EDGE

Is your community of faith interested in innovation? Is it:

• Wanting to learn about new ideas of what church can be
• Curious about its options and possibilities for new directions
• Open to new partnerships and collaboration opportunities with other churches and community organizations.

Use this Signpost, the fourth in EDGE's Signpost Series, to explore how innovative action can take your community of faith in new directions that benefit both it and the community around it, and take another step on the pathway to change.

Class Structure:
Individual Study: 10 hours

If your community of faith doesn't tell its story, how will people know about what you have to offer? Learn how your community of faith can:

• Clarify its offering and build confidence in its ability to deliver it
• Tell story in compelling ways
• Develop a communication plan that meets the needs of diverse stakeholders
• Gather other people's stories to help frame and develop and frame its ministry
• Create a Theory of Change to help with planning, implementing, and evaluating programs

""Marketing and Communication"" is #5 of EDGE's ""Signposts"", but can be taken at any point in the series or as a stand-alone course.

Class Structure:
Individual Study: 5 hours

"Building Sustainability" is designed to help communities of faith learn skills, through the use of readings, videos, discussion forums and reflective questions, that:

• Encourage them to think differently and critically about how they are working in relationship to their neighbourhoods.
• Address a deep yearning in communities of faith across the network to be relevant in their communities and a backbone organization in their neighbourhoods as they become increasingly vibrant.
• Support the fundamental tools that communities of faith need to start along this path.

"Building Sustainability" is #6 of EDGE's "Signposts", but can be taken at any point in the series or as a stand-alone course.

Class Structure:
Individual Study: 10 hours

The seventh course in EDGE's Signpost Series explores the Future Directions process for communities of faith. Participants will learn about daring to reimagine, setting a vision, and developing and implementing a plan to achieve that vision - a roadmap to change that will both revitalize your community of faith and strengthen the neighbourhood and larger community in which it's located. Dream big with us...let's get started!

Class Structure:
Individual Study: 5 hours

Gather a team of 3-5 and go through the 7th course in EDGE's Signpost Series - with EDGE facilitation! An EDGE coach will explore the Future Directions process for communities of faith with your team over 8 sessions, taking you on a guided journey into discerning what's possible for your community of faith and the community around it and helping you draw the roadmap to get there. Are you ready?

Class Structure:
Individual Study: 12 hours
Zoom Sessions: 32 hours

Calling all those in rural ministry! Join your colleagues on the last Monday of each month (except July and August) on Zoom for an energizing discussion of the joys and challenges of being in rural ministry, thoughtful consideration of current needs, and exploration of how to meet them most effectively. EDGE's Rural Ministry Town Halls start in January 2023 - register once to attend each of them!

Class Structure
Zoom Meeting: 1 hour

Meetings Thursdays from September 14 - October 12, 12-1pm Eastern

Curiosity is the mindset change that we, as people of faith, are craving to begin to reimagine what church can be outside of Sunday morning. It keeps us asking questions, without needing to know "the" answers; helps us to relinquish control as we follow the Spirit, listening for guidance and discerning next steps; enables us to take leaps of faith and be courageous as we experiment. The Curiosity Cohort is for innovative leaders, curious communities of faith, and those willing to explore what might be possible!

The Curiosity Cohort is a 5-week, synchronous, experiential learning cohort offered by EDGE and The United Church of Canada. 

Class Structure
Asynchronous Content: 5 hours
Synchronous Content: 5 hours

Curiosity Cohort: Rural Focus lets you to get curious about your own community of faith and connect with other leaders in rural settings. We will engage with stories and ideas from across the country about different ways that rural congregations are bringing new energy into their communities. Curiosity Cohort: Rural Focus is for everyone who are wanting to find that piece of themselves and use it to help guide their work. All you need is a pen, journal and an open mind and heart.

This Curiosity Cohort runs on Tuesdays from 1-2pm EST, Oct 31 -​ Nov 28, 2023

Class Structure
Individual Study: 5 hours
Zoom Sessions: 5 hours

Curiosity Cohort: Rural Focus lets you to get curious about your own community of faith and connect with other leaders in rural settings. We will engage with stories and ideas from across the country about different ways that rural congregations are bringing new energy into their communities. Curiosity Cohort: Rural Focus is for everyone who are wanting to find that piece of themselves and use it to help guide their work. All you need is a pen, journal and an open mind and heart.

Thursdays from 1-2pm Eastern, June 1 - June 29

Class Structure
Asynchronous Content: 5 hours
Synchronous Content: 5 hours

This Summer, discover new ways to lead adaptively with skills you already have! During this 3-session Zoom course, Rev. Clara King will teach you about the core theory of Adaptive Leadership in a vibrant new way. The course covers: 1) The six core competencies of leadership 2) Understanding and changing the organizational culture of your congregation 3) How to view conflict as a leadership resource you can steward wisely. Leading Adaptive meets on Wednesdays- May 31, and June 14 and 28 from 7-9pm Eastern. If you are looking for usable practices to reinvigorate your day-to-day leadership journey, this is the course for you!

Class Structure
Individual Study: 4 hours
Zoom Sessions: 6 hours (3 meetings)