Cohort FAQs
How do we join a cohort?
First gather a group of people in your congregation who are interested in the topic (Sharing Stories on Faith) and gain the support of your church council and pastor. (Pastors may choose whether or not they wish to be part of the cohort team.) Cohort churches are selected by the Faith Formation team through an application process.
Contact your Regional Connector for information on how to apply, and watch for announcements in Thrive's monthly e-newsletter. (subscribe!)
What is the time commitment for our church?
Each cohort congregation signs a covenant that outlines the commitments. Each congregation’s team commits to the following:
- meeting at least once a month
- participating in two or more Faith Formation team-led roundtable discussions
- connecting with their regional coach at least once a month
What are the expected outcomes of our participation?
Cohort churches will
- gain an increased awareness of what shapes their congregation’s existing faith formation culture
- come to better understand what a healthy grace-shaped culture looks like.
- implement two or three significant, ongoing steps forward in cultivating practices that promise to form a stronger faith formation culture.
- develop a vision and strategy for continuing this trajectory over the next five years.
Is there a financial commitment?
The financial commitment for your church is minimal. Each congregation is requested to contribute approximately $500 to Faith Formation, through an offering or whatever means the congregation chooses.
Past Cohorts
Family Faith Formation Cohort
Led by regional connectors, this cohort explored creative ways to
- equip families to grow in faith at home
- build on existing family patterns and strengths
- meaningfully connect home and church.
Participant Churches
Exeter CRC in Exeter, ON
Kortright Presbyterian in Guelph, ON
Olympia CRC in Olympia, WA
Parklane CRC in Portland, OR
Smithers CRC in Smithers, BC
Third CRC in Kalamazoo, MI
Vogel Center CRC in McBain, MI
Water Street Church in Guelph, ON
Emerging Leaders and Seasoned Saints Cohort
In this cohort, ten congregations focused on faith formation for seasoned saints: People in the “third third” of life (60+ years old). An additional ten congregations focused on faith formation for emerging leaders (16 - 30 years old). Goals were to:
- identify the health of their congregational culture and their faith formation framework. Explore how emerging leaders and people in the “third third” of life can be faithful to God’s call as they progress through life transitions.
- discover concrete ways that these two demographics can become a significant support to each other’s faith walk.
- discern what practices and programs are already working well to support these two groups.
- experiment with two or three ways to further strengthen faith for these two groups.
Participant Churches
14th Street CRC, Holland MI
Emmanuel CRC, Calgary AB
Fellowship CRC, Grandville MI
First CRC, Taber AB
Fleetwood CRC, Surrey BC
Hope Fellowship CRC, Denver CO
Ladner CRC, Delta BC
Maranatha CRC, Lethbridge AB
Mount Hope CRC, Mount Hope ON
Oak Hills Church, Beaverton OR
Second CRC, Grand Haven MI
The Village Church, Thorold ON
Virtual South Ontario Young Adults Group
Links
Strengthening Your Faith Formation Culture Cohort
Participants identified and assessed the health of their congregation’s culture and the practices that shape it. They discerned which practices were best suited for strengthening their culture and experimented with two or three self-identified initiatives to strengthen their trajectory.
Participant Churches
All Nations CRC, Halifax NS
Anaheim CRC, Anaheim CA
Ancaster CRC, Ancaster ON
Bellevue CRC, Bellevue WA
Bethel CRC, Sioux Center IA
Community CRC, Kitchener ON
Corsica CRC, Corsica SD
Covenant CRC, Sioux Center IA
First CRC, Grand Rapids MI
Granite Springs Church, Lincoln CA
Immanuel CRC, Hamilton ON
Jubilee Fellowship Church, St. Catharines ON
Meadowlands Fellowship CRC, Ancaster ON
Nelson Avenue Community Church, Burnaby BC
New Life CRC, Guelph ON
Olympia CRC, WA
South Grandville CRC, Grandville, MI
Valley CRC, Binghamton, NY
Building Blocks of Faith Cohort
The Building Blocks of Faith serve as a framework for strengthening cradle to grave discipleship for congregations. This cohort helped refine the Building Blocks concept and generated ideas and resources for inclusion in the Building Blocks of Faith toolkit.
Participant Churches
Bethel CRC, Princeton, MN
Cornerstone CRC, Chilliwack, BC
Covenant CRC, Edmonton, AB
Covenant CRC, Winnipeg, MB
Friendship CRC, Toronto, ON
Hillcrest CRC, Denver, CO
Immanuel CRC, Brampton, ON
Mosaic House, Edmonton AB
Sonlight CRC, Lynden, WA
Spring Lake CRC, Spring Lake, MI
Trinity CRC, Abbotsford, BC
Woody Nook CRC, Lacombe, AB
