Tools for Turning Your Congregation Around

1. Tools for Turning YourCongregation Around

2. Tools:CreativityContextualitzationCommitment

3. Grand Rapids

4. Milbridge, Maine

5. Chicago

7. Adventure Team

11. Some Stats • 90% of churches in the U. S. are either stagnating or declining. • 3000 to 4000 churches close every year. • New England is currently the most unchurched region of the U.S.

12. Church Redevelopment is the creative work of imagining and actualizing new life in dying churches.

13. Other Terms • Church renewal • Church revitalization • Church turnaround • Church growth???

14. Beneficent Church Providence, RI 1743-??

15. Congregational Life Cycle Stability Formation Decline Birth Death

16. First Question

19. Assessing Redevelopment Potential • Location. • Past behavior is best predictor of future behavior. • Resources: redevelopment can be a long process. • Willingness.

20. Key: • Define mission as redevelopment from the beginning. • Get clear on your reason(s) for considering redevelopment. • Prepare staff for redevelopment. • Write a redevelopment profile.

21. Search Process • Self-identified church growth specialists • Our church profiles reflected our goals • Up front in the interview process “If you call us, this is what to expect.” • Church must be willing to accept the challenge (at least a critical mass)

22. Paul Nickerson: Coach

23. Congregational Change • Congregational change doesn’t usually happen until the pain of not changing outweighs the fear of changing.

24. Key: • Leadership that is willing to lead and a congregation that is willing to follow.

25. Two Fantasies • Growth can happen without change. • Change can happen without conflict.

26. Two Questions • Who are we? • How do we do things here?

27. Spiritual DNA • What are your congregation’s founding documents? • Who were the congregation’s founding people? • What was the historical context of your congregation’s birth?

28. Meet the Ministers: Affirmations • Diversity (racial-ethnic, socio-economic, ONA) • Pastors • Welcoming, Hospitality • Family Feeling • Mission, Social Justice, Active in Community

29. Meet the Ministers:Visions • MORE PEOPLE!, especially young people • Inclusive decision-making, conflict resolution, honesty, no secret meeting • Small groups, relationship-building • Connection with the community • Upbeat, excellent music

30. Engaging Conflict • EBT (Endowment Building Team) • Uncovering financial secrets • Empowering marginalized voices • Protecting the process

31. Relational Covenant • One year process with small groups and the entire congregation • To guide our communication and offer goals for our relationships • Speaking the truth in love

32. Building Relationships with marginalized

33. 200th Anniversary • Build pride in past and hope for future. • Re-introduce congregation to community. • We are open for business. • Celebrate partnerships. • Formed TWO! planning committees!

34. 200th Anniversary

35. Initial Changes • In-depth budgeting process, including staff cuts (pastors recommend) • Leadership accountable to growth goals, incl. all staff and committees • Music • Stewardship, mission alignment of $ • Pastor networking, new member focus

36. New Members

37. MORE New Members

38. Young Adults

39. We started to grow

40. Sacred Conversations • “You could feel a change in atmosphere.”

41. Sunday School 2010

42. Partnerships: RPM Gospel Choir

43. Community Lunch with First Unitarian Church

44. Creative Worship • Gospel Music Sundays • “God Is Still Moving” faith sharing • Jazz Sunday • Bob Marley Sunday • Native American Sunday

45. Blessing of the Animals

47. Camp Beneficent Rocks

50. Multicultural Worship