We are excited to offer the Cokesbury Leadership Academy. Since 1997, Cokesbury has grown to approximately 4,000 members with an average attendance of over 2,800 per weekend. Cokesbury now ranks #15 of over 35,000 United Methodist Churches in America in attendance. These gains have no simply come from our location. there was an intentional effort made to "change the culture" of the congregation so that we would become a more healthy church. This led to a reaching out in dynamic mission work within the city of Knoxville, an accelerated growth in membership, and more important statistic, worship attendance. Cokesbury draws worshipers from surrounding counties and is known for vital worship and exciting mission work with the least, the last, and the lost.
It is our belief that what has happened here can be replicated in varying degrees in other churches. This Academy is not about teaching strategies or creating programs but will explore what it means to "change the culture" of a congregation so that it becomes healthy enough to grow and become outwardly directed. To use Jesus' parable of the soils, it is always easier to keep throwing new seeds at soil that is not prepared and Jesus reminds us that it is in vain. That is why good preaching often goes unheard, great music lands on deaf ears, and wonderful programs have little or no success attached to great efforts. It is much more difficult to "cultivate the soil" and prepare it to receive the good see than to simply come up with a new seed to try on unprepared soil.
For nine months, we will explore in depth how to change the culture of a congregation to make them more receptive to the seeds that God would plant among us.
In summary, we are embarking on a spiritual quest seeking to find the keys that will unlock the doors to creative leadership and dynamic ministry.
"I can already tell a tremendous difference in my leadership confidence over the past year".
"This experience has given me what I need to be a successful pastor and church administrator".
"No doubt, I will make many mistakes in leadership in my future ministry. One mistake I will not make will be to fail to claim the role of leader and vision setter as my own".
"This experience will help me to follow the vision God has set before me - even when the going is tough".
"I have been given the tools to lay the ground work to 'change the cultures' of the churches I pastor".
"I have a more realistic picture of what the journey can be and what it is like trying to 'turn around' churches".
"This experience has given me new passion and vision for ministry. It has shown me that I do not have to wait on the next 'great' appointment, I can do great ministry now!"
The participant must agree to attend each session of the Academy and any other required meeting agreed upon by the staff and class at the first session. The all day meetings will begin on the 3rd Tuesday of September and conclude on the 3rd Tuesday of May. Class hours will be from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with small variances. Lunch is provided.
Each participant will be required to purchase suggested reading materials throughout the course of 9 months. There will be time given to discussion and questions surrounding the suggested reading material.
The cost of this Leadership Academy will be $300 for the fall semester and $300 for the spring semester. Partial scholarships are available based on financial need.
Click here to register online, or call Karen Cobb at (865) 246-0414 for more information.