DEVELOPMENT

Another advantage of a residency within a normal faith family is that pastoral opportunities abound and are not limited to one particular “ministry” or area of service. But before they jump in, we want to help residents figure out (or affirm) who they are and how they fit into both our faith family and the residency.

After acceptance, but prior to the start of the program, Pastoral Residents will organize and participate in a Giftedness Workshop within their current community and submit a copy of their discovery to the Residency Coordinator. In addition, residents will complete the Clifton Strengths Assessment and Integrated9 Enneagram Individual Report with codes provided to them by Christ City. Finally, during the program's first month, residents will work through a personal & vocational development plan[1] with the lead pastor to set their course through the program as a point of reference and evaluation throughout.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to helping the residents know themselves, the pre-program and early assessments also allow Christ City’s leadership to see how best to match residents with specific needs within our faith family. In collaboration with the elders, the lead pastor will provide the resident with a project-based job description.

For example, currently, the faith family needs someone to develop a strategic plan, including the economic implications, for Christ City Kids in the Gathering, in GC, in the community, and in partnership with the Anchored Collective. We have on-the-ground coordinators, curriculum developers, and volunteers for Sunday Gatherings, but what the faith family needs is someone who can spend time thinking through how we best communicate and connect what we do on Sunday with our emphasis on everyday discipleship, especially in a way that helps visitors envision their family being apart of our family. This is the kind of project a pastoral resident could lead, allowing the resident to develop management and equipping skills by working with some of our faith family’s best and brightest.

While the project-based job descriptions may vary in exact length and time commitment needed, they should be projects that can be completed within six to twelve months. These projects can include things within and outside our faith family rhythms and will be a part of the residents' regular evaluations.

One thing that will be consistent throughout the program is the residents' participation in Gospel Community. Our aim is for every resident to be overseeing at least three Gospel Communities by the end of the program. If you have the character and skills to connect and equip multiple groups of people for the purpose of following Jesus’ lead—while also leading specific projects here and there—you are pastoring a church! So, a part of every resident's responsibilities will be to start, lead, and hand off a Gospel Community. Pastoring a Gospel Community—getting to know the people, visiting their homes and workplaces, walking with them through the ups and downs of life, and raising leaders within—is a primary responsibility for all residents and one that we will help them succeed at.

Lastly, residents participate in forming and evaluating our faith family’s weekly (and yearly) liturgy. Residents will participate in weekly “Gathering Evaluation & Planning Meetings,” where they will observe how we seek to make every element of the Gathering connect, not just on Sunday, but into everyday life, and contribute to doing so better. While we believe teaching is done, often best, in smaller and individual settings (i.e., in Gospel Community and regular shepherding), we also believe that those called to the pastoral vocation should be competent preachers who can lead the entire body through their communication. All residents will have the opportunity to preach/teach in our Sunday Gatherings, with the number of opportunities growing each year of the program.

In addition to the functional responsibilities, Pastoral Residents will also:

  • Participate in weekly staff meetings

  • Meet bi-weekly with the lead pastor (for soul, schedule, and practical mentoring)

  • Attend elder and leadership team meetings (usually three times a month)

  • Meet monthly with an assigned elder/leader within the faith family

  • Participate in the monthly Anchored Collective lunches (with options for more involvement)

  • Participate in resident & residency program evaluations every six months

  • Participate in yearly Made To Flourish retreat (w/spouse) and monthly Residency calls

  • Develop and maintain financial support relationships


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[1] In addition to personal specifics, the plan includes “key texts” that the resident will work through within the program, including certain scriptures and sermon series that are foundational in Christ City and particular books, articles, & podcasts that have proven influential in our faith family’s development.