Leadership Academy for New Directions (LAND)

A mission development program for the church in small communities. It is primarily designed to serve archdeacons, rural deans, rectors of cluster parishes, members of diocesan boards or commissions, or others concerned with planning, training, coordination, or supervision in areas having small communities and (usually) small churches. In contrast to the usual demeaning status of mission congregations, LAND bases its vision on “New Directions,” a set of principles distilled from the teaching of Roland Allen. This involves a systemic change to lay responsibility, regional coordination of small congregations, and a theological and biblical view of the church. The ordination of respected local leaders who continue to support themselves by secular work is seen as a successful and desirable mission strategy for many situations. The LAND classes begin with an intensive two-week training session held each year in a conference center in a different part of the country. Participants return home to carry out a project implementing some aspect of New Directions in their own area of responsibility. The following year there is a one-week session in which projects are compared, critiqued, and analyzed. Qualified persons from different parts of the church are engaged as faculty. LAND began at Roanridge, Kansas City, Missouri, in 1975. See Allen, Roland; see Porter, Harry Boone; see Roanridge Training Conference Center.