Application Deadline is June 15!

Massachusetts Council of Churches will serve Black clergy from across its network through cohorts of preacher-practitioners, regular podcasts, a “Preachers-in-Residence” program, peer-to-peer support, and an annual preaching symposium called “Sound the Trumpet in Zion.” They will prioritize Black preacher mental health and engage in a pilgrimage to the African Meeting House on Nantucket, an icon of local resilient Black preaching.

PURPOSE

Our purpose in “Equip the Saints” is first and foremost support for Black clergy. From our design meeting, Black clergy shared that they felt the despair and malaise of their congregation, and their own impending sense of burnout through the multiple pandemics of the past three years. Everything we do in this program point towards increased vocational support. We believe this focus on support for Black clergy is just and appropriate, given the systemic racism of our region and escalating white supremacist violence. Our overall objective also includes equipping all clergy to faithfully and biblically preach against the idolatry of white supremacy cloaked in Christianity and preach towards the unity of the body of Christ.

PROCESS

Black clergy from across the Church in Massachusetts will be eligible to apply to join Cohorts of 20 preacher-practitioners per year over the course of five program years, starting in June 2024. We will support and strengthen compelling preaching through regular podcasts, annual clergy cohorts, via “Preachers-in-Residence,” and peer-to-peer support with an annual Preaching Symposium, “Blow the Trumpet in Zion.”

We prioritize Black preacher mental health with two sessions of support from a preacher-social worker each year. We aim to cultivate and strengthen a fellowship of committed and confident preachers across Massachusetts.

Each Cohort will begin their preaching formation journey together with a pilgrimage to the African Meeting House on Nantucket, an icon of local resilient Black preaching that very few people other than wealthy white individuals have been able to visit.

Each Cohort will engage in a rhythm of learning, practice, and reflection with Preachers-in-Residence. Preachers will then return to their congregation to practice their new skills or ideas. A second session returns to the Cohort for a reflection on their practice. In this way, we build up both preaching resources and capacity in our network of preachers. The annual Preaching Symposium, modeled off of CTS’s Mixed Methods Preaching Conference, serves as a Church wide gathering to learn, and grow in strength and solidarity.

Learn More Here

Apply Here