2027 Seminar
About the 2027 Seminar
Pathways to Mid Council Leadership is designed to equip emerging leaders with the theological grounding, organizational understanding, and practical leadership skills essential for serving the Church in mid council ministry. As part of the Art of Transitional Ministry Education Consortium (TMEC), the program gives people exploring this area of leadership an opportunity to strengthen their leadership capacity, deepen their understanding of the changing landscape of the Church, and discern how their gifts and vocational callings might serve the wider Church.
The program also fulfills the training requirements of the former Interim Executive Presbyter Program, a qualification valued by many search committees when considering candidates for mid council leadership positions. Through presentations, shared reflection, leadership assessments, and collaborative learning, participants explore the vision, relationships, and theological commitments that sustain effective and faithful leadership in today’s Church.
Seminar Details
- DatesSunday, March 7 – Thursday, March 11, 2027
Arrival Sunday · Instruction Monday–Thursday - LocationThe Erdman Center, Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, NJ
- Cost (all-inclusive)Synod of the Northeast members: $1,150
Non-members: $1,250
Includes registration, lodging, meals, and the LeaderWise assessment - EnrollmentLimited to 20 participants, accepted on a first-come, first-served basis
The Learning Journey: From Exploration to Discernment
The four instructional days are designed as one connected learning experience. Each day builds on the one before, moving from foundational understanding toward personal and vocational discernment.
Day One
Understanding
Explore the identity, purpose, systems, and responsibilities of mid council ministry.
Day Two
Leading
Connect theology, organizational leadership, stewardship, collaborative governance, and the practice of leading change.
Day Three
Engaging
Develop leadership capacity, strengthen congregational vitality, and explore the Church’s public and ecumenical relationships.
Day Four
Discerning
Integrate the week’s learning, reflect on vocational calling, and consider pathways toward mid council leadership.
Seminar Schedule
The Erdman Center · Princeton Theological Seminary · March 7–11, 2027
Sunday, March 7
Arrival and Welcome
Participants arrive at the Erdman Center, complete lodging check-in, and have an opportunity to meet one another informally before the program begins. Specific arrival and gathering details will be provided separately.
Day One · Monday, March 8
Entering Mid Council Ministry: Identity, Context, and Calling
Focus: Understanding the purpose, responsibilities, and evolving identity of mid council leadership while beginning to explore the transition from congregational ministry to broader organizational leadership.
| 9:30–10:00 a.m. | Registration and Welcome |
| 10:15–11:00 a.m. | Opening Devotion |
| 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Charting Our Learning Journey: Introductions and Program OrientationIntroduction of faculty and participants, Part I |
| 12:00–1:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Building Community: Participant Introductions, Part II |
| 2:30–3:15 p.m. | Afternoon Break |
| 3:15–4:15 p.m. | Understanding Mid Council Ministry: Systems, Structures, and Relationships |
| 4:15–5:15 p.m. | The Shift to Ministry Administration: Embracing a New Leadership IdentityClaiming leadership identity in new ways and moving beyond traditional congregational ministry roles |
| 5:15–6:00 p.m. | Break |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:00 p.m. | Evening Prayer |
Day Outcome: Participants will develop a foundational understanding of mid council ministry and begin identifying the leadership perspectives, responsibilities, and adaptive capacities required for this work.
Day Two · Tuesday, March 9
Theology, Organizational Leadership, and Collaborative Ministry
Focus: Connecting theological commitments with organizational leadership, responsible stewardship, collaborative governance, and the capacity to lead through change.
