PaCE (Pursuing Clergy Excellence) is an initiative that began in 2015 to facilitate peer learning groups where together leaders can engage in deep conversation and share ideas. From the transformational experience, clergy have supported each other to expand food pantries, refine missions, broaden ministries and change lives.
“PaCE groups offer far more than just learning together. They are an opportunity to care for one another’s souls,” said the program’s coordinator, Rev. Gina Yeske, who is GNJ’s Director of Small Groups and a newly-appointed lead pastor at Bloomsbury UMC.
Rev. Yeske knows all too well how when clergy support one another and ask how is your soul, great things can happen. Back in 2018 Yeske along with Gabrielle Martone, Frances Noll, Vicki Brendler, Francie Preston, Diane Dyson, June Tamburro, Lynn Mears, Jean Arlea Eriksen and Jana Purkis-Brash joined together to become the “Salsa Sisters” who later published Salsa Sisters’ One Year Devotional: Sisters Alive in Leadership, Spirituality, and the Arts.
“Although we’ll be online this time, the same connectedness and encouragement will be there. Amid all the amazing things clergy have been doing over the past few months, I can’t wait to see what transformations come out of PaCE this time!”
Three PaCE programs will be offered via Zoom, starting in October. Details are below:
Breakthrough Preaching PaCE Group
Facilitator: Multiple Facilitators
Dan Gepford: TBA
Gabrielle Corbett: Monday, 10:00 a.m. (once a month)
Josh Shuster: Tuesday, 6:00 p.m. (every other week)
Will Wilson: TBA
Using GNJ Breakthrough materials as the primary resource for sermons, this group will work together as peer learners to become better communicators of God’s word. The group will work on studying the scripture, developing a message and delivering effective sermons.
When it IS all about ME
Meeting Time: First Thursday of the month from 10:00 a.m. until noon
Facilitator: Iraida Ruiz de Porras
Explore the benefits of living in a space where stress is released and creativity is unleashed (transformation) that will build on the patterns of liminality (transition) in the constantly changing world, setting and ministries which create anxiety and stress. As exercise programs and diets are not made “one size fits all,” explore spiritual exercises and find the right one for self. From meditation, contemplation, examine, journaling, movement exercises, mantras, mandalas, photography, music and art, the goal is to become aware, mindful and compassionate with self and by using these tools to learn how to experience joy daily and enhance your gifts and graces in ministry and family life.
Spiritual Formation for Clergy
Meeting Time: First meeting is Tuesday Oct. 20, 1:00-3:00 p.m. Group will decide the best date and time after that meeting.
Facilitator: Peter Jamieson
Exploring spiritual formation practices that will help you be more contemplative in your daily lives. This group will help you enrich your current spiritual practices as well as discover new ways to enrich in your relationship with God.
To learn more about PaCE and the upcoming programs that will be offered, please visit www.gnjumc.org/pace. Registration opens September 20 and closes October 20.