What is the Damascus project?

Inspired by the story of Paul’s transformation on the road to Damascus, we exist to nurture vitality within the body of Christ through theological study and equipping leaders within congregations and communities.

Our foundational values:

We have a variety of beliefs because spiritual diversity is a gift.

We ask hard questions because matters of faith are too important for easy answers

We wrestle with our sacred texts because God is Still Speaking and we are listening.

We question our beliefs because God calls us to learn and grow. 

We interrogate our church’s past because we believe in telling the whole truth.

We imagine our church’s future because we believe the church is a vehicle for transformation.

How do we hope to make the Damascus Project special?

1. Create brave, non-judgemental, theologically-open spaces so that learners can explore and deepen their faith. 

2. Equip all the saints by providing relevant theological learning so that laity are empowered to boldly speak their faith and share their gifts for ministries of all kinds. 

3. Provide high-quality continuing education for clergy to promote a culture of lifelong learning and professional development in our congregations and conferences. 

4. Provide multiple pathways for “Members In Discernment,” creating opportunities for ministry training in alignment with the UCC Marks for Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers. 

5. Strengthen the whole body of Christ by creating interactive opportunities for clergy and laity to grow together as leaders and learners modeling healthy shared leadership and governance. 

6. Respond in particular to the needs of small and rural churches and their leaders nurturing their vitality while also drawing on their wisdom for the benefit of the wider church.

Click above to join The Damascus Project Network — For Free!

In addition to high-quality learning experiences, The Damascus Project offers free membership in The Damascus Project Network — a social network and learning platform where you can connect with colleagues eager to explore the same questions as you, learn the latest news, and have unique access to your paid courses. As you grow in faith and leadership, we will grow as a community.

The Damascus Project is a shared ministry of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Conferences, United Church of Christ.

Disclaimer
The Damascus Project is not a seminary or accredited educational institution. We do not grant degrees. However, our learning opportunities are theologically sound, academically rich, and spiritually engaging. To the extent that they are rooted in the UCC’s Marks for Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers, they may also serve as a resource along a person’s journey toward ministry authorization (licensure or ordination). Granting of ministerial authorization is not the role or purview of The Damascus Project. Those interested in ministerial authorization must engage with the Committee on Ministry in their conference or association.