College for Congregational Development

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Overnight accommodations at Bellwether Farm are sold out. There are a few spots left if you are able to stay offsite nearby. If you'd like to be added to the waitlist, please contact the Rev. Leah Romanelli DeJesus or George Benson.

Welcome to the College for Congregational Development! At our 208th Convention, Bishop Jolly cast the vision for our diocese: “Connected in Beloved Community, we seek to be faithful, healthy, effective, and sustainable sharers of the transformative love of Jesus.” The College for Congregational Development (CCD) will teach the Diocese of Ohio exactly how to do that. All are welcome to attend CCD Year B, which will take place August 10-15 at Bellwether Farm. This is an immersive experience, so best practices are to stay overnight and be fully present in the learning environment.

Often described as “tools plus hope”, CCD is a two week program (one week per year) that teaches a set of tools and lenses from the best practices of business and congregational development. This learning helps us approach the changing landscape of faith communities. It gives groups the ability to plan and innovate together faithfully with everyone working toward the same goal. After completing the first year, participants put together an “intervention” to try out the new skills they’ve learned. It does not matter which “Year” students choose to start, Year B is open to those who have completed Year A as well as those who are brand-new to CCD.

CCD is heavily subsidized by the Diocese of Ohio, so we are able to offer this week of experiential learning for $850 for Diocese of Ohio participants staying in a single room, $950 for out-of-diocese participants staying in a single room, $750 for those who choose to stay off campus within a 20 mile radius of Bellwether, and $600 for those who choose to have a roommate.

A few things to know: CCD is always a full day of learning and group interaction, so before choosing to stay nearby off-campus or having a roommate, please carefully consider how you will manage your energy and still be able to participate fully in every session, including worship and meal times. If you choose to have a roommate, please register together. Finally, we want to do all in our power to make this experience accessible to as many people as possible, so a limited number of scholarships are available. Please reach out to Co-Directors George Benson and the Rev. Leah Romanelli DeJesus to request assistance.

Registrations and payments must be received by May 1, 2025. Refunds will not be available after that time.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What time do I arrive?
You may arrive at Bellwether starting at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 10. Our first event will begin at 4:00 p.m.

When will we end?
CCD will end with lunch at noon on Friday, August 15.

May I attend a work-related Zoom meeting or go to the dentist during the week?
We respectfully request that you be where you are, with your mind and feet firmly planted on the farm. Please reschedule any meetings or appointments before or after our time together.

What does a typical day at CCD look like?
Although every day is slightly different, we follow this general flow:

8:00 AM Breakfast
8:45 AM Morning Prayer
9:30 AM Plenary Session
10:45 AM Break
11:00 AM Small Groups
12:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM Small Groups
2:30 PM Break
3:00 PM Plenary
5:30 PM Break
6:00 PM Dinner
7:00 PM Evening Prayer

How do I graduate?
After completing Year A of CCD and participating in our Year B, completing and submitting an intervention, and tackling the required reading materials found at the front of your manuals, you may request to take the test at any time during our week together. The test is located in the front of your CCD manuals and is a simple fill-in-the-blank style form. You may also retake the test as many times as you choose during the week. Graduation will take place Thursday evening following dinner. We look forward to celebrating your achievement!

How do I prepare for the week?
CCD does sometimes request a small amount of pre-work. We will communicate that to you as soon as the decision is made for the year. The curriculum is reviewed and edited every year to keep it current, so we expect to know sometime in late May. Otherwise, please arrive at Bellwether feeling as centered and open to new experiences as possible, ready to engage and grapple with new material.

What should I bring?
We will provide a notebook and manual for you. We discourage taking notes on a laptop, tablet, or phone because it quickly takes people “out of the room” and it’s easy to be distracted by work emails and social media, but please do what works best for your learning style. It is often helpful to take pictures of the models the presenters draw, so you may want your phone handy for that. There will be some tables available as well as open seating. Participants are encouraged to stand and stretch, bring knitting to busy their hands, etc. as needed. Additionally, although free time is limited, you are encouraged to spend it accessing the beautiful resources of Bellwether: canoeing, walking the trails, and fishing. Please bring what you need in order to take advantage of opportunities to do those things.