Click here to apply for the 2020-2021 Trans Seminarian Cohort!
The application deadline is 15 June 2020.
A YEAR-LONG LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR TRANSGENDER & GENDERQUEER SEMINARIANS
For the last seven years, CLGS, the Freedom Center for Social Justice and the National LGBTQ Task Force have sponsored a program for transgender and genderqueer seminarians in the United States. Our goal is to encourage trans* students during their training for religious leadership so that they complete their degrees, feel equipped to follow their vocation, and also embrace the fact that their impact as faith leaders can and should extend beyond their chosen settings for ministry and service to include the welfare of the broader communities in which they live. This is the only program that we are aware of that addresses the unique challenges and gifts of trans* seminarians.
Each year, we offer a cohort experience for five students engaged in training for religious ministry, providing mentorship, peer support, and the opportunity to attend conferences and retreats sponsored by each of our organizations. In addition to these three face-to-face meetings, the group connects through monthly phone calls and on social media. All of the expenses to attend the programs are fully covered.
In this amazing and intensive opportunity, participants will attend and actively participate in 3 powerful gatherings, build relationships with new and known colleagues, and journey deep into the meaning of what leadership means and feels like for people of faith who also identify as transgender or genderqueer.
The Application Form for the 2020-2021 cohort is due 15 June 2020.
LEARNING FOUNDATIONS
- Grounded in their own faith and theology while sincerely open to and accepting of people of differing faith traditions and theological positions;
- Open-minded and excited to encounter the diversity of the Cohort and the communities they will encounter throughout the year; with a commitment to inclusivity and justice;
- Prepared through some foundational work that addresses the impacts of institutional oppression and personal prejudice based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, ableism, immigration status, economic class, etc;
- Eager to be a part of the group experience of the cohort, including awareness of group dynamics, a commitment to ongoing presence with the group, and a willingness to connect between meetings as appropriate;
- Energized to fully engage this experience.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Build solid collegial relationships with other members of the cohort and with the broader trans communities, grounded in respect, justice, and compassion;
- Be able to articulate the experience and distinct nature of trans religious leadership, including identifying how this impacts their own leadership style;
- Have examined the relationship between their trans identity and their faith experiences and traditions, reflecting theologically on the intersections between them;
- Be well prepared to speak effectively about the trans experience and trans-related theology to individuals and faith and other groups to increase understanding and promote dialogue;
- Develop additional skills for faith-based leadership, as appropriate to the individual path of each Cohort member, such as preaching, pastoral care, health and wellness, etc.
EXPECTATIONS
II. Participants will be responsible, with support and direction from Trans Cohort faculty, for developing and leading a conference workshop at one or more of these national conferences.
III. At the conclusion of the Trans Cohort year, prepare a personal reflection on the experience and its impact on the individual’s life that can be used to encourage others to participate in the Trans Cohort experience in the future.