CHHSM’s Nollau Leadership Institute Accepting Applications for 2018

The United Church of Christ’s Council for Health and Human Service Ministries works with its member ministries and partners to cultivate and empower servant leaders for health and human service ministry. Its Nollau Leadership Institute, a year-long program focused on spiritual formation and preparation for leadership, helps accomplish that goal.

“I enjoyed everything about my Nollau experience!” says Amy Kotterman, a Nollau graduate who serves as director of hospitality services for United Church Homes in Marion, Ohio. “It was great to meet and bond with like-minded individuals from a variety of UCC organizations that were all mission-minded and understood the importance of working together in ‘community’ for the greater good.”

Registration is currently open for the 2018-2019 class, which begins in April 2018 and concludes in March 2019. The annual program includes three in-person retreats, an online learning platform, and conference calls between the 15-20 participants throughout the year. Class members also present workshops during the CHHSM annual meeting at the end of the Institute year.

The Institute builds upon CHHSM’s nearly 20 years of formal leadership training that began with the Transformational Leadership Program and continued with the ecumenical Faith-Based Leadership Institute.

The Nollau Institute gives participants the opportunity to discern their calling as Diakonal Ministers, a special vocation for servant leaders within CHHSM. Completion of the Institute is required for commissioning as a Diakonal Minister, but additional discernment is encouraged. Diakonal Ministers advance the healing and service ministry of Jesus Christ. Since 1996, more than 150 leaders in CHHSM have been consecrated as Diakonal Ministers.

Created in 2011, the Nollau Leadership Institute is named after the Rev. Louis Edward Nollau, a 19th-century missionary, preacher and founder of several CHHSM ministries. Nollau’s bold commitment to servant leadership continues to inspire participants today.

Through the Nollau Institute, CHHSM strives to form servant leaders who covenant together to meet, learn, pray, mentor and coach one another; who are accountable; who continually discern the meaning of their work in the world; and who honor the tradition of courageous and inclusive health and human service ministry in the UCC. Led by a core team of faculty members, the Nollau Institute draws upon the best in adult education and leadership training, grounded in a fundamental appreciation of faith heritage and spiritual formation.

Retreat dates for the upcoming class are April 16-19, 2018; Sept. 17-20, 2018; and Jan. 28-31, 2019. The retreats will take place at the Retreat Center at Cedar Valley, part of CHHSM-member ministry Cedar Community in West Bend, Wis.

The Institute is open to leaders from CHHSM ministries and partnering organizations, such as colleges, seminaries, conferences and other institutions related to the United Church of Christ. Participants must be able to fully participate in all sessions, including the online forums, and are expected to stay overnight at the retreat center.

Kotterman points to self-reflection as a significant part of the Nollau experience, calling it “one we must all embrace to grow as leaders.”

“A great leader sets the example by ‘walking the talk,’” she adds, “and inspires others to be the best they can be. It is up to us to provide our teams with the education, tools and resources they need to be successful … and then to empower them to do so and support them along the way.”

Registration for the current class closes Jan. 31, 2018. For questions about registration or the Nollau Institute, contact us.