The Joshua Project - Formation of Young Pastors for Muti-Racial/Ethnic/Cultural Collaboration
2023: This is a planning grant for a project that engages the leadership of Fuller Theological Seminary’s Center for Asian American Theology & Ministry (AAC), Centro Latino (CL), and Pannell Center for Black Church Studies (PC). Each are engaged in research projects with 18-25 year old Christian leaders in their respective communities/demographics. Building on this research, the team will engage local pastors of color under the age of 45 to determine how they can break down the silos between their churches in order to facilitate multi-racial/ethnic/cultural collaboration for the benefit of the city. They will carry out individual interviews and focus groups.
The project seeks to understand (1) the changing needs and assets of the Asian, Hispanic and African American communities in the greater Los Angeles area (2) the current response of ethnic congregations to their context (3) the barriers that stand in the way of collaborative community ministry between primarily Asian, Hispanic and Black clergy and congregations, (4) the potential for identifying common community concerns and for supporting each other’s concerns, and (5) how Fuller’s ethnic centers could support these leaders and their churches in collaborating in community ministry.
2023-24: The Joshua Project at Fuller is a project aimed at the formation of young pastors for muti-racial/ethnic/cultural collaboration. Building on existing networks and research, Fuller will recruit five young pastors from congregations of color to be part of a research project to better understand the barriers, opportunities and resources for effective multiracial/ethnic/cultural collaboration for the sake of the city. This builds on the planning work described above.
The Strengthening Pastoral Formation for Ministry in the City initiative involves seminaries, theological institutions, and churches and intends to help communities and institutions explore and assess their own urban context and church life; gain clarity about their mission and programmatic offerings; and strengthen and support the design and implementation of plans to address key challenges and opportunities for pastoral formation and flourishing congregations in urban settings.
