the eight characteristics of a missional church An additional six years of advanced continuing education o These years will begin with a time of intentional assessment and evaluation that will lead to the creation of learning goals and a plan of action that will further develop the participants skills and gifts for transformational leadership. Participation in two United Church of Christ General Synods, two concentrated learning visits in a congregational setting, and occasional webinars Tools to participate in an ongoing peer support network A $10,000 contribution to the participants Annuity Plan account during year one to help seed the participants pension account, which should have a value of approximately $75,000 at the end of a 35-year career. (These figures are calculated based on an assumed growth rate of 6% per year over a 35-year period.) It will be 50% vested at the end of the fourth year and fully vested at the end of the tenth year. Q: How can I learn more? A: Contact: The Rev. L. Krista Betz NGLI: Target 2030 The Pension BoardsUnited Church of Christ 475 Riverside Drive Room 1020 New York, NY10115 1.800.642.6543, ext. 2716 target2030@pbucc.org www.pbucc.org Download an application packet at: http://bit.ly/NGLI2030