FAITH Endowment Now Accepting Applications for Executive Leadership Training Program: May 24-28, 2021
FAITH Endowment Now Accepting Applications for Executive Leadership Training Program: May 24-28, 2021
thefaithendowment.org/SLTA
January 28, 2021—FAITH: An Endowment for Orthodoxy and Hellenism, in partnership with The Fletcher School at Tufts University, is excited to announce the launch of the application for its leadership training program, the Executive Education Program in Strategic Leadership and Transformative Action (SLTA), on its website (thefaithendowment.org/SLTA).
Following the success and ongoing impact of the 2020 pilot class from the Metropolis of Chicago, FAITH looks forward to offering the program in 2021 to participants from the Metropolis of Boston.
Developed by Professor Elizabeth Prodromou, Faculty Director of Fletcher’s Initiative on Religion, Law, and Diplomacy, the SLTA program is designed to give clergy and laity a foundational set of technical, intellectual, and spiritual tools and ideas for strategic management and leadership that can produce transformative action within the Greek Orthodox community. Over the course of five days, participants will learn and discuss best practices, challenges and opportunities for growth within their communities, engage in customized lectures and workshops by Professor Prodromou and Fletcher’s world-class faculty experts in related disciplines of faith-based and non-profit organizations. The program is delivered by Fletcher’s Office of Executive Education, and will cover topics such as strategic planning and management, financial planning for non-profits, leadership, crisis management, communication strategies and religious literacy.
"Thanks to the FAITH Endowment for its vision in recognizing the crucial importance of faith-based leadership in meeting the existential challenges that connect local Greek Orthodox communities to global developments across the planet. [This program] helped the SLTA leadership cohort deliver innovative, compassionate solutions to the crisis,” Professor Prodromou said.
As part of the application process, each participant is asked to present a community impact project to be developed during the program and implemented in their community/parish upon completion of the program.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I announce the Metropolis of Boston's participation in this edifying program in partnership with the FAITH Endowment and The Fletcher School at Tufts University. Drawing upon the insights of various experts in religious and non-profit management, clergy and lay leaders from around New England will be afforded the opportunity to learn important techniques and many creative approaches of bringing the Gospel message to God’s people,” stated His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios.
The 2020 SLTA program participants from the Metropolis of Chicago were able to adapt their individual impact projects to meet their communities’ immediate and pressing needs during the pandemic. They established a series of initiatives, including Operation HOPE, which helped local networks achieve food security and has provided meal and care kits to over 2,000 families and individuals in the Chicago area in partnership with the National Hellenic Museum; Strengthen Stewardship Now, which supported over 14 parishes with resources and tools to increase greater stewardship participation and decrease reliance on episodic fundraising events; and the Communication Technology Initiative, which assisted parishes live-stream liturgies and use technology to host virtual Sunday schoolrooms and other youth programs.
Chrysso Sarris, a 2020 SLTA program participant, summarized the experience as, “Ambitious, thought-provoking, and collaborative, this forum allowed participants to discuss challenges and opportunities … I am truly grateful for FAITH’s foresight in recognizing the potential benefit of the SLTA program.”
Given pandemic-related restrictions, participants will have the choice to attend the program remotely from home or opt for hotel accommodation near Medford, MA. Admission priority will be given to clergy and laity from the Metropolis of Boston.
Upon completion of the program, each participant will receive a Certificate from the Office of Executive Education at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
The application deadline is March 8, 2021. For more information: thefaithendowment.org/SLTASince 2004, FAITH has supported and promoted excellence and leadership among young people within the Greek and Hellenic community through sponsoring college scholarship programs, educational programs and cultural initiatives. More information can be found at https://www.thefaithendowment.org/
