The Center for Congregational Health has long had the mission to help congregations and clergy to thrive. In 2020, the center was awarded a million dollar grant by the Lilly Endowment, Inc. The work of this grant has changed over the course of these years. We have had to pivot in ever changing times, just as congregations have had to do. But in recent years, this grant has allowed us the ability to greatly underwrite our work with congregations and clergy, making our services more affordable at a time where finances often feel uncertain but where consulting could be most helpful.
This year, our consultants and full time staff worked with congregations in North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois, Texas and Kentucky. In total, we worked with twelve congregations with the support of the grant this year. The grant allows us to help congregations thrive as they make necessary decisions about mission and vision, aligning the activities and budget of the church with that mission and vision, and defining the work of the congregations in the coming years.
As one of our consultants said this year, “There is a kind of magic that happens in the room when we ask our questions.” Another consultant said, “In a recent consult, I was encouraged to see a church move from a focus on facilities to a focus on ministry. When this shifts, the entire congregation becomes energized.” The act of a congregation gathering together to discuss who they have been, sharing memories while gaining clarity for the future is a beautiful kind of spiritual discernment that any church could benefit from during these challenging times.
Our director, Chris Gambill, said “In reflecting on my work with clergy, laity, and congregations in 2024, I am thankful for leaders—both ordained and not—who continue to lead their congregations in a difficult environment. It has never been easy to lead a congregation, and that is especially true now. Economics, political polarization, culture shifts, aging buildings, fragmented lives, mental health crises and a thousand other things seem to be conspiring against creating healthy, thriving congregations. And yet, thousands of leaders continue to spend their best time, energy, and money in service to God and their congregations. Almost everywhere I go, I see new ministries being birthed and new ways of being a congregation being lived out. This gives me great hope for the future. I feel honored to get to stand alongside these creative, committed leaders and want to continue to find new ways to support them in this vital work.
We have one more year with our Thriving Congregations grant. If we can help your congregation in 2025, please fill out an application at https://healthychurch.org/2024/06/apply-today-for-consulting-underwritten-by-grant/