HDS - Summer Leadership Institute

Summer Leadership Institute

Preston N. Williams and Charles G. Adams

The first session of the Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) was held at Harvard Divinity School in June 1998, and annual summer sessions have been held for the 11 years since then. The two-week executive training program is for clergy, lay leaders, and community activists who are involved in faith-based community and economic development.

SLI News

An Appeal to the SLI Community

Dear Member of the SLI Community,

As many of you are aware, the Summer Leadership Institute has been on hiatus for the summer of 2009. The program has been under review by the directors and leaders of Harvard Divinity School. A formal review session will be taking place on September 17, 2009.

Many of you have spoken of how the program has impacted your lives and the lives of your community. In order for us to present your voices, it would be appreciated if you would submit a testimonial of how you and your community have benefitted from the SLI experience no later than September 15, 2009.

We look forward to hearing from you. It is our hope that we will be able to restart SLI next year. Your help is needed to make this possible. Please send your response to Kristin Gunst.

Sincerely yours,

Charles G. Adams
Director of the Summer Leadership Institute
William and Lucille Nickerson Professor of the Practice of Ethics and Ministry

Preston N. Williams
Director Emeritus of the Summer Leadership Institute
Houghton Research Professor Emeritus

Summer 2009 Session

During 2009, there was no session of the Summer Leadership Institute. The SLI directors and the leadership of Harvard Divinity School are engaged in a review of the program, in order to develop a long-range business plan and to explore ways to enhance the focus and content of the SLI. Harvard Divinity School wishes to ensure a strong and effective program that meets the needs of prospective SLI participants and that can move ahead on a sound financial footing. Secure funding for the SLI is of paramount importance, as is the curriculum and the format of the program.

For the 11 years since the SLI was first inaugurated, Preston Williams, Houghton Research Professor Emeritus at Harvard Divinity School, has directed this unique program. Charles Adams, the William and Lucille Nickerson Professor of the Practice of Ministry at HDS—who has directed the SLI jointly with Preston Williams since 2008—will assume the SLI leadership in July 2009.

Announcements about the resumption of the Summer Leadership Institute and any further developments will be posted here.

Summer 2008 Session

View a gallery of selected images from the SLI summer 2008 session.

Contact Information

Telephone: 617.495.4265
Email: sli@hds.harvard.edu
Mailing address: 45 Francis Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138