A Disciples minister will be among two persons presenting new research on ways to enhance the health, happiness and ministerial success for clergy and other church professionals at a November conference. Janet Maykus, an ordained Disciples minister, along with Bruce Roberts will discuss the potential that peer group collaboration has transforming participants' ministries and fostering congregational growth. "I was also surprised by the correlations between participation in clergy peer groups and congregational growth," said Maykus.

The research will be unveiled Nov. 2-4 at the Procter Center in London, Ohio, when Seabury Western and Bexley Hall seminaries sponsors Sustaining Excellence in Ministry: Accountability, Friendship and Hope in Peer Groups. The conference is a Lilly Endowment Sustaining Pastoral Excellent (SPE) project. "The findings of this massive study have extraordinary relevance for lifelong learning and the ongoing education of clergy and laity," said Robert Reber, dean and president of Bexley Hall Seminary. To learn more about the conference, see: seabury.edu/enrichment/sustaining-excellence-in-ministry.html