Early Ministry Institute 2024
May 20-24, 2024

Early Ministry Institute is a three-year learning conference with care and support for pastors, chaplains, and CRE’s available to those in their first five years of ministry. It is held over a four-day period each May before Memorial Day Weekend.

Our three-year curriculum connects new leaders with peers and colleagues in ministry as they learn the theory and theology of leadership, nurture their spirituality as community leaders, and gain skills in the nuts and bolts of congregational life often omitted in traditional seminary education. Designed for those ‘learning in place,’ EMI has proved again and again to BE life-giving and ministry-saving for those in their first call.

During the four days, participants spend intentional time in worship, workshops, and much-needed sabbath time, while developing relationships that equip them with resources available through colleagues and in the Synod of the Northeast. Cohort groups are established for support and fellowship throughout the process and between conferences.

It is designed to assist them in gaining skills in specific areas often omitted in traditional seminary education. The context of EMI is to center on God’s call to us and to reflect on how Christ is part of our ministry, to consider the ongoing life of the congregation, and to take a look at the church as it interacts with the surrounding world.

What is EMI and why it matters?

EMI Objectives

To encourage participants, individually and as a community, to reflect intentionally upon God’s role in their lives and their ministry.
To provide an opportunity for those in their first parish to discuss with each other and with more experienced pastors certain issues of ministry.
To introduce new pastors to human and other resources available in the Synod of the Northeast.
To provide a time in a relaxed setting when participants can reflect together on their experiences, their successes and their disappointments