FORMING A GROUP

The Institute for Clergy Excellence Peer Groups (ICE) fosters excellence through peer group learning experiences that provide collegial support, spiritual nurturing, and ongoing renewal in ministry by focusing on the study topic of a group’s choice. We encourage you to look for diversity within your group — age, gender, race or denomination — the formation process is sometimes ragged, but rewarding in the end. If you are interested in forming a group, call Larry Dill, 256-489-4231 or e-mail him, ld@theice.us.

How it Works:

  • A Sparkplug (or lead recruiter) for a group begins to ask other pastors to join him/her for a three-year study period

Basic requirements for the commitment:

1) Group formation is complete when eight pastors commit to the three-year study
2) The group will devise its own three-year study topic
3) The group will receive $80,000 for their three-year study plus a trained facilitator
4) Each pastor and the pastor’s church will contribute a set fee to support their three-year study
5) Scholarships are available

  • group2Each pastor then asks another to join the group until a group of eight peers is ready to define their study plan

  • When you have your group of eight please call Larry Dill, 256-489-4231 or e-mail him, ld@theice.us and notify him about your group.

  • ICE will provide a trained facilitator to the peer group as a paid process leader

  • Facilitators are alumni of previous peer groups and are also in a Facilitator peer group that meets regularly for training and to share their learnings about the program

  • With the Facilitator’s help, the peer group will devise a three-year plan

  • The peer group will present their proposal to the Facilitator peer-group for approval. It is a rigorous process. The Facilitator peer group will evaluate their plan; ask questions; clarify issues and then make recommendations to strengthen the proposal if needed

  • The peer group will make necessary adjustments to their proposal and submit them to the Facilitator peer group once more if necessary

  • The Facilitator peer group approves the proposal and the group is ready to begin their three-year study

  • Typically there are two study modules a year.

  • The group must make its own travel arrangements and apply to the ICE office for pre-payments or reimbursements.

  • Upon completion of a module, each group member is responsible for a critical reflection report which answers these questions:

In a minimum of one page critically reflect upon this experience. We are particularly interested in:
1) Transformational stories
2) How you will apply what you have learned?
3) What does this mean to you?
4) Assess the value of your facilitator in this experience.
5) Resources you would recommend or not recommend (people, places, things to do)

  • This report is due within 60 days of the study module and must be in before reimbursements may be paid. If the entire group has not reported it may affect pre-payments for the next study module

  • At the end of the three-year study period pastors once again gather with the entire facilitator peer group to report on the three-year experience and submit a written report

©2009 The Institute for Clergy Excellence Website Design, SEO, Charlotte NC