Funding Forward Learning Community
January-December 2021
Objectives
Gain a clearer understanding of the organization’s current financial model and renewed sense of its mission in the community
Listen to community members, discern where the Spirit is leading, and determine what creative and conventional funding sources might be required to follow the Spirit’s lead
Engage in funding experiments that allow the organization to deeply engage its community, live out God’s mission, and create more financial sustainability
"In two short months, I went from holding my congregation's finances at a distance to wondering what I could do to strengthen the connection between money and mission and imagining what I could do to change my congregation's financial situation. I now feel confident in beginning that process."
-Pastor Nancy Ross, Summer 2020 Funding Forward Student
How Does It Work?
Participants commit to a 12-month training process.
Monthly virtual training sessions
A 2-hour training session each month—recorded for those who cannot attend live.
Engaging community conversation
Join a private group in the Faith+Lead Learning Lab for ongoing ideation, collaboration, and accountability.
Expert coaching
Go in-depth with a small group of leaders and a trusted mentor.
Selected resources, reading, and study
Between training and coaching sessions, enter both the biblical text and expert material to discover new paradigms for ministry.
Eligibility
The 2021 Funding Forward Learning Community seeks a group of 12 organizations that can commit to a 12-month learning journey for one pastor and one lay leader. New start and redevelopment congregations are especially encouraged to apply.
We realize this type of financial and missional work takes trust and accountability between the faith leaders and their organization. It's recommended that all participating pastors have at least two years experience serving their organization.
Are You a Fit?
Faith Leaders
We are looking for faith leaders (clergy and lay) who are eager to:
Discern where the Spirit is leading their organization and what funding sources might be required
Seek out creative and conventional funding sources that align with and further the mission
Take risks—personally and in their contexts—to learn and innovate in mission
Commit to participating in the monthly training and coaching sessions as well as an estimated average of 2-4 hours/week of experimentation, study, and peer engagement outside of the monthly sessions for the life of the 12-month program
Congregations and Judicatory Bodies
We are looking for organizations who are willing to:
Suspend assumptions about what’s required to be and fund a missional ministry
Fundamentally rethink their business model for ministry
Take risks and try experiments as they follow the Spirit’s lead
Key Dates
Applications due
November 30, 2020
Application Deadline
Welcome Call
January 21, 2021
6-8 pm CDT
Virtual Training
February 2021-December 2021
2nd Thursdays
6-8PM CDT
(also available as recordings)
Coaching calls
TBD
Monthly small group coaching calls
Apply to the Funding Forward Learning Community
Applications are due by November 30. The online application involves three components:
Pastor's current resume or CV
Letters of support
Question responses
Meet the Program Leader
Grace Duddy Pomroy
Millennial stewardship leader and financial educator currently serving as the Director of the Stewardship Leaders Program at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. She graduated from Luther Seminary in 2012 with a Master’s of Arts degree in Congregational Mission and Leadership. She is the co-author of the stewardship book, Embracing Stewardship: How to Put Stewardship at the Heart of Your Congregation’s Life, as well as author of the 2013 ELCA stewardship resource, “Stewards of God’s Love.” She previously served as the Senior Financial Educator at Portico Benefit Services, Executive Director of Operations for Kairos and Associates and the Joshua Group, as well as the Assistant Director of the Center for Stewardship Leaders at Luther Seminary.