Connecting Pathways: A Multifaceted Approach to Strengthen and Sustain Current and Future Leaders
The three-phase initiative, "Connecting Pathways: A Multi-faceted Approach to Strengthen and Sustain Current and Future Faith Leaders," launched by the Methodist Theological Seminary in Ohio, aims to assist theological schools across the United States and Canada in addressing the critical challenges they face while preparing pastoral leaders for Christian congregations.
The Rev. Christopher Carter, grant director and Associate Professor of Theology, Ecology, and Race, and Seth Schoen, Ph.D., assistant grant director, outline the goals of the initiative and share the anticipated outcomes they envision from this project.
Briefly describe the project.
Carter: The Connecting Pathways initiative is a multifaceted approach to strengthening and sustaining current and future faith leaders. It focuses on environmental and racial justice while forming young people into faith leaders. One challenge we've faced is fostering a culture of calling—helping individuals recognize and embrace their vocational call to ministry with a supportive framework and guidance.
This grant provides a platform to shape the future of the church and academy by addressing pressing issues like anti-oppression and anti-racism. Many clergy and faith leaders wish to affirm human dignity but struggle with articulating this mission.
Our work equips leaders with the language and processes needed to enhance or create programs addressing these critical issues. Concurrently, we nurture and encourage young faith leaders who are passionate about justice, bridging generational gaps in a holistic and interconnected way.
Schoen: Our grant has two key components: anti-racism and the culture of invitation. While it involves recruitment, it goes beyond that by focusing on discernment. We recognize that most people approach these decisions thoughtfully, relying on the information available. Our goal is to ensure that information is both accurate and comprehensive.
What have you learned so far?
Carter: Seth and I will launch our program in March 2025, so full implementation is still ahead. However, I’ve already seen the value of interdepartmental collaboration and strong communication within institutions. Our success in planning comes from building a diverse, cross-functional team. This approach has helped us catch potential issues early and incorporate valuable insights, allowing us to design a more comprehensive and effective program—at least on paper.
Schoen: I agree with Chris. We've learned that each team member brings valuable wisdom and perspective, which has greatly improved how we run this initiative. Early on, we embraced a transparent leadership model—not about controlling everything but ensuring everyone feels valued and heard. While we still provide direction, it's a collaborative effort where every contribution strengthens the work. This initiative wouldn’t be as effective without the input of each team member.
What aspects of the project are you hopeful about?
Carter: I hope to identify and nurture a new generation of clergy activists deeply committed to practicing Christianity. My vision for this grant extends beyond our current political climate—I want to cultivate leaders who see these teachings as sacred and are dedicated to liberation and the flourishing of all people and creation. I hope they will be bold, willing to challenge and inspire political and social leaders to be their best selves and encourage others to see themselves as faith leaders in some way. A key focus of this grant is ensuring we cultivate the right kind of leaders within Christian communities.
Schoen: The second part of the grant is our greatest hope—expanding our reach to a wider audience. With this funding, we can fully realize our vision, focusing on true transformation. Change of this depth isn’t achieved in a single seminar or even a few weeks. My hope is to witness real transformation in the participants over time.
Carter: I hope our program helps participants develop a sustainable model of anti-oppression spirituality. Too often, enthusiasm fades when political tides shift. Our focus is on giving people the tools for deep internal work—recognizing how oppressive theologies are embedded in faith and unlearning them through compassion. With this foundation, they can lead communities committed to lasting change. We’ve learned that true anti-oppression work, especially for white participants, requires addressing internal traumas alongside systemic issues.
What are you learning that could help other schools?
Schoen: Lilly has provided ATS resources to support all grantees, which has been instrumental in accelerating the development of the skills we needed to initiate the planning process. They also host monthly support meetings for all directors, which have been invaluable in helping me understand Lilly’s expectations for annual reports and grant management. While I initially lacked experience in these areas, I feel confident in my ability to develop these skills quickly. The provided materials have further streamlined that learning process, making them a resource I highly recommend.
Carter: Take advantage of those opportunities to essentially learn what they’re putting on the platform.
At a glance: Methodist Theological School in Ohio provides theological education and leadership in pursuit of a just, sustainable, and generative world. In addition to the Master of Divinity degree, the school offers master’s degrees in counseling, practical theology, social justice, and theological studies, along with a Doctor of Ministry degree.