Leadership cohort · Pastors & lay leaders
The Tend Fold Initiative
Caring for the local community, together.
A year-long cohort that gives Chattanooga pastors, lay leaders, and ministry administrators executive-level leadership training, coaching, and city engagement, then puts it to work in their neighborhoods.
The Tend Fold Initiative is made possible with support from Lilly Endowment Inc.
Why Tend Fold
Training usually reserved for corporate executives
Most pastors receive strong theological training but little preparation for managing staff, budgets, teams, and organizational change. Pastoral leadership is often isolating, and many congregations stay focused inward.
Tend Fold answers both. It is not a program to add, but a formation process that helps churches rediscover their purpose, share leadership more sustainably, and join with others for the flourishing of the city.
8
leadership development sessions
12
months of formation and practice
1:1
personalized coaching
8
host sites across Chattanooga
The experience
What participants do
[Photo: speaker session]
Leadership development
Eight sessions led by experienced organizational leaders, supported by a management researcher and instructional designer.
City engagement
Urban theology, the church's history in the city, and contemporary models of engagement.
[Photo: coaching conversation]
Personal coaching
One-on-one support as leaders apply what they learn in their own congregation.
Practice in the neighborhood
Neighborhood listening, collaborative projects, and ministry experiments that meet real needs.
2026 cohort · completed
Leadership development sessions
Date
Session
Speaker
Host site
Mar 16
Understanding the Role of Business in God's World
Scott Quatro
Covenant College
Apr 13
Embodying Servant Leadership
Rodger Piersant
Northshore Fellowship
May 11
Leading Versus Doing
Dan Wykoff
Branch Technology
Jun 8
Appreciating Individual Differences
Shannon Weber
Kenco
Jul 13
Enhancing Communication and Conflict
Lesley Scearce
United Way
Aug 10
Ensuring HR-Mindedness
Scott Quatro
Common House Chattanooga
Sep 14
Building Team Effectiveness
Melissa Blevins
Chattanooga Area Food Bank
Oct 12
Leading Enterprise Strategy
Greg Pawson
Card-Monroe Corporation
From our faculty and hosts
“Church leaders seldom get the opportunity to be poured into on subjects not theological but still of major importance to their operating survival.”
Rodger Piersant · Co-Founder
“The greatest impact we can make for the Kingdom is through the close collaboration of businesses, community organizations, churches, and government agencies.”
Greg Pawson · CEO
“The Chalmers Center loved hosting Kingdom Partners and dreaming together about how to connect churches to local leaders.”
Tabitha Kapic · Director of Innovation, Chalmers Center
The 2026 cohort in pictures
[Photo: Covenant College session]
[Photo: table discussion]
[Photo: United Way session]
[Photo: cohort group shot]
Who should apply
Senior and associate pastors, key lay leaders, and church-connected nonprofit administrators in the Chattanooga area who want to lead their teams well and join other congregations in serving the city.
How much time does it take?
One two-hour midday session a month, plus coaching and a congregational project.
Is there a cost to participate?
[Confirm with Kingdom Partners]
Do I need to be part of a certain denomination?
No. Cohorts intentionally include churches across traditions, races, and neighborhoods.
How does Tend Fold relate to LINK Chattanooga?
LINK is the next stage, expanding the Tend Fold model to 30–45 congregations across three annual cohorts.
Interested in the next cohort?
Tell us about your church or ministry and we'll be in touch about upcoming dates.