THRIVE!
Diocesan Church Development Institute
THRIVE! DCDI is a leadership-training program focused on developing the spiritual community and organizational life of congregations.
Have you ever wished your church were somehow different?
Perhaps you wish to enhance your skills as a leader.
Or perhaps you wish you could help inject some creative energy and fresh ideas into some program or ministry, but you don’t want to do it alone.
Thrive! The Diocesan Church Development Institute (DCDI) invites church teams of three or four people, including their priest, to embark on a journey of learning, skill development, and of self-discovery that takes place over two cycles of four overnight gatherings per cycle. Teams from congregations throughout the Diocese of Southern Virginia gather for each scheduled gathering beginning Friday at 10:00 a.m. and depart by 3:00 p.m. on Saturday.
Our overnight gatherings offer corporate worship, times of learning, practicing of new leadership skills and techniques, and opportunities to share and reflect together. Additionally, teams build lasting relationships with others from across the diocese.
Each congregational team will also develop several projects to put into practice what has been learned and then share the fruits and learnings from those projects with the rest of the Thrive! DCDI participants.
Team members need to commit to in-person attendance at the gatherings of both cycles, ready to learn, share, risk, laugh, and grow.
So, pray about who in your congregation might be called to embark on this journey. Get in touch with Canon Lynn Farlin or Canon Jeunée Godsey to explore and ask more questions.
Are you ready to learn, to grow, and to help lead your parish in vitality and vision?
registration
register for the next cycle (Cycle 1 - 2026) of DCDI
Information will be sent to all registrants prior to our first Thrive! DCDI overnight gathering in April, including directions for making payment of registration and lodging costs, and reading lists.
For more information contact Canon Lynn Farlin at 757-213-3377 or lfarlin@diosova.org, or Canon Jeunée Godsey at 434-603-1782 or jgodsey@diosova.org.
Tuition & Costs
Tuition
Thrive! DCDI training is comprised of two cycles, with each cycle including four overnight gatherings for a total of eight. To aid the successful application of the training, churches should send a team of 2-4 people, ideally to include the Rector or Priest-in-Charge. The tuition is based on the number of participants on your team. Tuition covers the cost of the training sessions, the manual, and the use of the primary textbook.
Additional Costs
Lodging and Meals
Thrive! DCDI training will be held at Chanco on the James. Each participant will be invoiced for their room and board for each overnight gathering. Room and board costs for each gathering are $150 which includes housing and four meals.
Reading Materials
A Thrive! DCDI reading list will be provided and you will be notified when the books are needed. The diocese will have several copies of these resources available should you wish to borrow rather than purchase. When possible, we will provide links to digital copies.
Lay Continuing Education Funds
The cost of Thrive! DCDI is significantly subsidized by the Diocese of Southern Virginia in an effort to keep the costs as low as possible. However, do not let cost deter your team from participating. Lay Continuing Education Scholarships are available should your team need assistance. Click here to access the application form.
Contact Canon Lynn Farlin at lfarlin@diosova.org to learn more.
New dates for upcoming Cycle 1 in 2026 and Cycle 2 in 2027!
Thrive! DCDI Cycle 1 Gathering Dates – 2026
Gathering #1 – April 10 – 11
Gathering #2 – June 5 – 6
Gathering #3 – September 18 – 19
Gathering #4 – December 11 – 12
Thrive! DCDI Cycle 2 Gathering Dates – 2027
Gathering #1 – April 9 – 10
Gathering #2 – June 4 – 5
Gathering #3 – September 17 – 18
Gathering #4 – December 10 – 11