Tea leaves transform water into tea and we--as bearers of God's love--are called to transform hate, division, and loneliness into a beloved community.

The Catalyst Initiative is designed to help your Church do two things. First, it’s designed to help you love better; love one another and love your community. And second, it will help you discover your congregation’s call and the unique gift that you can bring to your community. It is a year-long congregational cohort process of discovery, exploration, and renewal. It empowers a church to initiate a Spirit-led vision and understanding of its community; ignite faith into action, and invigorate people to claim God’s vision for your lives and community.

Participants will learn to more deeply and intentionally cultivate discipleship, to discern and experiment, to build better relationships with one another and those in the community, to evaluate and design ministry for the most meaningful impact, to identify and leverage assets and to create alignment and systems that sustain ministry into the future. As a result, congregations will increase their skills, confidence and resilience so that more transformed lives transform lives. Congregations are placed into cohorts guided by a Synergist who journeys with them.

This 12-month congregational cohort process of discovery, exploration, and renewal empowers a church to initiate a Spirit-led vision and understanding of its community; ignite faith into action, and invigorate people to claim God’s vision for their lives and community.

Intent to Apply now open in Arena

This form, found under Vitality Pathways, is visible and can be completed by the church pastor, key leaders and anyone who has access to the church's Arena account (ie. Church Administrator).

FAQs

Sept 3		Intent to Apply opens
Nov 15		Intent to Apply due/ Application opens
Feb 14		Application Closes
Feb-Mar		Conversations with applicants available
March		Decisions announced and Welcome Packets sent
March		Team contact list and covenant due
April 26		Orientation

Even if your congregation isn't selected to be a part of the Catalyst Initiative, the application process will ensure you find the right pathway to take your next faithful step. 

Catalyst Information for Congregations Catalyst Application Worksheet

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The Catalyst Initiative was made possible by a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc., an Indianapolis-based private philanthropic foundation created to support the causes of religion, education and community development. The grant was given to help congregations assess their ministries and draw on practices in their theological traditions to address new challenges and better nurture the spiritual vitality of the people they serve.