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00–9:30 a.m. | Morning Review: Reflections and Questions from Day One |
| 9:30–10:15 a.m. | Theology and the Practice of Ministry AdministrationTheological grounding, stewardship, and the responsible use of resources |
| 10:15–11:15 a.m. | The Corporate Bishop |
| 11:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Worship at Princeton Chapel |
| 12:00 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:30–2:30 p.m. | Organizational Design: Aligning Mission, Ministry, and Structure |
| 2:30–2:45 p.m. | Afternoon Break |
| 3:00–5:00 p.m. | Building Alliances: Equipping Committees and CommissionsCollaborative leadership, navigating competing expectations, and strengthening relationships across the Church |
| 5:00–6:00 p.m. | Cultivating Change Through NarrativesCommunicating change, understanding organizational culture, and helping communities imagine new possibilities |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dinner – Erdman Center |
| 7:00 p.m. | Evening Prayer |
Day Outcome: Participants will explore how theological commitments inform organizational decisions, how structures can better serve mission, and how collaborative leadership and effective communication strengthen the Church’s capacity for change.
Day Three · Wednesday, March 10
Leadership Development, Congregational Vitality, and Public Witness
Focus: Deepening personal leadership capacity while exploring ways to resource congregations, strengthen pastoral leadership, and engage the wider community through meaningful partnerships and public witness.
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast – Erdman Center |
| 9:00–9:30 a.m. | Morning Devotion |
| 9:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. | Emotional Intelligence Leadership Development (The EQi) and Personal ReflectionExploring leadership strengths, growth opportunities, and individual approaches to leadership |
| 12:00–1:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:30–3:30 p.m. | Confidence in Conflict |
| 3:30–4:00 p.m. | Afternoon Break |
| 4:00–5:00 p.m. | Emerging Models of Presbytery Ministry: A Panel ConversationExploring innovative approaches, evolving structures, and new possibilities for serving congregations and communities |
| 5:00–6:00 p.m. | Public and Ecumenical RelationshipsStrengthening public witness, cultivating community partnerships, and engaging in ecumenical collaboration |
| 6:00 p.m. | Evening Off – Dinner on Your Own |
Day Outcome: Participants will gain greater awareness of their leadership strengths, consider emerging approaches to presbytery ministry, and explore the role of mid council leaders in supporting congregational vitality and strengthening the Church’s public witness.
Day Four · Thursday, March 11
Vocational Discernment, Evaluation, and Next Steps
Focus: Bringing together the insights and experiences of the week through personal reflection, vocational discernment, and consideration of next steps in mid council leadership.
| 8:00 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 9:00–10:00 a.m. | Evaluating Our Learning: Reflection and Integration |
| 10:00–10:30 a.m. | Room Checkout |
| 12:00–1:15 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:15–2:15 p.m. | Is This Your Calling? Discerning a Pathway to Mid Council Leadership |
| 2:30–3:00 p.m. | Seeking a Call: Understanding the Search and Discernment Process |
| 3:00–3:30 p.m. | Closing Worship and Departure |
Day Outcome: Participants will reflect on their learning, consider how their gifts and sense of calling might align with mid council ministry, and become more familiar with the process of seeking and discerning a call.
Leadership Assessments
EQi and TKI
Participants complete the Emotional Intelligence assessment (EQi) and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI) as part of the week.
Our Shared Commitment
The Church’s future requires leaders who can hold together theological conviction, organizational wisdom, collaborative relationships, and a willingness to imagine new possibilities for ministry. This learning experience invites participants to explore not only what mid council leaders do, but also who they are called to be as leaders, stewards, partners, and servants of the Church.
Meet the Faculty
Experienced mid council leaders from across the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) guide the week’s learning.
Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley
Program Director, Pathways to Mid Council Leadership
Leader, Synod of the Northeast
Rev. Dr. SanDawna Gaulman Ashley is an experienced denominational executive leader with more than 27 years of ministry and leadership experience across all four councils of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Her leadership is grounded in transformational leadership, justice, organizational stewardship, and a deep commitment to strengthening the Church’s vitality and witness in a changing world.
Throughout her ministry, she has served in a variety of pastoral, organizational, and denominational leadership roles, including pastor, associate for gender and racial justice, denominational associate for leadership development, manager of Call Process Support and Teaching Elders Ministries, assistant stated clerk, executive presbyter, and currently, Leader of the Synod of the Northeast. Across these roles, she has led governance, organizational transformation, leadership development, and efforts to navigate the complex adaptive challenges facing congregations and mid councils.
