Is it worth it?
Two years ago when they did this workshop, it was still being formulated. It did not include the church leaders. I found it hard to introduce it to the church when I moved. It comes from a business model and it was hard to get them to understand the value, so it did not work.
This time they include the church members. Plus, Sheri Ferguson, from the Office of Pastoral Care and Counseling, teaches a section of it. She added a much needed dimension to the workshop. It also seemed to move away from business language and orientation to be oriented toward the church.
They give each of you a handout of the church's stats that you are going to. From that you are to determine if the church is a "turnaround church," a "on going successful church" or "a realignment church." This then helps you determine at what speed you will do things in the church. You are then to make a 90 day plan of how you will transition into the church.
The first time I went through this they had a followup meeting which was helpful also.
One thing is they have found that the conference has so many churches that are "turn around churches" that they are having to work on how to help with this transition. This also goes hand and hand with the NCD findings. In fact they have a workshop planned for the Pastors of Turn around churches.
I am going to a church as an Associate and so some of what I have to do is work out the plan with the Senior Pastor. The workshop is more geared to the Senior Pastor transitioning into a church. I really don't know how it will work this time around, but I'll let you know.
I will say that my present church leaders found the workshop very helpful and plan to put into place some of the things they learned.
5 comments:
Interesting. Does formulating a plan really work with only the church stats, before you've met the people? Where are you going? I really like the idea of a housing allowance rather than a parsonage. That way, you get to pick a home that fits your family, not the other way around.
No, they can't totally help in making the plan. The stats are two years old. I got the most recent stats to help. But meeting the people are part of the plan.
I am going to go to Trinity UMC in Huntsville.
Abi, that sounds really interesting, I hope it proves helpful.
Sounds like the kind of thing that might help, and can't hurt, so why not. But I think you can't program the things of the Spirit, not really
As a layperson with no background in how churches and pastors are prepared for one another...it makes sense to me. At least there is some planning. I hope it works.
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