Director of the Center for Clergy Renewal

Director of the Center for Clergy Renewal

Holy Wisdom Monastery, an ecumenical monastery near Madison, Wisconsin, seeks a Director of its Center for Clergy Renewal (CCR). The vision and mission of the CCR is spiritual renewal for clergy through rest, reflection, and immersion into the daily, contemplative, Benedictine, monastic rhythms of prayer, study and work. Founded at Holy Wisdom in 2019, the CCR offers a two-year program of spiritual renewal to cohorts of 18 Christian pastors through annual on-site Contemplative Renewal Immersion experiences into the life of the people and place of Holy Wisdom Monastery. In addition, the CCR offers ongoing spiritual support for clergy through online gatherings and Deep Breath personal retreats. The Director we seek will be deeply devoted to the spiritual renewal of Christian pastors, whose work, they tell us, often leaves them feeling spiritually depleted. The CCR Director nourishes the vision and the mission of the CCR.

Principal duties & responsibilities

1. Immersion Content and Facilitation – Responsible for the content, recruitment, flow and co-facilitation of the summer (8 days) and winter (7 days) Contemplative Renewal Immersion experiences for pastors. Includes oversight of coordination with coworkers and volunteers for room, board and hospitality.
2. Ongoing Support of Clergy Renewal – Ensures ongoing deepening of cohort support of one another through designing and hosting quarterly online topical gatherings. Works with volunteers and paid consultant to keep the Contemplative Renewal website updated and vital for pastors. Encourages pastors to participate in online daily Midday Prayer. Offers personal spiritual care to pastors as needed.
3. CCR Sustainability – Develops and implements an ongoing sustainability plan for the CCR including fundraising events, relationship building with individuals and mission partners for funding and applying for grants. This work also includes the management of ongoing grant reporting and submission of financial and narrative reports to grantors.
4. Promotion of the CCR – Communicates the purpose and vision of the CCR internally to the HWM communities and externally to the broader spiritual landscape of Christian denominations and worshiping communities.
5. Serve on the monastery Leadership Team – Integrates the CCR program into the larger workings of Holy Wisdom Monastery through coordination with the sisters, coworkers and lay leaders within the communities of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Includes communication with monastery staff, coordination with monastery calendars and participation in other committees as needed. Includes annual CCR operating and capital budget development and management of accounts and expense reports.
6. Program Assessment – Conducts assessments including the collection of data and evaluation of CCR program effectiveness, folding the data into the planning and futuring of the CCR and Holy Wisdom Monastery.
7. Supervision – Oversees the work of the Manager of Clergy Programming & Communications. Supervision of volunteers as appropriate.
8. Communication of the Mission, Vision, and Values of Holy Wisdom Monastery – Develops a thorough knowledge and understanding of the history, vision, mission values, plans, and goals of the Benedictine Women of Madison. As the Director of the CCR, communicates the mission and vision of Holy Wisdom Monastery everywhere and in every way possible.

Qualifications for the Director Position

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in religious studies or education.
• Graduate degree and ordination preferred.

Experience

• Experience as a pastor, professional in ministry or lay leader in a Christian congregation.
• Knowledge of and respect for a diversity of Christian pastors and denominations and a commitment to the spiritual renewal of both.
• Background in spiritual renewal and contemplative or Benedictine spirituality and is dedicated to their own spiritual practice.
• Experience creating, facilitating or participating in open and hospitable circles of trust.
• Experience with contemplative spiritual practices such as lectio divina, contemplative dialogue and centering prayer.

Gifts

• Effective and inspiring verbal and written communication skills along with the ability to cultivate collaborative relationships, develop programs and facilitate large and small groups.
• Enthusiasm and demonstrated skill for working within a collaborative leadership model is essential.
• Uses deep listening and non-judgmental reflection that invites each person to hear their own inner wisdom. “Teaches” by setting free the wisdom in the room.

Skills

• Experience related to grant writing, report writing, fundraising, budget management, program evaluation, social media, long-distance learning, audio-visual technology and personnel management.
• Experience with multiple intelligence learning that is immersive and experiential rather than didactic.
• Honors non-verbal ways of learning including the power of silence, meditation, contemplative movement and kinship with nature.

The CCR Director position is a year-round position at 30 hours per week.

Annual salary range is equivalent to $32-$36/hr. The position includes generous benefits including paid time off; health, dental, LTD/STD, vision, and life insurance; retirement savings and approved job-related ongoing education reimbursement. On-site office is strongly preferred, with the flexibility to occasionally work from home.

Applications must arrive electronically or by post by August 1, 2024. The position begins in January 6th, 2025.

Questions may be directed to Search Team co-chairs Erin Trondson at [email protected] and Tim Dean at [email protected]

How To Apply 

CLICK the button below, enter your name and contact information and most importantly, answer the three questions you find there. In addition, please attach your resume. Electronic submission preferred.

Work location: 

• In-person at Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, WI 

Holy Wisdom Monastery, located at 4200 County Road M in Middleton, WI and overlooking Lake Mendota, is a Benedictine monastery and non-denominational Christian spirituality center with an overnight retreat and meeting facility. The organization, known for its environmental stewardship, will soon be the first net zero energy retreat center in Wisconsin. It is situated on 130 acres of rolling prairie and woods, includes a small glacial lake, nature trails and buildings used by groups and a variety of communities for meeting space, programs, worship, overnight accommodations and meals. More information is available at https://holywisdommonastery.org. 

For more information about Holy Wisdom Monastery go to https://HolyWisdomMonastery.org

For a deeper understanding of the vision and mission of the Center for Clergy Spiritual Renewal go to: https://holywisdommonastery.org/ccr

Holy Wisdom Monastery is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class. We encourage BIPOC and LGBTQIA persons to apply.