Co-Missioned Pastor Initiative (CPI)

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The Co-Missioned Pastor Initiative (CPI) is a three-year training program designed to enhance the ministry of bi-vocational pastors (that's our current terminology for pastors who aren't paid by the church or the congregation, but support themselves with a "day job"). The program requires the congregation and the mission centre to "co-mission" (i.e. "partner") with pastors who are willing to serve for several years and who sense the divine call to increase the health and vitality of their congregations.

CEM Does CPI

After a successful North American pilot project by World Church (which included several pastors from Canada East Mission), CEM decided to create their own version of the CPI program in order to accelerate the benefits of the training to the CEM congregations. This five-year program is fully funded through CEM and the generous response of the CEM’s membership of committed disciples.

Marion Smith (CEM Development Focus Minister) and Douglas Bolger (a recently retired education professional who agreed to be the co-ordinator for the program) began working on the CEM CPI program in 2008. They worked to make the CEM version follow the original CPI program closely, using the same study plans, mentoring processes, and the same courses from the same instructors wherever possible.

CEM CPI 2009 Cohort

Applications from pastors and congregations were accepted in late 2008, and the first group (the "2009 cohort") of twelve pastors began the CPI program in March 2009.

There has been considerable interest expressed in starting a second cohort, but no decision has been made yet. If you and/or your congregation are interested in participating in a second cohort, please contact Marion or Doug through the CEM office.