Listening Partner Network Update #1
I’m excited to share Heather, our Innovation Animator’s update on our Listening Partner Network with you all. Here’s Heather!
You are not alone. From our bustling urban ministry spaces to the far reaches of our rural and remote communities, ministry leaders, you are not alone. With the Lilly Grant as a catalyst, the Ministry Forum team has spent the first 6 months of 2026 building the new Listening Partner Network to ensure that any ministry leader in the PCC across Canada has access to trained, impartial, empathetic listening partners.
Ministry is a unique vocation, one filled with purpose and meaning, but it can also feel lonely and isolating. Leaders need spaces where they can process experiences, discuss challenges, celebrate successes, and talk through ideas with someone who gets it, but also isn’t evaluating their performance. Sometimes peers are the best teammates, and sometimes the dynamic or politics can get in the way of genuine sharing and connecting. Sometimes it’s tricky to “take off the mask” with those in our direct community. Even for our leaders who feel they are not isolated, we don’t always feel that our direct peers or community are the right people to process everything with. Sometimes just an outside set of eyes and ears can bring much-needed fresh perspective. Our existing systems don’t seem to be providing the support our leaders need, and we know that when leaders feel supported, they are more resilient. So where can our leaders turn for the support, wisdom, encouragement, and understanding they need to remain resilient and lead with confidence? This is where the Listening Partner Network comes in!
What is the Listening Partner Network Initiative
A network of trained listeners who provide confidential spaces for pastoral leaders (clergy and lay) to process challenges and experiences, explore ideas, celebrate and receive encouragement, and discern next steps
Sustainable peer support relationships that boost resilience through structured partnerships, shared experience and real understanding, leading to meaningful supportive conversation
One-on-one conversations accessible from anywhere through a virtual platform
Thoughtful and non-judgmental questions to provoke meaningful, challenging, encouraging, and validating conversations
Partnerships that are matched intentionally based on need and experience
Referrals to other resources when deeper support is needed (to be clear, our Listening Partners are not therapists or mental health professionals)
Where are we at so far?
Halfway through 2026, our network building is well underway. We have met with potential listening partners with deep experience in similar roles elsewhere to learn from their experiences, glean insights into useful training and resources, and gather their insights as we build this initiative. It is imperative that we build the Listening Partner Network in a way that is genuinely responsive to the needs of those who may access the network.
In April, we held kick-off meetings to gather all those interested in participating in the first cohort of Listening Partners, and we have collected application forms.
In collaboration with other Ontario-based peer support organizations, we have begun building a comprehensive training program for our first cohort of listening partners to ensure they feel well-equipped to engage in listening conversations.
To ensure that all Listening Partners have time to complete their training - and to respect the need for rest and time away during the summer months - we are postponing training for our first cohort to begin in September of this year.
This means that if you have been on the fence or considering joining us as a Listening Partner, there is still time!
We are thrilled by the response from this community so far, but the more Listening Partners we have engaged, trained, and ready to go, the further we can extend the support of this initiative to the reaches of our national church. If you are interested in participating, please reach out to John (john.borthwick@utoronto.ca) or Heather(heather@ministryforum.ca).
We look forward to continuing to share this exciting journey as we train, prepare, and launch the Listening Partner Network!