Since 2022, the Town Square Collaborative has been supporting rural Presbyterian Church (USA) pastors in the Presbytery of Arkansas and beyond through regular cohort gatherings. Facilitated by Allen Stanton and Phil Blackburn, these cohorts seek to empower pastors to help their congregations evolve amidst the rapidly changing religious landscape, while also acknowledging the unique context of the rural church. We ask pastors to commit to at least one year in a cohort, which will consist of at least 3 gatherings per year.
“The cohort provided a safe place to discuss challenges, explore new ideas, and get feedback from peers in similar contexts. It helped me to strengthen bonds with others in ministry. This led to a shared understanding of what we had learned, and so conversation partners. The cohort also provided me with a new to evaluate ministry, to view my community, and my congregation. It encouraged me to think more holistically about my ministry, and what ministry is in general.”
The Rev. Blake Brinegar, First Presbyterian, Searcy, AR.
We believe the future of pastoral leadership in many rural churches is lay led. Because of this, we offer several programs to support lay leaders. We offer a cohort for Presbyterian Church (USA) lay pastors (commissioned ruling elders) to gather four times per year. The purpose of this cohort is to offer ongoing ministry reflection and support as these gifted lay people serve their congregations and communities. We seek to build upon and enhance the training they received prior to their commissioning, and to affirm their identities as pastoral leaders. We ask participants to commit to at least a year in the cohort, which will consist of a minimum of 4 gatherings.
“In the past years, the leaders and my colleagues in the CRE cohort have been trusted, confidential partners in thinking through complicated pastoral matters. Being able to share and seek advice from them at our gatherings eases the burden and isolation of solo pastoring in a rural town and helps me problem solve at the church with more energy and creativity, as well as wisdom.”
CRE Peg Falls-Corbitt, Pastor, First Presbyterian, Morrilton, AR.
As the landscape changes for rural congregations, lay people without any formal theological education are tasked with more responsibilities. REM exists to support lay people who would like to learn some of the basics of pastoral ministry. Meeting 3 times per year, REM has offered brief workshops in preaching, officiating at the Lord’s Table, pastoral care, prayer and more. We believe there is incredible passion, deep faith and abundant talent sitting in the pews in many congregations, and we want to help and support lay people in all the Church’s diverse ministries.
“REM has become a wonderful community of people from all over the state with the goal of equipping their congregations to continue serving and worshipping God no matter what situation they find themselves in. The resources presented at each weekend spark new ideas and excitement that we can carry back to our churches. The gatherings are much needed fuel in a world that can easily burn you out.”
Tamara Boggs
Thriving Congregations, based at the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR, aims to strengthen connections with PC(USA) congregations through its Thriving Connections program. This initiative places University students as interns in congregations and communities, fostering engagement and learning. After a successful test run in summer 2024, the program will continue in 2025 with adaptations. Hosting an intern may be possible even without participation in the Thriving Congregations educational track, depending on program directors’ decisions. Congregations completing the track may be encouraged to host interns as part of their community engagement efforts. Interns will live in the community, ideally with church members, and participate in worship, education, events, and service, helping to explore and strengthen the church’s role in the community while reflecting on their own vocations.
The Thriving Congregations Program, part of the Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative, is the second grant awarded to the University of the Ozarks. This five-year grant aims to help small, rural congregations in the Presbytery of Arkansas thrive in their ministries and communities. The program equips congregations by reconnecting them with their theological heritage through the 6 Great Ends of the Church, fostering theological language, encouraging faith-driven re-imagination, and strengthening community connections. This will be achieved through an educational track focused on Core Identity, Community, Connection, and Cohort Gathering.