Fellows prepares emerging church planters and leaders to move from calling to clarity through theological depth and cohort-based formation. Designed for those discerning or preparing to plant, it develops resilient, gospel-centered leaders equipped to navigate urban complexity and articulate a clear, contextualized church planting vision.
Fellows Program
Fellows Program
Fellows Format
Fellows Format
12-session program across an entire academic year (6 sessions per semester, with breaks), blending online learning with 4 in-person sessions in the Fall & Spring at Nova Omnia.
Schedule: This cohort meets every 1-3 weeks on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm
Fall semester: September 10, 2026 - November 19, 2026
Spring semester: February 4, 2027 - April 15, 2027
Coursework centers on
Jesus
A return to Jesus and lessons on incarnational church planting
Gospel
Renewal, Gospel resiliency and spiritual practices for humble leadership
Mission
Prayer, evangelism and discipleship for kingdom impact
Team
Developing a core team shaped by the Gospel and equipped for missional living
Ideal Candidates
Ordained or on an ordination track
Affiliated with a church planting network, denomination and/or existing church
Exploring a sense of calling to church planting
Have proven character and integrity
Have prior ministry experience
A resident of NYC by the start of the training program
fellowsFrequently Asked Questions
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No. This program is only available within New York City.
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Thanks to the generosity of our giving community, City to City NYC covers training materials and meals.
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Before you proceed with the application process, please also review the expectations below to determine whether the program is right for you.
You plan to plant a new congregation/parish in the greater NYC area in partnership with a supporting church or denomination.
You will make every effort to complete each of the critical steps in the process of starting this new congregation, including developing a proposal, recruiting a launch team, and raising the necessary financial resources.
You will take the initiative to regularly update the Fellows program staff on the status of your church planting project and all related activities. At any time during the program, if you are unable to continue with this church planting project or if you engage in conduct unbecoming a minister of the gospel (e.g. moral issues), you will inform program staff immediately.
You will complete all of the assigned reading before arriving at each session.
You will attend each of the Fellows sessions in their entirety. Repeated absences from these sessions may be grounds for dismissal from the program even if you give advance notice that you will be absent. All program sessions take place on Thursdays evenings. A detailed program calendar will be provided after admission, and you will need to plan ahead to avoid conflicts with the dates provided.
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July is the final month for candidates to apply for the September cohort. Generally, candidates will be informed of the admission decision at least one month prior to the start date. Admission extensions may be granted in extenuating circumstances. Please send all inquiries about application extensions here.
