HEATHER HEINZMAN LEAR
Brentwood
Summary
Highly motivated and passionate United Methodist elder with almost 25 years of service in church leadership, development, and team building at the congregational, seminary, conference, denominational and global levels. Seeking to provide catalytic, visionary leadership for the next season of The Foundation for Evangelism’s ministry.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President for Grant Administration
The Foundation For Evangelism
02.2019 - Current
- Partnered with president to implement FFE’s three grant focus areas; following implementation, spearhead ongoing grant activities.
- Developed and implemented FFE’s Equipping the Local Church grant cycle process including application, review, and reporting documents and procedures.
- Envisioned and created new assessment of grants and metrics of impact based on work of one of FFE’s E. Stanley Jones Professors.
- Write and revise granting policies to fulfill FFE mission and vision.
- Listen, research, and learn about new trends and opportunities to support leaders and congregations.
- Develop and partner with evangelism professors and practitioners to create evangelism resources for local church leaders.
- Provide evangelism training and consultation.
- Maintain and build new Wesleyan and ecumenical relationships.
- Implementing consistent grant-management processes across organization to maximize use of tools, resources, and staff.
Director Of Evangelism Ministries
Discipleship Ministries
01.2013 - 12.2018
- Provided coaching and consultation for local churches, districts, and annual conferences, including several multi-year partnerships.
- Developed comprehensive congregational assessment tool and led six congregations through assessment, evaluation, and implementation of next steps.
- Co-developed and taught 6-week webinar course, Evangelism for Non-Evangelists, for laity, clergy, and seminarians twice a year.
- Organized, hosted, and managed budget for World Council of Churches' North American Conference on Evangelism in Nashville.
- Convener and presider of Evangelism Connections, working group of Directors of Evangelism in mainline denominations.
- Wrote and maintained standards for General Evangelists in UMC and served on Executive Team of National Association of UM Evangelists.
- Served on Grants Committee and Professorship Review Committees of Foundation for Evangelism.
- Served on UMC/ELCA Full Communion Task Force.
- Authored 2017-2020 UMC Guidelines for Evangelism.
Senior Pastor
Fletcher's Chapel United Methodist Church
06.2011 - 12.2012
- Led evangelistic visioning process and community outreach to neighborhood elementary school (Received Durham County Public School's Volunteer of the Year Award in 2012).
- Supervised staff of 4.
- Increased worship attendance and participation in spiritual formation by 30 percent.
- Created young adult ministry and increased young adult participation in leadership by 50 percent.
- Trained laity to continue and expand ministry with the community.
Senior Associate Pastor
Highland United Methodist Church
06.2006 - 06.2011
- Responsible for hiring and managing church program staff of 6.
- Served as acting director for Highland Children's Center, managed staff of 12, created a working board, and established sound financial and operating policies. Elevated HCC's accreditation to the maximum 5-Star rating.
- Primary preacher for contemporary worship service and increased attendance by 150 percent.
- Developed comprehensive mid-week discipleship ministry for all ages.
- Partnered with Wake County English as Second Language (ESL) program to organize the Highland Community Garden (2011 North Carolina Conference Ministry of the Year).
- Developed and implemented Safe Sanctuary policy and training procedures.
Associate Pastor
Englewood United Methodist Church
06.2004 - 06.2006
- Increased adult spiritual formation participation by 30 percent.
- Developed and wrote children's Sunday School and confirmation curriculum.
- Served as Rocky Mount District Youth Coordinator and Conference Committee on Youth Ministry.
- Served on planning team for community ecumenical mission project.
- Organized blanket and prayer shawl ministry (2006 North Carolina Conference Ministry of the Year).
- Partnered with local American Red Cross chapter to help settle and establish those displaced by Hurricane Katrina in the Rocky Mount community.
Education
Doctor of Ministry - Mission in the Contemporary U.S.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological School
Evanston, IL2015
Master of Divinity -
Duke Divinity School
Durham, NC2004
Bachelor of Science - Health Science
Boston University
Boston, MA2000
Skills
- Project management
- Strong communication skills
- Staff development
- Strategic and adaptive leadership
- Process implementation
- Interdenominational relationships
- Instruction and facilitation
- Strong interpersonal skills
Publications
- Lear, Heather (2016) Making Disciples: Obstacles and Opportunities in Urban Congregations. International Review of Mission.
- Lear, Heather (2014) Reclaiming Evangelism for the Local Church. Witness: Journal for the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education. Vol. 28, 81-88.
- Lear, Heather (2014) Words of Witness Needed. The Interpreter. 58(4), 18.
- Lear, Heather (2013) Thoughts on Reclaiming Evangelism in the UMC. The United Methodist Reporter. 159(50), 4B.
Accomplishments
· Ordained Elder in the North Carolina Annual Conference (2008)
· UM Professional Certification in Evangelism (2014)
· Kellogg Executive Scholar Certificate in Nonprofit Management, Northwestern University (2023)
· Adjunct professor at Claremont School of Theology, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and Wesley Theological Seminary
· Represented North America and presented at 2015 World Council of Churches' Evangelism in the City event in Sydney, Australia, 2016 African Evangelism Conference in Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2017 Evangelism from the Margins event in Johannesburg, South Africa, and 2017 Global Evangelism Consultation in Bangkok, Thailand.
· Member of planning and writing teams and presenter at World Council of Churches' 2018 World Mission and Evangelism Conference in Tanzania
· Trained Stephen Leader
· High School Crew (Rowing) Coach and Youth Basketball Coach
Timeline
Vice President for Grant Administration
The Foundation For Evangelism
02.2019 - Current
Director Of Evangelism Ministries
Discipleship Ministries
01.2013 - 12.2018
Senior Pastor
Fletcher's Chapel United Methodist Church
06.2011 - 12.2012
Senior Associate Pastor
Highland United Methodist Church
06.2006 - 06.2011
Associate Pastor
Englewood United Methodist Church
06.2004 - 06.2006
Doctor of Ministry - Mission in the Contemporary U.S.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological School
Master of Divinity -
Duke Divinity School
Bachelor of Science - Health Science
Boston University
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