As we move toward the end of 2016, we have been reflecting on our work over the past year and diligently working on the training and event schedule for 2017. We want to hear from you what you experienced and what will be helpful for you in the coming year. (Survey)
In the past year, The Center for Congregational Health offered three tiers of Interim Ministry training: 1–a three-day course focused on the role of the interim minister as they work with a congregation during a transition between pastors. 2–a five day course, plus approximately six months of fieldwork following the classroom work that allows participants to practice and hone newly acquired skills. 3–a three-day course that prepares intentional interim ministers to serve as transition facilitators. We offered our church consultant training, The Art of Consulting with Faith Communities. Two times we offered the Vital Mergers workshop with our colleague Dirk Elliott sharing about his work of helping congregations to join with others to increase the presence and missional impact on communities. In addition to those events we participated in several denominational gatherings leading workshops and talking with individuals about the possibilities within their own congregations. Also, we have continued to offer our consulting and coaching services to many congregations, denominational leaders, clergy and lay leaders, and our staff have been faculty for various programs beyond the day-to-day work that the Center for Congregational Health does, including teaching at the Divinity School at Wake Forest University, partnering to build a D.Min program tract with Interdenominational Theological Center (Atlanta), and serving as faculty and advisors for the CBF Fellows program, for clergy serving in their first call beyond seminary/divinity school.
As we look toward 2017, we are planning to increase our offerings to help clergy and laity function in healthier congregations/organizations and we believe that you and your congregation can and do make a difference in the communities where you are. We will be adding back to our training list a coach training that will offer assistance/guidance for any leader to use coaching skills as well as a more advanced coach training for those who wish to build more intentional and professional coaching relationships. We will work to offer resources and events that help clergy to function in a healthy manner–caring for self and ministering to others, and to find appropriate professional support as you seek to navigate change in church and society and lead others through the changing landscape of life and congregations.
Over the next few weeks we will be sharing new dates and opportunities with you. We hope you will check our website often and join us as a partner in the work that we are called to do.