Thriving Congregations Cohort 3
Information and
Application Materials
Cohort 3 Timeline
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March 1-May 1, 2025, applications open
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DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: May 1, 2026 by midnight Eastern (9p Pacific)
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May 15, 2026: Applicants notified of decisions
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By June 1: Cohort 3 participants sent onboarding information with links for discussion groups and pre-work resources
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June 1-August 31: Cohort 3 engaged in on-boarding work
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By August 1: Cohort 3 participants matched with coaches, first sessions sometime before Launch Retreat
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September 22-25: Cohort 3 Launch Retreat (see below)
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Grants distributed upon receipt of Grant Use Form.
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Communities of Practice (COP) schedule TBD with Cohort 3 participants
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Reporting schedule to be distributed at launch retreat
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Say More about that Launch Retreat
All Cohort 3 churches are required to participate in the Cohort 3 Launch Retreat. We request two to three members from each participant steering committee attend the full retreat. The retreat is essential for the success of the grant initiatives for participating congregations. *
1. Participants will engage with the areas identified by assessments from various perspectives using tools they will learn in advance through pre-work and during the retreat.
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2. They will collaborate with other members of their cohort, sharing ideas, resources, new perspectives, and inspiration.
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3. There will be ample opportunities for questions, clarification, and testing ideas with the Program Team, their cohort members, coaches, and steering committees.
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4. Participants will build relationships that extend far beyond the retreat.
Expenses for the retreat are covered by ABCRGR's portion of the Lilly grant. Up to three participants from each church will have their travel, housing, and meals paid for. You will receive more detailed information about expense reimbursement in June.
**Important Notes about Scheduling and Virtual Attendance:**
The Program Team has scheduled the retreat from Tuesday to Friday. You will be able to return home Friday morning. We understand this may require some participants to miss work, but with this notice, steering committees can identify which members can make arrangements to attend.
Please note that remote attendance for the retreat will not be arranged, as the schedule prioritizes face-to-face interaction in various group settings to foster creative energy and trust. Remote attendance would not be effective. However, we do have access to Wi-Fi, so steering committees may choose to connect with their participants at home during breaks or evenings.
The retreat will also include visits from ABCUSA staff (Office of the General Secretary, International Ministries, or American Baptist Home Mission Societies) to help connect you to the wider denominational family.
"Pre-Work, You Say?"
​1. You will complete an online course at your own pace, which covers the essential techniques and tools for the grant process. This course must be finished before the launch retreat, as our activities will build on your understanding of the material.
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2. You will receive a congregational assessment survey to administer. This will be submitted to Ministry Architects consultants, who will provide a report summarizing the results to guide your grant-funded project decisions.
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By the time you arrive at the launch retreat, your steering committee will have already started working with the congregation to identify potential initiatives for your grant funding. These preliminary ideas will be further developed with the guidance of the Program Team during the retreat. When you leave the launch retreat, you will have a plan, a timeline, and a set of next steps ready to begin your work.
What about those grant funds?
$28,000 grant for each church accepted into the cohort, to be used within the cohort year.
Grant funds can be used for a wide variety of initiatives and projects. No more than 25% can be used for staff/indirect costs. Funding can only be used for facilities improvements insofar as they have a direct impact on the success of the initiative. Discuss your grant plans with the Project Coordinator to ensure you will be able to request your funding appropriately.
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Cohort participants will need to track their grant spending by a budget. Budgeting will be reviewed at the launch retreat and templates will be provided.
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The cost of the 12 coaching sessions and launch retreat are all part of ABCRGR's portion of the Lilly grant. Participating churches do not need to include those in their individual grant budgets. Additional sessions with coach or consultants will be part of the church grant budget if desired.
Thriving Congregations Program Team
Rev. Alicia Dixon-Garrard
Project Coordinator, ABCRGR
Tarra Hartmann
Region Administrator (Logistics)
Sean Williams
Lead Consultant, Ministry Architects
Rev. Dr. Clifford Matthews, Jr.
Program Team Member
Candi Cylar
Consultant and Coach, Ministry Architects
DJ Boyd
Worship Leader
Lesleigh Carmichael
Lead Project Manager, Ministry Architects
Rev. Dr. Sandra Hasenauer
Executive Minister, ABCRGR