Thriving Congregations: A Series on Leadership
The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture supports faith leaders as they seek to reimagine their ministries and help their congregations thrive in a time of significant religious and social change. This series will help you consider your own leadership style, the state of your organization and the needs of your community.
You may attend one or all events. Sessions will build upon each other.
Location in Long Beach will be shared with registered attendees.
The Long Beach Church Collective and Biola University’s Rosemead School of Psychology are partners with CRCC on Thriving Congregations, Thriving Leaders, of which this series is a part.
What does it mean to Thrive in 2024?
Monday, June 24, 2024
10 am – 11:30 am PDT
Unpack what it means to thrive and be a faith leader in 2024.
In introducing “Thriving Congregations, Thriving Leaders,” scholars from the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture and Biola University Rosemead School of Psychology will share how you can boost your own wellbeing and your organization’s vitality.
The Jazz of Leadership
Monday, July 29, 2024
10 am – 11:30 am PDT
If you want your congregation’s work in the world to be more than background Muzak, you need to know how to lead like Duke Ellington. Enjoy live jazz music along with leadership lessons from Ronald McCurdy, professor of music at the USC Thornton School of Music, and Ken Perlman, adjunct professor of management and organization at the USC Marshall School of Business.
Navigating by Your North Star
Monday, September 23, 2024
10 am – 11:30 am PDT
Guide your organization and stay on course – even through troubled waters.
Management professor Ken Perlman will return to help faith leaders think about the direction of their congregations and how to think strategically and lead change within organizations. He will bring his experience navigating challenges as a business consultant and a lay congregational leader in his own faith community. This session will build upon and follow up with conversations that arise during the Jazz of Leadership session.
Assessing Your Community
Monday, October 28, 2024
10 am – 11:30 am PDT
Lead your organization to meet your community’s needs.
How well does your congregation know and engage with its neighbors and serve their needs? Learn how to conduct a community assessment from Michael Mata, director of network engagement and leadership development with TogetherLA. Mata has dedicated over three decades to designing and administering community and faith-based urban programs and directed the Transformational Urban Leadership program at Azusa Pacific Seminary.
Wellness and Wellbeing: Caring for Self and Community
Monday, January 27, 2025
Watch videos from this session
Anyone can experience burn out – pastors, preachers and even volunteers. Leaders can help their congregations thrive by maintaining their own wellbeing and helping their teams do so as well.
Experts in mental and physical health will share their perspectives and practical exercises to support your wellbeing and engage with your members on wellness issues.
We will address how congregations can respond to personal and collective traumas, such as our recent tragedies.
Speakers
- Dr. Kimiko Yamada, a USC professor of physical therapy, is an expert in community health education.
- Bishop Byron L. Smith Sr. is a clinical therapist and pastor who has completed over 3,000 mental health clinical face-to-face hours.
Join us to find out how to be resilient for yourself and for others.
Youth and Elders: Fostering Intergenerational Connections
Monday, February 24, 2025
10 am – 12:30 am PDT
Many congregations are aging along with their members. Young adults’ religious participation is declining, even as they yearn for meaning and connection with other generations.
Experts in aging and religion will speak to the needs and desires of people across stages of life. We will discuss practical ways that congregational leaders can reach more people of all ages and bring them together.
Speakers
- Richard Flory has written multiple books about youth and young adults based on the National Study of Youth and Religion.
- Gretchen Alkema is a nationally recognized expert in health and aging, with more than 30 years of experience in care systems to improve the lives of older adults and their family caregivers.
- Rev. Melinda Dodge will provide a practitioner’s perspective on bringing together an intergenerational community through Being the Church, Long Beach.
Join us to bridge generations and create stronger, more connected communities.
Setting Up Your Organization to Thrive
Monday, March 24, 2025
10 am – 11:30 am
Want to launch a community initiative?
Join us to learn how to conduct organizational and congregational assessments. These processes will allow you to better understand your faith community’s needs and assets.
Rev. Frank Jackson, Jr. of Village Solutions Foundation brings his legal, ministry and nonprofit background to this workshop and offers faith leaders practical tools and guidance. He will also share context on new federal policies on partnerships with faith organizations.
Assess how your congregation or faith organization can make its greatest impact.
Flourishing in Ministry
Saturday, April 26, 2025
Join us to learn about how to flourish in ministry with a model of daily wellbeing, resilience, thriving and authenticity.
The Flourishing in Ministry project examines what motivates pastors to engage in ministry—and what disrupts their wellbeing. Clergy—often working with lean resources—can give so much to others and experience a sense of fulfillment and growth in their daily work lives.
You also will find out how to engage in a program that allows pastors to receive support for their wellbeing through group and individual Flourishing in Ministry coaching in the coming year.
Psychologist Chris Adams directs the Mental Health and theChurch Initiative at the Rosemead School.