Each Community of Practice has a Facilitator who is paid to serve in that role. They are responsible for maintaining the focus of the group and assisting the group in learning with intentionality.
Criteria for Facilitators
- Experienced clergy who love their focus for ministry (local church, chaplaincy, etc.) – and have authorized standing in the Southeast Conference unless granted an exception
- Understand the challenges of ministry in their focus of ministry – in local churches/chaplain settings
- Deeply faithful and theologically inquisitive and articulate
- Emotionally mature
- Intellectually curious, and see themselves as learners, eager to continue their own development
- Respected by peers
- Have an appreciation for the wider church
- Caring of others, while also maintaining appropriate and respectful boundaries
- Confident in their own gifts, but do not see themselves as “experts.”
- Listeners before talkers
- Good at asking questions that invite others to explore issues more deeply
- Respectful of different perspectives
- Comfortable with technology since most groups will meet via Zoom
Role of Facilitator
Host: The group facilitator arranges for the space to be welcoming and hospitable. If meeting face to face this includes setting up the room, putting on the coffee, arranging for snacks, etc. If meeting via Zoom, creating a welcoming and hospitable spirit.
Administrator: The group facilitator maintains the meeting calendar, sends reminders, keeps track of the agenda from meeting to meeting, writes and sends reports as needed.
Worship Leader: Some groups rotate worship leadership among members. However, many rely on the group facilitator to plan and lead worship, giving participants an opportunity to fully worship.
Facilitator: The facilitator does not see him/her/themselves as an expert or try to act like one. The facilitator attends to the group’s process, listening more than speaking, asking questions rather than making statements, trusting the wisdom within the group and drawing it out, working to help the conversation move more deeply. The facilitator invites group members at every meeting to review learning, evaluate the group’s process, and discern the next steps.
Covenant Keeper: The facilitator calls the group back when it strays from its best intentions, including ensuring that air time is shared, complaining is kept to a minimum, advice-giving is restrained, and every member is held in high regard both personally and pastorally. The facilitator seeks to create an atmosphere of safety and mutual accountability, following up in the next meeting regarding goals and actions that clergy may have set for themselves.
Compensation
It is expected that groups will meet monthly for 11 months out of the year. Facilitators will receive a stipend of $1,000 for the year, being paid twice a year.