A detailed discussion of these stations can be found in Vonhof’s recently published book, The Pastoral Search Journey: A Guide to Finding Your Next Pastor.  We have reviewed this book in the Congregational Resource Guide, and have concluded that it offers a “one-stop” guide to the pastoral search process.

That being said, you might want to also consider the resources in the “Pastoral Search” section of the Congregational Resource Guide.

What stories do you have about pastoral searches? And what resources do you suggest? We look forward to hearing from you!

Once again, there was a rich array of questions posed, and comments made, by the audience, including:

Q: What methods can you share to help a church be more connected to other churches [in their neighborhood]?

Q: My congregation is located in a small suburb where few of our members actually live and where there a very few mom & pop business, etc.  Should our focus be the small community our building is located in, or the larger county?

Q: How can partnership be an overall theme for the CHristian life; partnership with God, partnership with each other, partnership with our community. What theological/biblical connections do you see here?

Q: The last two years, we’ve done a Fall Fun Fest – food, music, cake walks, moon bounce and other inflatable games, etc.  It’s been fun and I think it’s went well.  But we don’t have any follow up in place.  Any thoughts on how we would go about doing that?

Q: What of holding a social gathering NOT at the church, but in the business district and inviting ?  This has been suggested to our church in order to remove the barrier of identifying with the church.

Q: If a member of my congregation is passionate about an idea they want to work on with the community, is there a way to jump-start the process around that project idea, or should you always start with getting to know the community as you have described?

Q: Do you know of any stories in which a church has had to repair its image in the neighborhood?

Q: How do you define a “neighborhood”?

Q: You have mentioned many different strategies.  Would a group necessarily try to accomplish all 10?  Or are there some that would be the best to start with?

Comment: Having recently created a new website for the church, research shows that over 90% of visitors to your church will have looked at your website first. Aside from word of mouth, website is best advertisement. Needs to be regularly updated, current relevant.

Q: What to do when community relationships are broken, through something like police abuse, community voices are becoming vocal, but officials are avoiding?

Comment: Another suggestion related to working with other churches – start with youth. I was in one place 4-6 youth leaders met every week for lunch and getting the youth groups together once a month for games, food & worship. The churches as a whole followed suit.

There are several good websites to help you learn more about your neighborhood.  The Census Bureau’s American Fact Finder lets you create maps of your city or census district’.  Maponics lets you input a neighborhood name in your city and quickly see the boundaries. There are real estate websites like Realtor.com that give interesting info about many big city neighborhoods; banking sites like Bankrate.com help you to compare the cost of living in two different cities.  Do you have any sites that you have used that also provide ways to get different perspectives on a neighborhood and what makes it unique or distinctive?

The third webinar in this series will be “Designing Your Community Ministry Program: Seven Creative Models,” on Tuesday, March, 9, at 2 p.m. Eastern time.

Oswald and Johnson’s recently published Managing Polarities in Congregations (from which the Weekly article is drawn) explains eight polarities that occur regularly in congregations. The book asserts that thriving congregations will work with these polarities, rather than treat them as opposites in a game of “who is right?” Congregations that fail to thrive often are stuck in endless battles that attempt to validate one perspective over another.

Today’s article hones in on the “strong clergy leadership” and “strong lay leadership” polarity. It demonstrates, through story and example, how congregations can find ways to empower both clergy and laity, bringing the poles into a creative balance.

What resources might support sound management of this polarity? In addition to the excellent resources listed at the end of the article, you might consider the items in the “Organizational Learning” section of the Congregational Resource Guide—particularly Barry Johnson’s older book, Polarity Management.

What stories and ideas do you have regarding the clergy leadership-lay leadership polarity? And what resources do you suggest? We look forward to hearing from you!

They asked Joy, who spoke from a moderate evangelical Christian perspective, thoughtful and honest questions like the following, which exemplify the diversity and eagerness of contemporary congregational leaders wanting to explore community ministry.  I wanted to post these, just as they were asked, both to give our presenter the chance to respond to questions that didn’t get addressed in the time we had, and to give you the chance both to ask more questions by commenting here and to answer each others’ questions and share insights.

Q: You’ve mentioned evangelizing the gospel of Jesus Christ as an emphasis in community ministry.  How about Jewish congregations or Unitarian Universalist congregations that have members who are not Christian?

Q: What objections might congregants have regarding participating in community outreach? What are some positive responses?

Q: can you something about outreach in a community that does not have diversity or much of a transient population?

Q: our congregation is totally against community ministry-what can I do?

Q: I serve in a prosperous bedroom community where there isn’t a lot of need on our doorstep. My folks have good hearts but it’s hard to see where to engage! Suggestions?

Q: Can you talk about organization for community ministry? How to turn “ardor” into some sense of “order”?

Q: What do you do when hitting resistance? Internal/external?

Q: Tell me more about your experiences in small congregations. that is…less than 200 people.

Q: We are too old and too tired to engage ministry outside the congregation.  How would you respond?

Q: We are trying to have our mission team and our stewardship team meet together, so that they can see the relationship between. What more could you say about how mission and stewardship serve each other?

