S3 is a collaborative, small group, action learning project/experience that will help sustain/promote excellence in ordained ministry. You and your peer group develop and implement a two-year long learning project/experience focused on three areas: Sabbath, Study, and Service.
If your group is selected to participate in the program, your peer group will be invited to an orientation retreat. At the retreat, you will create your project outline with help from the S3 Project Team. You will also participate in orientation activities, meet a mentor for your group that will provide support and encouragement, and spend a significant amount of time refining your learning project/experience while building community with your new group. Approved peer groups will receive funding through the South Georgia S3 program which will provide $500 per person, per year, for the two years of your group’s learning process – to be used according to the approved learning project/experience.
You will collaborate with your peer group on the goals designed primarily by your group, with input from the S3 Project Team. The goal is that the lessons and experiences will translate into excellence in your ministry context.
The original design of the S3 program began at Columbia Theological Seminary and was sponsored by the Lilly Endowment as a part of their “Sustaining Pastoral Excellence” initiative. Since 2003, 49 groups and 297 individuals have participated in Columbia’s S3 project.
Each of the S3 groups from South Georgia that participated in the Columbia program were self-selected and self-directed: they chose the members of their groups and they developed the S3 learning project for their groups (with direction from the S3 project committee). Each of these groups continues to meet even though they no longer receive funding from S3. The proof of the S3 program’s effectiveness is in the excellent ministry witnessed in the lives and vocations of the participating ministers! S3 has a track record that is extremely successful. S3 works.