Center for Progressive Renewal partners with two UCC-related seminaries

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Center for Progressive Renewal partners with two UCC-related seminaries

> Written by Jeff Woodard
> April 18, 2011

The Rev. Cameron Trimble knows a promising trend when she sees one.

Following a recent announcement that UCC-related
Andover Theological Seminary has formed a
partnership with the Alban Institute to provide
continuing education for clergy and laity, the
<http://progressiverenewal.org/>Center for
Progressive Renewal (CPR) will soon begin a
similar collaboration with two other seminaries
linked to the UCC ?
<http://www.ctschicago.edu/>Chicago Theological
Seminary and the <http://www.psr.edu/>Pacific School of Religion.

The seminaries will roll out their

<http://growtheucc.memberlodge.org/Default.aspx?pageId=931441>CPR
On Campus Program reNEW series titled "Skills for
Leading New & Renewing Progressive Churches,"
with Trimble and the Rev. Michael Piazza, CPR
co-executive directors, teaching the program.

The program is a one-week intensive, face-to-face
study on the seminary campus. CTS will present it
May 16-20; PSR, this summer. Three hours of
seminary degree credit and four CEUs can be
earned, and the program is available for audit.

"CPR is proud to partner with Chicago Theological
Seminary and the Pacific School of Religion to
offer practical, skills-based training for
seminary students and local church leaders in the
areas around these schools," says Trimble. "This
is part of a trend of seminaries connecting with
non-profit, church-related organizations.

"These schools will be the sole provider of

credit for CPR courses and will cross list our
courses with theirs through our online learning platform," she says.

Trimble says the program was designed on the
premise that the partners have similar priorities
? "compelling vision, effective communication
strategy, data management, community development,
external mission and transformational worship."

Offering an on-site course in church planting and
church renewal worth three hours of seminary
credit is out-of-the-box, says Trimble. "This is
pretty unusual in seminary," she says. "The topic is unique."

The other piece of the Pacific partnership calls
for CPR to provide practical online courses for
seminary students, taught by practitioners
nationwide from seven mainline denominations.
CEUs will also be offered for those courses.

"These courses are open to anyone who wants to
take them," says Trimble. "We are providing a
complementary offering, allowing seminaries to
offer the theological grounding, and we're offering the technical training."

Seventy students have completed online course via
CPR in 2011. Cost of the five-week, intensive
online courses is $299, which includes free
participation in separate webinar courses (a
$9.95 value) during the five-week period. The
one-hour webinar courses provide an overview of
the online courses, says Trimble.

"We're trying to equip and support all pastors
who want to renew their church through online
education and coaching," says Trimble.

CPR has also updated its web site. It now

features courses in church renewal and church
planting for download and purchase. Live chat
with coaches is available, as is registration for
online courses and webinars. An online assessment
is included for those interested in gauging
whether they have the requisite skills to plant or renew a congregation.

"We deeply value our partnership with the Center
for Progressive Renewal," says the Rev. Alice
Hunt, president of Chicago Theological Seminary.
"This course will introduce our students to the
practical skills they need to be effective leaders in this age."

Trimble says CPR is on course to make similar
collaborations with "at least three more seminaries" in 2012.

For further details please visit

<<http://progressiverenewal.org/>progresiverenewal.org>.