Cultivating a thriving ecosystem of pastoral leadership across the Evangelical Covenant Church
The One Covenant Community project seeks to cultivate a thriving ecosystem of pastoral leadership across the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) by strengthening the full arc of vocational discernment, theological education, credentialing and lifelong support—through deep collaboration among Covenant institutions, Conferences, congregations and communities.
About the Initiative
One Covenant Community is a collaborative endeavor funded by the Lilly Endowment Inc.’s Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative, led by North Park Theological Seminary (NPTS) and supported by a wide network of ECC partners. Together, we are building coordinated systems to identify, prepare, and sustain pastoral leaders in ways that are relevant, accessible, and deeply communal.
This initiative brings together every major Covenant entity involved in congregational leadership development—from regional Conferences and camps to educational affiliates and Denominational bodies—to address urgent challenges facing the church and its leaders.
Anticipated Outcomes
By the end of the five-year grant period, One Covenant Community will:
- Engage 25% of ECC young adults in vocational discernment.
- Expand participation in adult call retreats and lay leadership programs.
- Reduce pastoral burnout and increase participation in continuing education.
- Raise $2 million to secure a $4 million match from LEI to endow seminary scholarships and sustain Covenant collaboration in support of leadership development.
- Improve institutional sustainability and collaboration across Covenant partners.
- Strengthen Denominational identity and unity across diverse regions and communities.
Key Activities
Deepening Leadership Wells and Building Pipelines
- Develop vocational discernment resources for youth and lay leaders.
- Create educational pathways from undergraduate to seminary, including accelerated degree options.
- Reduce barriers to theological education through scholarships and credentialing reform.
Promoting Pastoral Well-being and Effectiveness
- Build a centralized hub for continuing education for clergy and lay leaders.
- Design responsive, holistic learning experiences that address real-world ministry challenges.
- Establish a culture of lifelong learning within the Covenant ministerium.
Strengthening Institutional Capacity and Sustainability
- Provide fundraising and nonprofit leadership training for partner institutions.
- Share resources across academic and ministry organizations to reduce costs and increase impact.
- Revise financial models to ensure the long-term viability of theological education.
Sustaining Covenant Identity and Belonging
- Revise and unify Covenant Orientation pathways to foster Denominational coherence and intercultural formation.
- Cultivate collaborative practices rooted in Covenant values—humility, generosity and deep listening.
- Build a shared endowment to sustain collaboration and leadership development into the future.
Stay Connected!
We invite you to stay connected, pray for the work ahead, and celebrate this important step toward a stronger ecosystem of leadership across the ECC. For more information, visit the One Covenant Community project page and follow along as project stories are shared through “Lina.”