Church Planting Residencies

Invest in the Next Generation of Pastoral Leaders

Harbor Residencies provide emerging pastors with hands-on ministry experience, theological formation, and relational mentorship in local church contexts—forming the whole pastor, not just the skill set.

Start A Residency

Residency Readiness Retreat

Ready to launch a residency at your church?

Join us for a two-day intensive designed to help pastors design and launch sustainable residency programs. You'll leave with a clear framework, practical next steps, and connection to a community of residency hosts.

What's included:

Residency design workshop
Sample frameworks and templates
Peer collaboration and coaching
Connection to experienced residency hosts
Follow-up support from Harbor team

register your interest here

Not sure if you're ready? Fill out the interest form above and we'll help you discern next steps.

For Pastors

Want to launch a residency at your church?

Cultivate a multiplication culture while investing deeply in emerging leaders. Harbor provides the framework, coaching, and community support you need.

What you'll get:

Residency Readiness Retreat
One-on-one coaching
Templates and frameworks
Network of experienced residency hosts

For Emerging Leaders

Looking for formative ministry experience?

Connect with experienced pastors who will invest in your formation through hands-on ministry, theological depth, and relational mentorship.

What you'll get:

Real ministry experience in a local church
Theological and practical formation
Mentoring relationships
Connection to Harbor Network

For Exploring Churches

Exploring Harbor membership?

Residencies are one of many ways Harbor invests in your church's future. Join a network committed to relational care, sustainable leadership, and generational impact.

What you'll get:

Residency support and resources
Network-wide collaboration
Proven frameworks and coaching
Community of multiplication-minded pastors

Why Residencies Matter

Most pastors want to see their ministry impact extend beyond themselves—but too often, emerging leaders are left to figure it out on their own, navigating isolation, burnout, and trial-by-error formation.

Harbor Residencies create a third way: structured-yet-relational apprenticeships that form the whole pastor, not just the skill set.

For residents, you gain hands-on ministry experience, theological depth, and a community of mentors who invest in your formation—not just your output. This isn't an internship; it's formative investment in who you're becoming as a pastor.
For churches, you cultivate a multiplication culture that enriches your congregation's ministry ecosystem. Hosting a resident doesn't just benefit the resident—it deepens your church's commitment to raising up leaders and creates new energy around discipleship and mission.
For Harbor, you participate in a network-wide commitment to sustainable, wholehearted leadership. We believe the next generation of pastors needs more than job training—they need formation rooted in friendship, rest, and relational care.