As Program Director of Pathways to Mid Council Leadership, she brings extensive experience in denominational leadership, organizational development, and vocational formation to preparing emerging leaders for the opportunities and challenges of mid council ministry. Rev. Dr. Ashley holds a Doctor of Ministry from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Social Work from Georgia State University.
Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace
Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Philadelphia
Rev. Ruth Faith Santana-Grace (she/her) has served as the Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Philadelphia since 2014, the first woman and person of color to be installed in the presbytery’s more than 300-year history. She also served as Co-Moderator of the 225th General Assembly. Soon after arriving, Ruth launched the Ministry and Leadership Incubator, the umbrella equipping arm of the presbytery focused on strengthening congregational leaders and their ministries. She brings a deep commitment to encouraging and equipping leaders, both laity and clergy, affirming the importance of healthy leaders as a crucial element of a flourishing church.
Before pursuing ordained ministry, Ruth received a Master of Public Administration and used her gifts as a bridge-builder for more than 15 years, serving in Washington, DC, and Rome, Italy. After graduating from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1994, she served as Associate Pastor for Adult Discipleship at First Presbyterian Church, Bethlehem, PA. In 2005, her call to ministry pivoted as she embarked on a new kind of bridge-building, serving as Executive Presbyter of San Gabriel Presbytery in Southern California. Ruth lives in Flourtown with her husband, Rev. Dr. Edward Santana-Grace, and their dog Malibu.
Rev. Dr. Craig Howard
Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Chicago
Craig is a native of Chicago’s South Suburbs. He completed his undergraduate work at DePaul University and earned the M.Div. and D.Min. degrees from McCormick Theological Seminary. Craig has served as Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Chicago since November 2021. Before coming to Chicago, Craig served in St. Louis as Presbytery Leader of Giddings-Lovejoy, Ministry Relations Officer with the Presbyterian Foundation, and Presbytery Executive for the Presbytery of Milwaukee. Craig’s spouse is the Rev. Marilyn Gamm, a Presbyterian pastor in St. Louis. He has two adult children, one in Chicago and one in Springfield.
Dr. Rob Trawick
Executive Presbyter, Presbytery of Albany
Ruling Elder · Professor, St. Thomas Aquinas College
Robert Trawick is a Ruling Elder from New City, NY, in the lower Hudson Valley. He brings to his work a knowledge of people in the pews and the anxieties and hopes connected with moments of change. Rob has served several presbyteries and the Synod of the Northeast in a variety of roles, including moderator of the Presbytery of Hudson River, member of the Synod Advisory Review Committee for Albany Presbytery, and co-chair of the Administration Commission for Susquehanna Valley Presbytery.
Alongside his work with the Presbyterian Church, Rob has served for more than twenty years as a professor of philosophy and religious studies at St. Thomas Aquinas College, teaching ethics and the history of Christian thought. He lives with his wife, Amanda Trigg. Rob’s passions, in addition to ministry and education, include music and theatre.
Rev. Emilie Boggis
Team Lead for Leadership Development, LeaderWise
Emilie Boggis is Team Lead for Leadership Development at LeaderWise, an organization whose mission is to equip and accompany leaders for lives of service. She is a deeply relational leader, consultant, ordained minister, certified spiritual director, and reflective pastoral supervisor. With 20 years of serving, partnering with, and leading organizations, Emilie is passionate about the daily practice of choosing love for ourselves and our communities in times of extraordinary change and conflict.
Before joining LeaderWise, Emilie served a congregation in Summit, NJ, for more than 18 years as they celebrated their 100th anniversary, established a new mission, implemented a strategic plan, engaged more boldly in their community through relationship-based partnerships, and trained a lay chaplain team to extend the spiritual care of their community.
Ready to Explore Your Call?
Enrollment is limited to 20 participants and is first come, first served. Synod of the Northeast participants receive a $100 registration subsidy.