Eastern Canada Leadership Development Network
(Frequently Asked Questions)
1. What is the Eastern Canada Leadership Development Network?
Eastern Canada LDN is a church based, mentor driven, adult learning environment for lay leaders wanting to grow their leadership capacity for further service in the church. The ECLDN desires to help churches develop its present and future leaders by providing a structure in which individuals who think they are being called to some form of ministry can explore that calling, learn the things they need to know, develop the skills they need to possess, and become the people they need to become in order to lead ministry in a healthy, sustainable way.
2. What's the purpose of the Eastern Canada LDN?
Our regional Leadership Development Network is one of 24 Leadership Development Networks presently being sponsored in part by the Christian Reformed Home Missions across North America. In recent years, the Christian Reformed Church has become increasingly aware that there is an advantage to training church leaders in local settings that involve ‘hands on’ ministry. In this way, the leader being trained remains a part of the culture in which he or she will likely serve, so that the training remains contextually relevant. In this opportune time of increasing mission opportunity right here in Canada, coupled with a growing need for trained lay leadership, the Eastern Canada LDN is designed to work alongside of local churches to help raise up empowered lay leaders to assist in bringing in the harvest that Jesus has pointed us to.
3. What kind of things will I learn in the Eastern Canada LDN?
The goal of our LDN is to develop ministry leaders in both new and continuing churches that have a healthy combination of humble, godly character; biblical and theological knowledge; and practical ‘hands on ‘ministry skills. You will be challenged to grow in your leadership skills, to develop a heart that is increasingly soft for those who do not yet know Jesus, and to be a person who serves the church with integrity and confidence.
4. How is the learning structured?
Our LDN is an adult learning environment that builds on interactive learning with other adults, and a personal accountability relationship with a mentor. Monthly session are led by gifted teachers and ministry leaders from around our province. The learnings are built upon monthly assigned readings of 'cutting edge' ministry books. Lots of time for peer interactions with others involved in the program is built into the program.
5. How is the Eastern Canada LDN training different from the more traditional classroom model of teaching?
We follow adult learning principles in our training, focusing on lots of interaction and leaving the primary responsibility for setting learning goals with the participant. Rather than focusing primarily on cognitive skills, the LDN provides a balance of character, knowledge, and ministry skills training. Persons in the LDN apply what they are learning in a real life ministry setting throughout the training process. The individual mentoring makes the LDN adaptable to one’s own individual growth needs.
6. Who is the Eastern Canada LDN designed to help?
The participants in the LDN will be primarily those adult lay leaders presently involved in active ministry in their local churches who are not in a position to attend seminary or a Christian College. While the LDN will give participants a basic knowledge of biblical, theological, and historical materials important to ministry in the Christian Reformed Church, this will only be one part of the curriculum focus. Besides knowledge in these areas, the LDN will spend much time on developing godly character and on learning practical ministry skills.
7. How much time would my participation in the Eastern Canada LDN take?
We estimate that in addition to the monthly sessions, your involvement will take roughly 15 hours per month. You will need to be present for our monthly sessions, meet with your mentor at least once each month for up to 2 hours, read the assigned scripture reading, complete the other assigned readings each month, and faithfully serve in a local ministry setting. The program is finished in three years.
8. I do not think I will ever serve as a paid staff member in a church or ministry. Can I still be a part of the ECLDN?
Yes. The only requirement is that you be serving in a volunteer leadership position of a local congregation or in a local ministry serving the community you live in.
9. How will I find a mentor?
Because of the values of our ECLDN, anyone wanting to become a participant is expected to suggest some names of possible mentors as a part of their application process. However our staff team will have an important part in insuring that every participant is matched with a mentor who is open to taking part in the mentor training program, and who will be a good match for them. As an important step in the Orientation process, a staff member will work alongside each participant to help identify a Mentor that would be a good match for them.
10. At what time of the year can someone begin the LDN training?
New participants can apply to the program for the coming year before the application deadline for that coming year. The deadline for applying for 2010-2011 is August 1, 2010.
11. Where will the Eastern Canada LDN meet?
In order to make the program accessible for as many people as possible, the ECLDN will meet in two locations for the coming year.
Our Ontario West site will continue to meet at the Christian Reformed Denominational Building in Burlington and will continue to offer all three years of the program.
Our Ontario East site will meet at Fellowship CRC in Brighton and will offer all three years of the program in 2010-2011.
12. Is it possible to get college credit for participation in the ECLDN?
No and maybe. The ECLDN is not accredited and credit for work completed is not automatically transferable to a college or seminary setting. We have no plans to seek accreditation. However, graduates of the program may wish to explore ordination in the Christian Reformed Church as a Ministry Associate.
13. Will the ECLDN help me find a position at the conclusion of training?
There are no guarantees for ministry placement as a result of the program. However we firmly believe that participants who give focused energy to developing as much as possible during the LDN will be better prepared for a wide variety of ministry positions.
14. What is the cost for the program?
New applicants are expected to pay a registration fee of $130.00 as a part of their application. This fee is designated towards the annual tuition costs upon acceptance into the program.
For the coming year (September 2010-June 2011) the cost for the program is $1300.00. Participants can either pay for the program in full at the first session or can submit post-dated monthly checks at that time. These fees help cover the administration and staff fees, the costs of assigned books and reading materials, and helps cover the costs of ongoing mentor training. This fee also covers the costs of the annual retreat held the first weekend of June.
15. Is financial aid available?
The ECLDN has recently received a generous gift that will allow us to offer partial Diversity Scholarships for non-Caucasian applicants for the coming year. For more information on this, feel free to contact Barb Van Giessen (West site) or Terry Kloosterman (East site).
We encourage other applicants who have difficulty with the monthly fee to ask their church to support them through leadership training funds or through individual sponsors in the church.
16. If I want to begin participating, what is my next step?
Return to the APPLY page found on the menu and follow the instructions found there.
