A NEXT CHURCH COHORT – Begins Fall 2026
LEADING ACROSS THE DIVIDE
Building Intercultural Competency for Faithful Ministry
The congregations we serve are more diverse than ever: racially, culturally, generationally, theologically, economically. Most of us were formed by traditions that prepared us to lead in a world that no longer exists. We don’t lack good intentions. But good intentions are not enough when the dynamics of power, conflict, and difference are still shaping our preaching, pastoral care, and congregational culture below the surface.
This six-month coaching cohort is built around the Intercultural Development Continuum (IDC), a research-based framework for building genuine intercultural competency. Alongside a cohort of peers in ministry, you’ll move beyond awareness into practice by developing real skills for leading across differences in the congregations and communities you serve.
The cohort is structured around six group gatherings and three individual coaching sessions, grounding the shared learning in your specific context and call. Each participant completes the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) and receives a personal debrief between the first and second gatherings with a certified coach and IDI administrator. This one-on-one session will help you name what your results mean for your leadership, your congregation, and the work ahead.
Two additional individual coaching sessions are woven throughout the cohort to bring the real and specific challenges you are navigating in ministry and develop a concrete, personal plan for growth.
Develop real skills for leading across differences in the congregations and communities you serve.
Completion of an assessment designed for awareness to build cultural competence
Group sessions that include intercultural concepts, coaching, and leadership development
Individual coaching sessions to engage concepts, seek self-insight, and identify actions and practices
Cohort Details
- Participants will learn alongside a cohort of peers, receive both group and individual coaching from highly trained and certified coaches.
- 90-minute group sessions will include presentations of concepts, group coaching, case studies, and breakout conversations.
- Each participant will take the IDI assessment and receive and Individual Profile Report included in the cost of the cohort.
- Participants will receive 3 individual coaching sessions to deepen their work. Additional coaching sessions can be purchased for $150/session.
- This cohort will meet on the following Wednesdays from 2:30-4:00pm ET (11:30am-1:00pm PT) on September 30, October 21, November 11, December 2, January 6, and January 27.
- Spaces are limited to keep the cohort experience small.
- Cost is $849 per participant.
OUR NEXT CHURCH PHILOSOPHY
Transforming Ourselves Transforms Systems
We believe in order to change the systems around you, you have to start with yourself. When we begin with our own behaviors and actions to seek personal growth, we enter into the world transformed. The gathered Church is not an escape from the world. We believe it is a place where we practice new ways of being to resist to the ways of the world that lead to oppression and division. We return to our communities, schools, and workplaces changed so that we embody the transformative work that leads to justice and liberation.
Because of this belief, we partner cohort learning with individual coaching for maximum impact and leadership growth. By registering for a cohort, you accept the invitation into this community as an active learner with a commitment towards actionable transformation.
Time
Wednesdays
2:30-4:00pm ET
(11:30am-1:00pm PT)
Dates
Coaching
Every participant will receive 3 individual coaching sessions – including a personal assessment debrief session.
Cost
$849 per person
About the Sessions
Introduction to the Intercultural Developmental Continuum
The Intercultural Development Continuum offers opportunities to examine the “superpowers” and “developmental tasks” of each stage. We will build an understanding of the continuum and the way it impacts the individual and those around them.
The Cultural Iceberg
Characteristics/markers of culture that show up in our congregations (including power, authority, gender identity, and clergy/laity) are seen on the surface and experienced relationally. We will dig deeper into the impact of the various stages of the Intercultural Developmental Continuum.
Communication
Utilizing case studies, we will explore the ways the Intercultural Development Continuum characteristics show up in everyday interactions.
Facing Conflict
Change and transformation can lead to conflict. Individual results and the Intercultural Development Continuum create ways for communication, understanding, and engagement across differences.
The Impact on Preaching and Worship
Individual results can shape awareness about how one shows up in worship leadership. We will explore the ways you can stretch and grow alongside those whom you lead. Participants will preach and/or lead in worship between sessions 4 and 5 in order to consider the impact of the Intercultural Development Inventory during the session.
What Next?!
While considering the arc of the cohort, participants will plan next steps, implementation, and goals.
About the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI)
The Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) is an assessment that helps individuals and groups understand how they engage cultural differences and diversity. Grounded in a developmental framework, it identifies current intercultural strengths and growth opportunities while providing a roadmap for continued learning. Organizations use the IDI to strengthen leadership, communication, and collaboration across lines of race, culture, generation, theology, and other forms of difference.
Leadership
Larissa Kwong Abazia
Coach
Brett Pinder
Coach
Questions
For questions about the coaching cohort, contact Jen James.
