Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of being part of The Movement? Why should I join this 3-year experience?

1) Build Community: Be part of a supportive, challenging learning cohort. Align with a diverse group of churches exploring social innovation. Expand partnerships with the broader community. Develop new, culturally relevant language for communicating The Gospel.

2) Leverage Untapped Assets: Elevate the role of laity in carrying out ministry. Strengthen the connection between discipleship and everyday lives. Acquire new tools for social innovation and spiritual formation. Customize what changemaking looks like in your context.

How many people from my church will be involved?

Your congregation will begin participating with 3-4 lay people who become Changemaker Fellows. Others will partner with Fellows in changemaking projects over time. In years 2 and 3, more of your congregation will be engaged as changemaking becomes part of your congregational culture.

What is our congregation’s financial commitment?

This cohort opportunity has been fully funded through Lilly Endowment’s Thriving Congregations Initiative.  There is no cost for your participation.  Each congregation will be encouraged to establish a Changemaker Innovation Fund that can be used by your congregation to support local innovation experiments in changemaking.  

When does the program start? What are the key dates involved?

  • November 17th: applications due

  • December: selected churches will be notified

  • January: 4-week clergy intensive

  • February: lay Fellows chosen in a collaborative effort between the church and the Changemaker Church Movement Team

  • March/April: 8-month laity Fellowship begins

What commitment is being asked of us?

  • Consistent, full participation in all aspects of the 3-year learning community, whether virtual or in person 

  • Willingness to take risks, to be vulnerable, to embrace differences, to listen, to try, to fail, and to learn

  • Commitment to share feedback and suggestions as we all partner and learn together

  • Work toward establishing a Changemaker Innovation Fund at your church for the purpose of supporting your own congregation’s changemaking efforts in your community

  • Dedication to infusing and adapting changemaking into your congregation and community in ways that make sense and work in your context

What is the pastor’s time commitment for the 3 years?

As a pastor, you play the important role of empowering laity in your congregation to be the agents of change.   The cohort of clergy will participate in a 4-week intensive experience in January 2022 (approximately 2 hours per week), and then bimonthly gatherings for ongoing support and conversation about changemaking.

What is the Changemaker Fellow (laity) time commitment?

Being a Fellow requires a significant commitment for one year. Beyond the 8 monthly fellowship curriculum sessions, we estimate an additional 3-5 hours per week of journaling, reading, meeting in small groups and pursuing a changemaker project.