Huntingdon College
Duffey Institute
The Paul A. Duffey Institute for Church Leadership
About the Institute
Formed in 2003 as a partnership between the Alabama-West Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church and Huntingdon College, the mission of the Paul A. Duffey Institute for Church Leadership is “to strengthen the body of Christ through the practical, educational, and spiritual development of students, pastors, and laity.” The Duffey Institute honors Paul A. Duffey, a long-time member and former Bishop in the Alabama-West Florida Conference. Dr. Ed Trimmer, professor of youth ministry at Huntingdon College, serves as the dean of the Duffey Institute.
Objectives
The Duffey Institute has the following objectives:
- Increasing the capacity of clergy for effective servant leadership in the church and community through course offerings, seminars, distance learning, and retreats;
- Maintaining the health of pastors and their families through a holistic approach to wellness;
- Equipping the laity for ministry in today’s world by providing relevant training and education;
- Preparing future leaders for church and society through Youth Leadership Conferences and opportunities to explore one’s calling to ministry; and
- Educating and nurturing individuals who feel called to church vocations.
Duffey Institute Initiatives
The Student Leadership Institute
The Student Leadership Institute (SLI) was created to challenge students to become leaders and to reward those who have already begun that process in their local youth ministries. SLI welcomes one or two promising leaders from each youth group in the Conference (rising 9–12 graders) for a week of intensive leadership training on the Huntingdon campus. Participants are challenged by teachers, motivated by speakers, and inspired by powerful worship as they learn why their leadership is important in their churches and communities.
SLI is offered annually at Huntingdon College at a cost of $250 per participant. For more information, contact Dr. James Jeffcoat or visit http://www.sli09.com/.
The Rural Church Leadership Initiative
“I believe it is to these rural districts that we are to look in large measure for the bone and sinew of our country.”—James B. Duke
Supported by a grant from the Sybil H. Smith Trust, the purpose of the Rural Church Leadership Initiative is to motivate, support, prepare, and train clergy in rural churches for the transformation of rural congregations and communities. A cohort of 24 pastors is selected each year by the Bishop and Cabinet of the Alabama-West Florida Conference for a course of study leading to a Certificate in Rural Church Leadership. Preference is given to those who are pastors in rural counties in South Alabama and Northwest Florida, the area the Smith Trust generally serves. Tuition, room, and board are provided to the participants. The group meets for five two-day seminars during the course of one academic year. These pastors and their congregations are also eligible for mini-grants for outreach to their communities.
