Emerging Leaders Lab
Applications are now open for our next intake, starting May 2026.
Program Size
25 People
Cohort Size
5 People, +1 Pastoral Guide
Program Length
12 Months
Program Start
May 2026
The Emerging Leaders Lab is a 12 month pastoral formation community that is designed to help participants grow in 8 essential pastoral competencies.
Abiding in Christ: An invitation to participate in the inner life and love of the Trinity.
Calling: Understanding your divine invitation to the life of vocational ministry as expressed through your God-given wiring and gifting.
Community: Experiencing a willingness to cultivate deep, vulnerable friendships that fuel love and good deeds.
Character: Development of a strong moral fibre that embodies the character of Christ and refuses to capitulate to the prevailing culture.
Craft: Cultivating the willingness and resolve to strengthen ministry skills over time.
Contending: Learning to live with a sense of dependency on the Holy Spirit to bring renewal to a people and a place.
Context: Cultivating an understanding and love for your unique place and people
Catechesis: Developing a growing understanding of how to educate and form congregants to become disciples of Jesus.
Through in-person retreats, peer-to-peer collaboration, large group learning sessions, and 1:1 mentorship you’ll gain wisdom and insights for leading yourself and your community into the future with confidence.
Applications Close
January 30, 2026
The Emerging Leaders Lab Expereince
In this conversation we connect with Piper Loewen, the Children's Ministry Director at Soul Sanctuary church in Winnipeg and a participant in the Emerging Leaders Lab (2024/25).
Frequently Asked Questions
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The Emerging Leaders Lab is for:
The person who desires to have a faithful and fruitful ministry, ending their time in ministry still in love with Jesus.
For the one who longs to be a faithful disciple of Jesus, a good friend, spouse, parent, leader, and colleague.
The person who may feel called to lead a church one day but doesn’t know how to prepare themselves.
The pastor who has found that ministry can be lonely and is finding it difficult to build friendships with other pastors.
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Participants in the Emerging Leaders Lab:
Have at least 5 years of church ministry experience (on staff).
Are typically between the ages of 25-35 years old.
Are actively serving in a Canadian church.
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Applications close on January 30, 2026.
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Total Program Cost: $2,000
Semester #1: $1000
Launch Retreat (Vancouver)
Orientation Call
6 Online Cohort Sessions
5 Online Gatherings
Two 1:1 Mentorship Meetings
Semester #2: $1000
Wrap Up Retreat (Vancouver)
5 Cohorts Sessions
5 Online Gatherings
Two 1:1 Mentorship Meetings
Travel and accommodation costs for the retreats are not included in the program costs.
Payment can be made in one transaction or though quarterly instalments.
*Our program costs are subsidized thanks for to generosity of partners, donors, and churches who believe in pastors and support our work.
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Limited bursaries are available thanks to the generosity of partners, donors, and churches who believe in pastors and support our work. Email us at contact@thepastorate.ca to find out more about our bursary options.
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This is a tentative schedule for 2026-2027, and some dates may shift as we finalize plans.
Key dates to note include travel to Vancouver for a kick off and wrap up retreat in May of 2026 and 2027.
Semester #1:
April 30 - Orientation Gathering (Online)
May 13-15 - Launch Retreat (Vancouver)
May 28 - Cohort Session (Online)
June 4 - Large Group Gathering (Online)
June 18 - Cohort Session (Online)
July 9 - Large Group Gathering (Online)
July 23 - Cohort Session (Online)
Break for August
September 3 - Large Group Gathering (Online)
September 17 - Cohort Session (Online)
October 1 - Large Group Gathering (Online)
October 15 - Cohort Session (Online)
October 29 - Large Group Gathering (Online)
November 12 - Cohort Session (Online)
Semester #2:
December 3 - Large Group Gathering (Online)
December 17 - Cohort Session (Online)
Christmas Break
January 7 - Large Group Gathering (Online)
January 21 - Cohort Session (Online)
February 4 - Large Group Gathering (Online)
February 18 - Cohort Session (Online)
March 4 - Large Group Gathering (Online)
March 18 - Cohort Session (Online)
April 8 - Final Large Group Gathering (Online)
April 22 - Final Cohort Session (Online)
May 3-4 - Wrap Up Retreat (Vancouver)
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