What is PATH?
PATH is a pastoral formation venture in service of the belief that the Church is best served by cultivating Christian leaders grounded in practical and transformational leadership skills.
Who runs PATH?
We're a growing network of United Church of Christ (UCC) pastors and congregations in Massachusetts who believe deeply in the role of the local church in forming Christian pastors and leaders. We work in covenant with local seminaries and settings of the UCC to amplify our collective gifts and skills.
Who is PATH for?
Simply put: Progressive Christian leaders.
Some of our PATH participants are matriculated Master of Divinity students, while others have never been to seminary. Some are currently serving congregations as solo pastors, while others are interns in one of our partner congregations. Some are working only in ministry, while others have a non-ministry full-time job.
All of our participants are current and future leaders of the progressive Church, committed to personal and professional growth in Christian leadership.
Some of our PATH participants are matriculated Master of Divinity students, while others have never been to seminary. Some are currently serving congregations as solo pastors, while others are interns in one of our partner congregations. Some are working only in ministry, while others have a non-ministry full-time job.
All of our participants are current and future leaders of the progressive Church, committed to personal and professional growth in Christian leadership.
Two PATHs | One Transformative Experience
PATH isn't designed only for students enrolled in seminary or divinity school, nor is it an "alternative path" to ministry.
It's a pastoral formation program designed to supplement your journey towards ordained ministry.
Whether you're enrolled in a graduate program, or working with a Committee on Ministry to serve a congregation, PATH can work for you.
It's a pastoral formation program designed to supplement your journey towards ordained ministry.
Whether you're enrolled in a graduate program, or working with a Committee on Ministry to serve a congregation, PATH can work for you.
|
Student Minister PATH
After being accepted as a PATH Fellow, you'll begin serving one of our congregations as a member of the pastoral team. You'll take one seminary accredited class, each semester, taught by PATH clergy in PATH congregations. While you'll only serve one congregation, you'll have plenty of engagement with other churches, too, through your coursework and peer learning cohorts.
This PATH is perfect for a seminary or divinity school student looking for a special internship experience, or someone considering further graduate level study in ministry in the future. We are confident that PATH is unmatched in its ability to prepare you for local church ministry. |
Lay or Licensed Minister PATH
PATH is structured in such a way that you can get all the learning benefits of the program while serving in your current context as a lay minister. Even though you won't be serving in one of our member congregations, you'll still work closely with a mentor from our pastoral team. Additionally, our seminary accredited courses will directly affect real people in your congregation through our contextualized teaching methods.
This PATH is designed for lay, authorized ministers who don't foresee earning a Master of Divinity but want to continue their pastoral formation. Our courses and mentorships will provide you with plenty of opportunities for professional growth and intellectual engagement. |
What does PATH look like?
Ministry ExperienceThe foundation of PATH is ministry.
Not the theory of ministry, but rather the living and breathing shepherding of a congregation through the seasons of community together. All of our PATH Fellows are required to serve a congregation. Some come to us already serving a congregation as a lay or licensed minister, while others are looking for an internship in a congregation. However, when you serve in one of our partner congregations, it won't be a typical seminary internship. During your multi-year, half-time placement, you'll be relied upon as a vital member of the pastoral team. You'll be asked to do a lot more than the average ministry internship, but you'll gain so much more, too. |
Classroom Learning
|
2018-2021 Course Schedule
|
Alongside your ministry, you'll take one course each Fall and Spring. The rooms in which you lead Bible studies and grief groups will transform into classrooms, where our team of pastors will serve as your professors.
As a PATH Fellow, you won't have to worry about how to translate theory into something directly applicable to a future ministry. Our seminary accredited courses are grounded in the day-to-day practice of ministry. You'll be asked to read and write, but you'll also have assignments that ask you to make your learning directly applicable to the congregation you're serving. |
Peer Collaboration
|
Ministry can be isolating. Our PATH Fellows never take the journey alone.
You'll work closely with a diversity of other fellows in your cohort as you grow in your own faith, understanding of the practice of ministry, and theological leadership. Some of the best moments of your learning will come through organic conversation with peers. |
Ministerial Supervision
|
Meet Our PATH Mentors
First Congregational Church Milton, MA Rev. John Allen |
PATH is held together by a team of faithful and effective local church pastors who believe strongly in the future of the Church.
Whether you're serving one of our partner congregations or serving a congregation of your own, all of our PATH Fellows work closely with our pastors to help you grow in your ministry. Each fellow is assigned a mentor with whom they'll have weekly check-in opportunities, in addition to informal opportunities throughout the week. |
PATH has given me such great agency and confidence in my call to ordained ministry that otherwise I wouldn't have had.
-Jenn M.