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Pastoral excellence team in place
Lawrence Peers
> Return to main story on pastoral excellence team Rev. Dr. Lawrence Peers Job description: To provide training, development of resources and opportunities for more experienced clergy to engage in reflection and conversation, integrating theology and the practice of ministry. Coordinate focus colloquies. Experience: Education: Related Activities: |
April, 2003
Working to promote clergy excellence is nothing new for Lawrence Peers. He’s been doing it for years.
Most recently, he has been a field consultant for the Alban Institute, working with congregations and their leaders on various issues, including strategic planning, ministry team coaching and conflict.
As part of his Alban work, he also initiated a pilot project of “clergy community of practice,” which focused on enabling a group of colleagues to work together at theological reflection, case studies, congregational studies and action processes.
And, for 10 years, he served as the Education and Research Director at the national setting of the Unitarian Universalist Association, where he developed and facilitated programs for clergy and lay leaders in congregational growth and change.
“I’m excited about lending my expertise in this area to the Pastoral Excellence program,” Peers said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for the Conference to make a difference not only for ministers and congregations but also for ministry at large.”
Peers will work 20 hours a week as the Associate for Pastoral Development.
“It’s a way to break out of an isolation mode, a lone ranger mode, to look at how ministers can be together to enhance ministry in the UCC and in their own settings,” he said.
Peers said the five-year Pastoral Excellence Project gives clergy a chance to focus on their own development in a way not generally possible.
“For clergy, there is always this tension, this feeling that ‘there’s so much to do in my congregation that I can’t bear to take time out to learn, to grow and to support other colleagues,’” he said. “There’s a permission given here by this five-year program for them to take that time.”
Peers said he hopes the Conference will learn through this program how ministers can best be in touch with one another in ways that are informative and supportive for everyone.
Some of Peers initial work will be recruiting leaders from among the clergy who can be trained to work with various professional clergy groups that are formed.
Associate Conference Minister Susan Dickerman, coordinator of the project, said Peers brings a “wealth of experience, publishing and workshop leadership to the position.”
Peers is a member of the First Church in Cambridge, Congregational, and is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. He is in the process of seeking dual standing in the United Church of Christ.