CBFVA recognizes healthy leadership is key to thriving faith communities. By investing in the ongoing education and formation of pastors, CBFVA seeks to support efforts of congregations to build beloved community, engage in God’s redemptive justice in the world, and renew all things.  

CBFVA is offering three opportunities for senior pastors to talk shop in the midst of this stressful pandemic season. Shop Talk is a unique opportunity for senior pastors to find encouragement for the journey and engage in conversation with a seasoned, wise, and gifted facilitator. Dr. Mike Smith, respected senior pastor for 45 years, will share out of myriad experiences and deep insights while engaging participants in conversations that encourage openness and creativity. 

Senior pastors will think together about ways to create, maintain, and measure a healthy approach to the life and work of pastors. Participants will also delve into a timely topic: the challenge of pastoring in an era of incivility – how to speak prophetically in the context of congregational ministry. Finally, there will be rich conversation about guiding and developing staff in ways that benefit both them and their congregations. Mike will make himself available to participants for private conversations following Shop Talk.

Shop Talk is set for three consecutive Thursdays:  October 15, 22, and 29. Each session starts at 10 am.  Click the button for the  Zoom link for these recurring sessions.