Introducing the learning experience to transform your church and community.

Transform Church - Transform Community 2.0 is a cohort learning community for congregations from marginalized communities, inclusive of both United Church of Christ and other Christian traditions.

This unique cohort is a 12-month program that includes a three-module learning series aimed to help congregation leaders:

  • explore what it means to be a church amid today’s social and cultural trends

  • identify ways to align theology of mission and societal changes in a post pandemic environment

  • review geographic and demographic data to assess models for community ministry and
    congregation collaborations 

  • develop individual church strategic plans that will align their goals within specified
    timelines

2025 Cohort Module Dates

Module 1:  March 8, April 5, May 10

Module 2:  June 28, July 26, Aug. 23

Module 3:  Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Nov. 22

Completion of Strategic Plan: Dec. 2025 – Feb. 2026

Program Team

 
 

Jill White | Project Manager

Jill brings over 25 years of experience in stewardship, fundraising, and strategic planning to her position of Lead Mission Interpreter at CB&LF and Project Manager for Transform Church - Transform Community 2.0.  In her role as Lead Mission Interpreter she works with churches across the United States leading Capital Campaigns, Visioning and Strategic Planning, Repurposing and Stewardship.

Jill is a member of the Western Maryland chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and holds an Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving.

MELINA D. HIGBEE | STRATEGIC PROGRAMS ADMINISTRATOR

Melina plays a key role in overseeing and implementing the strategic programs including the launching of CB&LF’s spiritual entrepreneurs’ cohort, The Adese Fellowship. Melina led the team in the creation of the programmatic framework for the Adese Fellowship, a yearlong program to guide spiritual entrepreneurs in the development of their mission focused ventures. In her role as Strategic Programs Administrator, she has completed the coursework and earned the Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising, from the prestigious Lake Institute at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, Indiana University. 

Taylor Russell | Senior Data Analyst 

Taylor has more than 20 years of experience working for the United Church of Christ National setting. In her previous role with the Center for Analytics, Research & Development, and Data (CARDD) Taylor contributed to the publication of twenty-two Annual Yearbook & Directories, UCC Statistical Profiles, and published an article “Multiply-Affiliated Congregations in the United Church of Christ: Initial Findings for the Review of Religious Research, March, 2015. Taylor combines research, data, strategic planning, and storytelling to identify meaningful insights and impacts for CB&LF.

In this role, Taylor is responsible for overseeing the Transform Church – Transform Community 2.0 program evaluation and metrics. When she is not crunching numbers, you can find Taylor outside walking in nature or tending to her garden.

“At the end of our program, each congregation will have established a renewed role within their own community, with a focused innovative approach to organize and conduct transformative ministry in the future. ”
— Jill White, Project Manager

Participant Outcomes

Church leaders have worked with CB&LF to transform their church and community for more than 100 years. Here are examples of ways leaders have used the CB&LF partnership and learnings to make an impact for the decades ahead.

Riverside community church | hood river, or

After flooding destroyed much of the church’s education wing, the congregation was left with the decision to move or rebuild. They decided to rebuild with a new vision in mind.  The church will replace the building’s roof, original flooring, carpeting and furniture. On the exterior, the back parking lot will be repaired; the building will be painted and new signage added; and the historic stained glass windows will be fixed. CB&LF helped them accomplish the redevelopment plan by guiding a $800,000 capital campaign. 

St. paul’s ucc | woodstock, VA

In 2021, St. Paul’s UCC  was in a precarious position.  COVID had shut down services; it was a small, aging congregation and with even older facilities. So, the church set out to reimagine its purpose. CB&LF was engaged to help the church through a visioning process. As a result, they were able to rethink how to use their facilities to benefit the community. Today, the church provides space for respite housing to help people on their way to obtaining safe, affordable and permanent homes.  

Frequently Asked Questions

  • The Transform Church - Transform Community 2.0 program seeks to serve under resourced congregations within and/or work with marginalized and underserved communities. Areas of interest are those that have shown extreme poverty and disparity in health and economic sustainability, limiting their church's resources and membership capacity.  Economic Distress Criteria:  

    • Poverty rate greater than 15%

    • Median family income (MFI) at 80% or below specific MFI benchmarks

    • Tract Income Level: Low

     Using this link to assess economic criteria, geo-map: https://geomap.ffiec.gov/ffiecgeomap/

  • Please send an email with your name, church name and best phone number to TC2CBLF@ucc.org

  • There is no cost to apply or participate.

  • Video conferencing via Zoom is required for the cohort. Participants are required to attend all virtual sessions.

 

An Engaging Community Ready for Action

Workshops via Zoom, consulting with coaches, and small group work in between sessions will enhance participants’ program experience.  Together, they will gain clarity about their values and mission; assess their church's resources and context; and develop an individual strategic church plan for their congregations.

Questions?

If you'd like to learn more about the Transform Church - Transform Community 2.0 Learning Cohort for 2025, please email us.