DurhamCaresJourney to Thriving
Journey to Thriving is a program where congregations learn about their community, reflect on their congregational identity, and adapt to our changing world.
Congregations in Durham, with at least four of the six spots in each cohort reserved for African American churches · Over the next five years; the program is currently full through 2027. The Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope runs Friday afternoon through Sunday evening on a w
From durhamcares.org/journey-to-thriving ↗About this program
The program is currently full through 2027.
Over the next five years, through the Journey to Thriving program, DurhamCares will work with three cohorts of six congregations in Durham that will participate in the Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope, engage in a Learning Cohort, and develop a concrete Adaptive Plan.
The Journey to Thriving program will include: A fully-scholarshipped customized pilgrimage for your congregation; A facilitated Learning Cohort with five other congregations in Durham for fellowship, support, and deepening understanding; Professional workshops and trainings on the following topics: Your city and neighborhood's history, Researching your community's history, Present day resources, gifts, and challenges in Durham, Developing, updating, and reflecting on your congregation's mission, vision, and values, Adapting to our changing context; Consultation to support your congregation in refining its mission, vision and values; Consultation to support your congregation in creating an Adaptive Plan; Books and other curricular resources for all participants in the program.
All congregations that complete the Journey to Thriving program will implement a concrete Adaptive Plan and work with DurhamCares to evaluate its impact for future years. Congregations in cohorts 2 and 3 will receive a mini-grant of $3,000 to implement their Adaptive Plan.
Journey to Thriving has one chief aim: the mutual thriving between congregations and their communities. To accomplish this, we have three goals: Know their Community, Know their Congregation, and Make an Adaptive Plan. All congregations in the program will complete the program by creating and implementing a concrete action plan.
Questions
Who is a good fit for Journey to Thriving?
We encourage you to apply to Journey to Thriving if your congregation: Wants to learn about your community, reflect on your congregational identity, and adapt to our changing world; Is committed to having a clergyperson and two lay leaders participate in the entire program; Is committed to participating in the Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope as part of the program; Is committed to involving your whole congregation in the process through regular updates and opportunities for feedback.
What is the commitment for Journey to Thriving?
Participating congregations commit to having three people, including at least one clergyperson and one lay leader; participate in the Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope; participate in the year-long Learning Cohort; lead the congregation in developing implementing, and evaluating the Adaptive Plan; promote the Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope in your congregation to generate signups; and communicate the program to the whole congregation.
Who funds Journey to Thriving?
The Journey to Thriving program is made possible by a Thriving Congregations Initiative grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Details
- Who
- Congregations in Durham, with at least four of the six spots in each cohort reserved for African American churches
- When
- Over the next five years; the program is currently full through 2027. The Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope runs Friday afternoon through Sunday evening on a w
- Where
- Durham
