Applications from prospective new worshiping community leaders are being accepted now through March 25, for the new 1001 pilot residency program at Broad Street Ministry’s pastoral immersion program in Philadelphia. 

 Those accepted into the yearlong residency will live in a house provided by Broad Street Ministry, which is known for inclusive hospitality and its work for a more just world through civic engagement. 

“This new collaboration will strengthen prophetic capacity for 1001 leaders in an urban context,” says acting 1001 coordinator Vera White. “It is a great new asset for our training of new worshiping community leaders.” 

During the residency from September 2015 to the summer of 2016, 1001 leaders will develop clear and compelling mission plans with coaches and financial backers that will enable them to start a new worshiping community in their context upon completion of the residency. 

The 1001 NWC team is also accepting applications for its 2015-16 internship programs through March 1 for a summer cohort in Los Angeles and two nine-month cohorts, which will connect diverse interns nationally as they pursue work in their local context. 

“We’ve also relaunched our Discerning Missional Leadership assessments and plan to offer our first event of 2015 in May in Seattle,” says White, adding that 35 new worshiping community coaches were trained in January. 

“They are ready to serve new communities across our denomination."

White says these five components—internships, assessments, grants, coaching, and training—are key to supporting the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s 1001 initiative. 

Since July 1, 2010 (the official start date for the 1001 initiative) 264 communities have begun that are still active and that meet the denomination’s definition of a new worshiping community.  Watch new video that takes on question "What exactly is a new worshiping community?"