ALLIANCE NEW ENGLAND RESIDENCY
Learn the art of pastoral ministry.
Spend about two years inside a healthy congregation, serving alongside a more experienced pastor, and build the skills, practices and character for a lifetime of faithful, fruitful ministry in New England.
- LENGTHAbout two yearsMost residents are ready to launch in 20 to 30 months.
- COMPENSATIONA compensated roleFunded by the host church and the district.
- HOUSINGHousing or an allowanceProvided by the church or district, or an allowance to secure your own.
- WHAT’S NEXTPlacement in New EnglandAs a lead or staff pastor, a church planter, or a new-campus pastor.
WHAT IS A RESIDENCY?
Formed inside a healthy church.
A residency is an approach to developing aspiring pastors: a place to learn the art of pastoral ministry from inside a healthy congregation and alongside a more experienced pastor.
Most residents have been theologically and academically prepared for ministry by their education. Their further development of leadership and ministry skills benefits greatly from hands-on experience and close mentorship that can only come from inside a local church. Our residents participate in all aspects of congregational life, gaining experience in essential areas of pastoral leadership and learning to understand and use their unique skills and giftings for the Kingdom.
- Hands-on experienceServe, work and lead across the life and ministries of a local church.
- Close mentorshipPersonalized, mentored support from an experienced pastor, with time for observation and candid feedback.
- A lasting foundationSkills and practices, professional and personal, for fruitful and faithful service to the church in New England.
THE TWO-YEAR JOURNEY
From observing to launching.
Residents are immersed in the life of a local church and, over two years, are involved in most aspects of its leadership and ministry. Responsibility grows as you do. Every residency is planned with intentionality and flexibility; this is a typical path.
1 · IMMERSE · QUARTER 1
Settle into church and community.
Residents begin by entering the rhythm of church life and a new community. Early on, many areas are simply observed or experienced as part of normal life. Living with missional intentionality, for example, includes getting to know your neighbors and the people in the community you’ve just moved to.
TYPICAL AREAS OF FOCUS
- Immersion in church life
- Immersion in community
- Missional intentionality
- People of peace
- LOOK/LEARNYouth ministry
- LOOK/LEARNSmall group ministry
- ORDINATION
- Peacemaking
- CHARACTER
- Personal rhythms, relational IQ
2 · LOOK & LEARN · QUARTERS 2–3
Watch ministry up close.
Residents observe experienced leaders and learn the ministries of the church from the inside, from teaching and preaching to pastoral care, outreach and discipleship. Ordination training runs alongside.
TYPICAL AREAS OF FOCUS
- LOOK/LEARNTeaching & preaching
- LOOK/LEARNPastoral care
- LOOK/LEARNOutreach
- LOOK/LEARNDiscipleship
- LOOK/LEARNDeveloping leaders
- LOOK/LEARNVision casting
- ORDINATION
- Missions, evangelism, multiplying missional leaders, church discipline
- CHARACTER
- Self-awareness, servanthood & humility
3 · LEAD · QUARTERS 4–5
Take real responsibility.
As the residency progresses, residents begin leading ministries. It’s through this work that their skills and competencies are practiced and honed, with mentored support along the way.
TYPICAL AREAS OF FOCUS
- LEADTeaching & preaching
- LEADPastoral care
- LEADDiscipleship
- LEADVision casting
- LEADDeveloping leaders
- LEADAdministration
- ORDINATION
- Collective mission & multiplication, polity
- CHARACTER
- Personal rhythms, prayer
4 · LAUNCH · QUARTERS 6–8
Start something new.
Later in the residency, residents may launch new ministries. Areas of focus become fewer and deeper, and the final quarters typically include preparation for the ordination oral exam.
TYPICAL AREAS OF FOCUS
- LAUNCHVision casting
- LAUNCHDeveloping leaders
- LAUNCHDiscipleship
- LAUNCHPreaching & teaching
- LAUNCHAdministration
- LAUNCHPastoral care
- ORDINATION
- Oral exam preparation
5 · PLACE · ~20–30 MONTHS
Step into your next role.
Most residents are ready to launch in the 20- to 30-month range. The goal is placement within the New England district. The district works closely with the host church, the resident and churches with openings to coordinate interviewing, candidating and placement.
THE GOAL: PLACEMENT IN NEW ENGLAND
- Lead pastor or staff pastor of an established church
- Church planter
- Pastor for a new campus or new expression of an established church
HOW IT’S STRUCTURED
Planned a quarter at a time.
