Lis Van Harten
(First appeared in the March 2008 issue of Ministry Reports to Classes and Councils)
In the proposal submitted to Lilly Endowment Inc. in 2002, the CRCNA indicated a number of goals for the Sustaining Pastoral Excellence (SPE) project. These goals were to be accomplished during the five year project—which concluded on December 31, 2007. One goal was that 32 peer learning (PL) groups, involving 200 pastors, would be formed. Within the five-year period 106 PL groups, involving 516 pastors, were formed. This means that over 50% of CRC pastors have been involved in an SPE PL group!
A second goal was that 16 continuing education events would be held with 640 pastors attending an event. From 2003 to 2007, 134 events were held with more than 1,800 pastors and 1,900 laypersons attending (participants were counted each time they attended an event).
The overall goal of the SPE project was to create a culture of pastoral excellence in the CRCNA. While it takes an extended period of time to change or create a culture, the findings in the external evaluation of the SPE project indicate that a change has definitely begun. “Many pastors believe SPE is indeed facilitating a culture of pastoral excellence…. After five years, SPE is considered by many more than just a program. Rather, it is seen as a “movement” having strong impact and influence on the agencies and institutions of the denomination.”
In June 2007, the CRCNA received a second grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. Programming focuses on PL groups for pastors, peer groups for pastors’ spouses, and pastoral support.
