Bridging the gap to effective Catholic Church Leadership in times of change

By Lenah Gideon, Grant Manager at Porticus

Today's rapidly changing world requires effective leadership to address the challenges and complexities organisations face. The Church is no exception.

The Next Generation Leadership Programme (NGLP), is a leadership programme that nurtures, equips, and develops leaders with skills necessary to effectively meet the needs of the Church and society today. This programme is currently being offered in three countries, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.

NGLP focuses on the formation of future leaders to lead with integrity and excellence. One participant, Ben Gavile from Tanzania, says that the programme has been a game changer. “The programme takes a holistic approach to leadership development. It combined both spiritual and practical aspects to help me navigate the complexities of modern society while staying true to my faith.”

He reflects,“I acquired crucial knowledge that enabled me to evolve into an astute leader with deep know-how in Executive Management. I gradually rose the ranks from Cashier to a University Financial Controller."

At the core of the Next Generation Leadership Programme is synodality. The programme fosters a collaborative leadership style in which decision-making is shared among leaders who work together as equals rather than being centralized in a single individual or authority. Scholars who go through the programme are encouraged to promote cooperation, dialogue, and mutual respect and help foster a sense of shared ownership and responsibility among the leaders and members of the communities they serve.

According to Sister Nancy Owili from Kenya,"throughout my life, I always thought leaders were born until I attended the programme. I learned that leaders are not born; they are made/ developed, and this was the turning point in my life."

She added that the programme has played a crucial role in addressing the leadership gap in the Church, particularly between the clergy and the laity, through collaboration. The programme has also promoted the active participation of the laity in the leadership of the Church, empowering them to contribute to the mission of the Church. "Crucial training in people relations, motivating teams, and problem-solving skills have seen me rise through the ranks in different parts of service.” Sister Nancy Owili concluded.

The world is constantly changing, and the Church needs leaders who are innovative and adaptable to address the challenges of the modern world effectively. NGLP bridges the leadership gap by providing relevant leadership training to foster transparency, accountability, inclusion, and Synodality. It also helps equip individuals with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to become effective leaders within the Catholic community and in various aspects of their own life, positively impacting themselves and others.

As part of the work being done by Porticus in Fostering Vital Faith Communities and promoting a more participatory, inclusive Church, Porticus has been supporting and developing this programme since 2005.

To watch Sister Nancy Owili and her recipients speak more about the impact of the programme, visit: https://youtu.be/RrgARA9rwI8

To learn more about the programme, visit: www.NGLP.net