The College for Congregational Development (CCD) is a comprehensive training program that seeks to nurture and develop congregational development practitioners from within existing parish lay and clergy leadership. The program draws on congregational and organization development theory and practice, focusing on developing healthy and responsive leadership, facilitation skills, and teamwork through understanding of Anglican and Episcopal ethos, culture, spirituality, and ways of being the church today.
The College seeks to equip people with knowledge and skills at three different levels: individual, team or group, and whole system.
What is Congregational Development?
Congregational Development is the development of congregations of all sizes, locations, and conditions into more faithful, healthy, and effective communities of faith that are:
- Focused on and faithful to their unique reason for being—their primary task—as congregations. Congregations are local expressions of the Body of Christ.
- Connected to and expressive of their unique ecclesial tradition, ethos, and character.
- Self-renewing and responsive to the challenges and opportunities before them.
- Sustainable or working toward greater sustainability in terms of a fit between the elements of their organizational life: vision for ministry, leadership, culture, size, property, finances, etc.
- Fostering a culture of transparency, courage, flexibility, collaboration, and forgiveness in which the congregation and its leaders have a greater sense of choice.
What does the program look like?
The two-year program includes annual week-long intensives, readings, a content exam, and the completion of a congregational project. It includes teaching of theory, engaging in application exercises and experiential learning, and planning, doing, and reflecting on back-home congregational projects.
The week-long intensives are broken up into plenary sessions, small group sessions, and congregational team work. Each small group is assigned a trainer whose responsibility includes coaching, teaching, and generally supporting the group in its work and common life. Trainers also present material in the large plenary sessions.
Most participants come in teams of clergy and lay leaders from a congregation.
Opportunities to join the College
Bringing CCD to you
The Congregations Team of the diocese would love to bring tools from CCD directly to your leadership or congregation through an adult formation hour or vestry meeting. Topics include data collection, self-awareness, trust development, faith development, change management, conflict mediation, and more. To schedule a visit, contact Canon Meredith Day Hearn at mdayhearn@diosohio.org.
CCD 2026
Our 2026 College for Congregational Development will take place August 23-28, 2026 at Procter Center. Participants will have the option of staying onsite at Procter Center or at a nearby hotel.
The cost to participate in CCD has been subsidized by the diocese. The cost ranges from $150 to $750, depending on accommodation.
Registration is open now. Space will fill!