Q: For example, do you just send 2 or 3 out and bless them with church permission vs. forming a committee and going through church polity?

Q: You named “developing people rather than programs”.  How do you pair leadership development with discipleship?

Q: A lot of the examples of outreach are time intensive.  Time is a resource that is in short supply.  How do you suggest this issue be addressed?

Q: How do we approach congregants who see the church as sanctuary from their neighbourhoods?    They want a contemplative experience and are validated by the structure of the liturgy.

Q: We do not have our own church building.  We worship at a Catholic HS.  How important is it to have your own building?

Q: Young adults want to serve others and you want to engage them but you don’t currently have young adults within your congregation. How do you get started? Cast a net or ask young adults first?

Q: Do you see the concept of “community ministry” interchangeable with “Social Action” or “social Justice”?

Q: Would you name some measures of success for an externally focused church?

Q: Are there other ways to engage and emphasize the importance of community ministry other than from the pulpit?

Q: Is there a “critical mass” of interest that is necessary to start working int he community in order for to be effective?  Is one passionate person enough, should it be a group of 10, does it need to be half the congregation …?

Q: Any recommendations of curriculum for all ages on, say, addressing the issue of hunger? I love the idea of all educational groups, from the little ones through adults addressing the issue of hunger. Are there resources to help put this together?

Q: What are some specific ways of transforming the culture from a “What can I get out of it” to what “can I give” mentality?

Q: We do a fair number of social outreach *activities.*  How does the type of community ministry you’re discussiong differ from, say, an annual coat drive or food basket giveaways.

So, where do we go from here?

She’ll talk about her optimism for faith’s future in this bold new world, as well as the very important role that local, regional, and national religious leaders, and especially clergy, have to play.

The show airs at 2 pm today. You can listen by going to CR Radio’s page, where the it will be streamed live. If you can’t listen at 2, you can visit that site at anytime and listen via our media player, or download the show for your iPod. –>

We can do that by being conscious and intentional about what we pay attention to, giving our full attention to only one thing at a time. By so doing, we gradually stop paying attention to all those things that drain our vitality. It’s even the case, says Sitze, that we can judge the joyfulness of our lives “by the amount and quality of the attention you devote to various aspects of your life.”

A good place to begin living simply is by having “simplicity conversations” in congregations. What resources might support that? I invite you to strongly consider the items listed at the end of the article, especially Sitze’s own Starting Simple: Conversations About the Way We Live (from which today’s article is drawn). You might also consider the resources in the “Simple Living” section of the Congregational Resource Guide and Lisa Colburn’s essay, “Approaches to Simple Living.” If you are seeking to form a small group on this or other topics, check out the “Small Groups” section of the Guide as well.

What are your stories and thoughts on this topic? And what resources do you suggest? We look forward to hearing from you!

Berntsen, author of this week’s Alban Weekly article (“Downward Mobility“, excerpted from his book, Cross-Shaped Leadership), confesses that his particular “weak spot” is “equipping the saints for ministry,” or recruiting and empowering lay leaders and volunteers in his congregation. He invites us to consider our own weak spots, to tell the truth about them, and to develop the humility to recognize that living by the Christian promise of the cross means letting go of “our set ways of doing everything.”

What resources might help you in this regard? You might pay special attention to Graham Standish’s excellent book, Humble Leadership: Being Radically Open to God’s Guidance and Grace. We also ask you to consider the essay collection, Leadership in Congregations, as well as All for God’s Glory: Redeeming Church Scutwork.

What are your thoughts on this topic? And what resources do you recommend? We look forward to hearing from you! 

Golemon, editor of Alban’s recently published Narrative Leadership Collection, notes that individuals cannot form rich personal narratives without a “sense of spatial location in the world from which direction and agency can spring.” This location can perhaps best happen through participation in the religious life of a local congregation. For it is here that individuals can place the stories of their lives within a larger framework that enhances their understanding of themselves as moral agents called to make a difference in their communities.

At the same time, as Golemon states, “good narrative leadership has the potential to transform congregational traditions, practices, and mission for the current age.”

How have narrative and story transformed the individuals and communities that make up your congregation? What are your thoughts on this topic? And what resources do you suggest? We look forward to hearing from you!

(Be sure to check out the resources listed in the end of the article, as well as additional resources featured in the “Narrative Leadership” section of the Congregational Resource Guide—particularly Mighty Stories, Dangerous Rituals: Weaving Together the Human and the Divine.) 

Hotchkiss notes that it’s best for congregations to ensure that technological innovations—in communications, database management, or sound systems—have been proven over time to be reliable, flexible, and inexpensive enough for congregations to adopt without requiring advanced technological expertise. As he puts it, “If a technology is too new to be used by those who know the congregation’s work—religious education, worship, pastoral care, stewardship, and membership development—it is too new to use…”

What resources can help you and your congregation to understand not only new technologies but also the best times to adopt them? Some excellent items are listed at the end of the article. In addition, I encourage you to check out the “Communications” and “Information Technology” sections of the Congregational Resource Guide. You might be especially interested in Andrea Useem’s outstanding website and free downloadable report, “The Networked Congregation.”

