Program Description
COMMUNITAS will bring together a cohort of early career pastors who have completed approximately five to twelve years of full-time ministry from the greater Los Angeles area for a series of retreat-seminars spaced out over a one-year period from January to November 2024. These sessions will utilize Pepperdine faculty and staff who have particular expertise related to the topic under discussion and/or a relationship with the selected business and community leaders from the greater Los Angeles area to engage in direct conversation with these young leaders.
The first meeting is focused on orienting pastors to the program itself, building community among the program participants, and familiarizing participants with concepts related to organizational and community leadership and change. Each session (except the D.C. trip) will begin on a Monday afternoon and end on Wednesday afternoon, with each session devoted to a particular social issue that is important and relevant to the community. The program also includes a 5-day, 4-night trip to Washington, D.C. in May 2024 to examine issues of national and international importance.
Accommodations and Meals
The retreat-seminars will be held at Serra Retreat in Malibu, Crowne Plaza Ventura Beach, and Villa Graziadio Executive Center on the Pepperdine Malibu campus.
All participants will have a private room (some Serra Retreat rooms have shared bathrooms). All session meals and accommodations and travel to Washington D.C. are free of charge*, thanks to a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc.
*COMMUNITAS is funded by a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment, Inc. All lodging, meals, and the program itself can be offered without charge to pastors selected to participate. Given the cost of the program (estimated at $15,500 per person) and the limited number of available awards, we do ask that all candidates only apply if they can commit to attending every session of the program.
Schedule
Cohort 5 Schedule: 2024
Introductions
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Session 1: Engaging a Vibrant Community of Faith
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Session 2: Hope for the Captive
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Session 3: Who is My Neighbor?
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Family Gathering (Optional; Spouses and Children Invited)June 15, 2024 |
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Session 4: Not in My Neighborhood
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Session 5: Caring for Whole Communities
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Session 6: Head and Heart
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*In addition to these sessions, pastors will be invited to join program leaders for several optional informal meals for fellowship and to further discuss material presented during sessions.
Application Materials
If you would like to recommend a pastor for this or future cohorts, click HERE. Cohort participants are chosen based on criteria outlined in Characteristics of a Successful Applicant.
See the Cohort Participants page for information on past cohort members and program staff.