Leadership Focus
Leadership Focus is an online ministry development tool, designed to equip and strengthen leaders in the Church of God through relational training with a missional perspective. We are fully committed to serve you through your credentialing by supporting you in your development as a leader.
While this tool is the format for preparing credentials candidates, it is also relevant and effective for pastors who want to stretch and grow in their leadership skills, raise leadership lids, and develop effective resources and abilities in training and equipping their congregations for effective kingdom impact.
Available as an English or Spanish track!
(Disponible en Español)
Leadership Focus
Leadership Focus is an online ministry development tool, designed to equip and strengthen leaders in the Church of God through relational training with a missional perspective. We are fully committed to serve you through your credentialing by supporting you in your development as a leader.
While this tool is the format for preparing credentials candidates, it is also relevant and effective for pastors who want to stretch and grow in their leadership skills, raise leadership lids, and develop effective resources and abilities in training and equipping their congregations for effective kingdom impact.
Little did I know that I would be adopted, loved, and cared for by a multicultural, long-distance, Christ-centered family in Leadership Focus.
— Judy Sheppard, Leadership Focus graduate
FOUR FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
FAQs
How is Leadership Focus structured?
LF is an online program of 6 courses that tackle the core elements of developing healthy, missionally focused ministry leaders. Candidates are assigned to a cluster group with whom they will journey through the process. Each cluster is comprised of 4 to 6 individuals from a variety of locations across the country, and guided by an experienced coach for each course. Each course is 6 months in duration, so by the end of the process, a candidate will have spent 3 years with their cluster group members and 6 different coaches. The 6 courses are: Commencement, Character, Competencies, Confessions, Connectivity, Celebrations
Who might want to be part of Leadership Focus?
- Individuals who sense a call to missions or ministry.
- Individuals who are answering a call to ministry and seeking credentials within the Church of God.
- Pastors who are life-long learners and want to strengthen competencies, skills, biblical knowledge and ministry renewal.
- A Credentials Committee may also determine that Leadership Focus is a helpful tool for guiding some pastors in refocusing, retooling, or even a restoration process.
Does Leadership Focus actually credential the candidates who participate?
No, Leadership Focus is not a credentialing agent. We will train the assembly administrator, credentials staff, and credentials committee in the most effective use of LF. However, it remains exclusively the responsibility of the identified credentialing body to determine appropriate credentials.
How long does it take a candidate to complete the program?
A candidate will need a minimum of 30-60 days to complete the registration and enrollment process. After being approved by their Credentials Committee, candidates are placed into a cluster and begin the 3-year program either in the Fall or Spring session.
What are the candidate fees?
- Course 1 is $275.
- This covers all their assessments throughout the journey, a one-on-one debrief with a professional counselor, a written report that goes to the Credentials Committee, and the administrative support necessary to begin the process.
- Courses 2-6 are $150 each
- Candidates are eligible for a full scholarship for Course 3 (provided through a grant) if the candidate attends ALL Course 2 cluster meetings and completes all Course 2 assignments.
- Books are approximately $100- $150 depending on where they are purchased.
- The total cost to a candidate over the 3-year process is $900-$1,050 plus the cost of books.
Do I need to go through Leadership Focus if I'm already ordained in another denomination?
We highly value the ordination process and ministry experience that others bring to the Church of God. By no means is a required Leadership Focus track meant to deny that advantage. The “Leadership Focus Already Ordained Track” (LFAO) is meant to introduce incoming ministers to the Church of God theologically, relationally, and as practitioners. High value is given to the introduction of Church of God history, heritage, and leadership not just within their local region or assembly, but nationally and globally.
The LFAO track is one course that takes place over one year. There are five areas of emphasis, as well as five 2-hour online cluster meetings during the course. This specialized track assumes some competency has been achieved through ministry experience and encourages additional formal, accredited, theological education if not already completed. Each assembly may require additional work for their candidates to be considered for ordination, which is determined at their sole discretion.
How do I sign up for Leadership Focus?
Anyone interested in Leadership Focus needs to register through their state, assembly or region. Please contact your local assembly leadership for more information or contact Lori Fast, executive director of Leadership Focus, at LFast@chog.org.
GET IN TOUCH!
Please feel free to contact us at your convenience with any additional questions, concerns or needs that you might have as we explore how to work together in a united flow of training, equipping and ministry that unleashes a new generation of leaders for greatest kingdom impact.
To contact executive director Lori Fast, fill out the form at the link below:
All 49 assemblies in the United States, Eastern Canada, the School of Theology, the Hispanic Concilio, and Global Strategy have now partnered with Leadership Focus to provide a comprehensive and consistent approach to training and equipping emerging leaders for ministry and mission. Additionally, the 2017 Credentials Manual reflects the use of Leadership Focus as the standard for all candidates in the credentialing track.
For more information about participating as a candidate, please contact your assembly administrator. Or call Lori Fast, executive director: 800-848-2464, ext. 2402.
GET IN TOUCH!
Please feel free to contact us at your convenience with any additional questions, concerns or needs that you might have as we explore how to work together in a united flow of training, equipping and ministry that unleashes a new generation of leaders for greatest kingdom impact.
To contact Lori Fast, Executive Director, fill out the online form below:
All 49 assemblies in the United States, Eastern Canada, the School of Theology, the Hispanic Concilio, and Global Strategy have now partnered with Leadership Focus to provide a comprehensive and consistent approach to training and equipping emerging leaders for ministry and mission. Additionally, the 2017 Credentials Manual reflects the use of Leadership Focus as the standard for all candidates in the credentialing track.
For more information about participating as a candidate, please contact your assembly administrator. Or call Lori Fast, executive director: 800-848-2464, ext. 2402.