What are your stories and thoughts regarding the adoption of new technologies? And what resources do you suggest? We would love to hear from you! 

Join Alban consultant Ed White in this practical exploration of what it means for mainline churches to move out of the “membership business” and into the “disciple making business”. March 16-18 (Dan Hotchkiss)
Board Leadership and Congregational Governance
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
Tuition Cost: $449 ($499 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $203, Double – $155, Commuter – $94

This seminar will help congregations move beyond frustrating and ineffective management of boards, clergy and staff. April 27-29 (Susan Beaumont)
Building Staff Collegiality
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
Tuition Cost: $449 ($499 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $245, Double – $181, Commuter – $94

Participants in this highly effective seminar will examine the characteristics of a healthy team, learn how a staff progresses through stages of team development, and identify where groups tend to get stuck. May 4-6 (Larry Peers)
Clergy Wellness: How to Balance Ministry and Life
Techny Towers Retreat Center, Techny, IL
Tuition Cost: $399 ($449 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $221, Double – $191, Commuter – $111

You will leave this workshop able to identify the current strengths and liabilities you bring to your ministry and thus with a clearer sense of yourself both professionally and personally.  Youwill be glad you decided to take care of yourself like this. May 19-20 (Alice Mann)
Raising the Roof
Techny Towers Retreat Center, Techny, IL
Tuition Cost: $399 ($449 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $190, Double – $160, Commuter – $84

Join Alban senior-consultant Alice Mann, author of Raising the Roof: The Pastoral-to-Program Size Transition, to learn how to leaders in mid-size congregations can identify transition dynamics, address obstacles to growth, and lead a process of discernment about the congregation’s calling in relation to size and numerical growth. May 24-27 (Diana Butler Bass)
Emerging Patterns in 21st Century Worship
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
Tuition Cost: $225 ($275 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $390, Double – $258, Commuter – $115

This four-day event will explore contemporary movements and patterns of spirituality emerging in Protestant worship and will offer participants an opportunity to enter into holy conversation with worship leaders and ministry colleagues. June 2-4 (Susan Beaumont)
Inside the Large Congregation
La Casa de Maria Retreat Center, Santa Barbara, CA
Tuition Cost: $499 ($549 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $321, Double – $$269, Commuter – $131

This workshop is designed for Senior Pastors, Interim Pastors, Executive Pastors, Executive Directors, Middle Judicatory Leaders and Denominational Leaders who want to understand more about the unique dynamics of leading the large congregation. July 27-29 (Larry Peers)
The Power of Story to Transform Your Leadership
Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center, West Hartford, CT
Tuition Cost: $399 ($449 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $203, Double – $203, Commuter – $25

This seminar connects the contemporary uses of narrative for personal and organizational change to the various ways that we use story and can do narrative work as leaders in faith communities. August 25-27 (William Enright and Richard Klopp)
Creating Congregational Cultures of Generosity
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
Tuition Cost: $399 ($449 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $221, Double – $185, Commuter – $$94

This seminar demonstrates congregational generosity by exploring the significant steps necessary to creating lasting cultural change within a congregation.  Led by the staff of the Center on Philanthropy and the Lake Institute. September 28-30 (Susan Beaumont)
Stepping Up to Supervision
Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center, Norcross, GA
Tuition Cost: $499 ($549 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $308, Double – $228, Commuter – $55

Supervising the work of others requires learning new skill sets that are consistent with the role of pastor, but not innately known, and seldom learned during professional formation. You will learn the basics of managing and leading the work of other staff team members. October 5-7 (Larry Peers)
Finishing Strong, Ending Well
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
Tuition Cost: $399 ($449 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $281, Double – $193, Commuter – $94

You owe it to yourself and to your congregation to approach retirement in a deliberately thoughtful and meaningful way. Take advantage of this opportunity to envision the “third age” of your personal and professional growth as you approach retirement. October19-21 (Ed White)
New Vision for the Long Pastorate
Palisades Retret Center, Federal Way, WA
Tuition Cost: $499 ($549 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $319, Double – $275, Commuter – $159

Come and join others who like you are in the midst of, or facing the prospects of, an extended pastorate.  You will have the opportunity to test several proven theories and instruments; to review your prospects for growth; to examine the support systems needed for a vital longer pastorate; begin outlining your personal and professional goals for upcoming years. November 2-4 (Alice Mann)
Holy Conversations: Cutting Edge Approaches to Planning
Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center, Lake Junaluska, NC
Tuition Cost: $499 ($549 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $281, Double – $193, Commuter – $94
November 16-18 (Larry Peers)
Breakthroughs: Getting Congregations from Stuck to Thriving
Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, AZ
Tuition Cost: $399 ($449 for nonmembers)
Room & Board: Single – $273, Double – $143, Commuter – $25

In this seminar, we will explore some of the common patterns and dynamics that keep leaders and congregations “stuck”  or unable to sustain the necessary changes for their breakthroughs in becoming vital centers for spiritual growth and for ministry in their communities. ]]> http://albanroundtable.org/archives/1142/feed 0