There isn’t a two-year plan you’re asked to follow from day one.
A framework guides each resident’s time at the church with intentionality and flexibility. It fits the predictable rhythm of church life (the calendar, holidays, seasons and ministry schedules) and leaves room for the opportunities, crises and changes that arise at unexpected times.
Work is planned a quarter at a time, with some longer-range planning for the next six months, so that important growth areas are identified, prioritized and addressed within the two years.
THE QUARTERLY PLANNING TOOL
Areas of focus
Which ministries will the resident observe, work in, lead or even launch? Which key ministry concepts and practical skills are they developing? There’s room for up to six areas each quarter, and fewer as the resident begins leading and launching.
Ordination
What trainings are coming up this quarter, and what assignments, such as papers or reading, is the resident responsible for?
Character
Where does the resident need help developing spiritual disciplines, or growing in areas like humility and relational health?
WHERE RESIDENTS GROW
Formed for a lifetime of ministry.
The goal is holistic: growing core competencies, discovering and developing gifts and talents, providing personalized mentored support, and building practices for health and well-being over a lifetime of ministry.
Theological training & practical skills
Most residents work through ordination with The Christian and Missionary Alliance during their residency, solidifying their theological training and developing practical skills for ministry.
Core competencies
The combination of skills, knowledge and experience that helps pastors succeed in ministry, developed in every pastor along with the practical skills that are part of each one.
Hands-on ministry
Residents work, serve and lead in many of the church’s ministries, and it’s through that work that their skills and competencies are practiced and honed.
Spiritual gifts & calling
Each resident is unique in their spiritual gifts and calling. These become a focus for greater understanding, use and refinement.
Character development
Because all of life is ministry, residents grow in practices that support spiritual, familial and relational health, ready to navigate the unique challenges ministry can place on a pastor, their spouse and family.
IS THIS FOR YOU?
Called to pastor
in New England?
Here’s who we’re looking for. Check the statements that describe you.
Check each statement that describes you.
Talk with us about a residencyWHY NEW ENGLAND
- Top 4Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts rank as the four least religious states in the nation.Gallup
- 5 of 5The five most post-Christian cities in America are all in New England.Barna Group
- 1–3%Only 1–3% of the population attends an evangelical church.
- 50Alliance churches across all six states: urban, suburban and rural, from 30 to 1,200+ people, worshiping in multiple languages.Alliance New England
QUESTIONS
Good questions, answered.
Don’t see yours? Email the Alliance New England office and we’ll be glad to help.
office@alliancenewengland.orgAbout two years. Two years isn’t a magic number, but it’s a good target to work toward: most residents are ready to launch in the 20- to 30-month range. Timing is balanced with placement opportunities in the district and circumstances at the host church.
Yes, residencies are compensated positions, funded by the host church and the district. Residents are asked to raise a portion of their compensation, and resources and training are provided for this task.
Housing may be provided by the host church or the district, or a housing allowance will be provided for you to find and secure your own housing. The details are tailored to each resident, and we’ll talk them through with you personally.
In a healthy local church that hosts your residency, where you serve alongside a more experienced pastor and are immersed in the life and leadership of the church. We match each resident with a host church that fits their calling and context.
A bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Bible, pastoral ministry or another ministry-related field is preferred. If you don’t have one, opportunities to obtain it are also available through the program.
All candidates must be able to meet licensing requirements with The Christian and Missionary Alliance. The C&MA licenses its pastors and then ordains them, and most residents will be working through ordination during their residency. Read about the C&MA pathway into ministry.
Yes. A resident may focus on a particular ministry area (for example, youth), multiple ministries (for example, youth and worship) or generalized pastoral ministry.
The goal is placement within the New England district as a lead or staff pastor of an established church, as a church planter, or as a pastor for a new campus or new expression of an established church. The district works closely with the host church, the resident and churches with openings to coordinate interviewing, candidating and placement.
There’s no set start date or deadline. Each residency is planned around the resident, so email Holly to start the conversation.
Start with ANE’s Pathway to Ministry, where you can explore your gifts, confirm your call and gain experience. You can also see all current open positions.
Forward your resume and any accompanying materials to Holly Skalberg at holly@alliancenewengland.org.
HOW TO APPLY
Could God be calling you?
To be considered for a residency, forward your resume and any accompanying materials to Holly Skalberg at Alliance New England. Holly works with candidates and churches across the region, pairing candidates with churches for staffing or residency.
