.png?width=540)
- Two Churches in the Same Town Vote to Reunite, by Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane (10 Minute Read)
- Building a Legacy - Learning, Discerning, and Leaning In: Third in a Series of Blogs by Legacy Church Specialist Charlie Kuchenbrod (2 Minute Read)
.png?width=540)
- Lunch & Learn for Leaders | The Endemic Church - The Reality and Possibilities for Ministry Now and Over the Next Few Years: Thursday, September 15th from 12:00-1:00 PM (REGISTER)
- Leadership Academy Foundations | Basics for Treasurers: Thursday, October 6th from 7:00-8:30 PM (REGISTER)
- Momentum | Community & Conflict Transformation: Thursday, October 20th from 7:00-9:00 PM (REGISTER)
- Lunch & Learn for Leaders | The Benefits of Coaching: October 20th from 12:00-1:00 PM (REGISTER)
- Lunch & Learn for Leaders | Introduction to Christian Contemplative Practices: Thursday, November 17th from 12:00-1:00 PM (REGISTER)
- Engaging Christian Contemplative Practices: Series starts Wednesday, January 18th from 7:00-8:30 PM (REGISTER)
- Writing Pastors, Writing Faith; Creativity as Spiritual Practice - An Affinity Group for Clergy: Series starts Thursday, January 26th, 2023 (REGISTER)
- Noteworthy Offerings:
- Ministry Smart Training for Those Using Mission Insite: September 14-15 (REGISTER)
- New Life for Old Church Buildings: Tuesday, September 20th from 2:00-3:00 PM (REGISTER)
- 2022 Justice Summit: Saturday, September 24th from 9:00-4:30 (LEARN MORE)
- Building Church Differently, Partners in Building: September 29th-30th (Register)
_10.png?width=539)
Two Churches in the Same Town Vote to Reunite
By Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane
In many communities in New England, Congregational churches were often built in the same town – or even to form new towns – to accommodate the growing population of folks who had to travel miles by horse and buggy to attend services or gather in community. As Granby grew, a second church, South Church, was formed by a group of members who left the First Church in Granby, and the two churches served their members and the community well and maintained a friendly, increasingly collaborative relationship with one another. (First Church is located in the geographical center of Granby while South Church is located in the commercial center of Granby.)
Times and thoughts have changed; automobiles can take us many miles in minutes and most Christian denominations in our country have seen a steady decline in... (CONTINUE READING) (10 Minute Read).
.png?width=540)
BUILDING A LEGACY:
Learning, Discerning, and Leaning In
Third in a Series of Blogs Focused on Church Legacy by Charles Kuchenbrod
Here is my affirmation of faith:
God yearns for what is best for us. Each of us. All of us. God cannot yearn for something that is good for one of us or some of us if it will make the world a less compassionate, just, and peaceful place. Sometimes God may yearn for something that might make us uncomfortable or challenge us, if it moves us towards a more compassionate, just, and peaceful world. Any parent knows that maximizing comfort and eliminating challenges is not the best way to raise children. I think it is more likely that God yearns for meaningfulness and significance more than happiness and contentment. It’s not that happiness and contentment are not good things, it is that...(CONTINUE READING) (2 Minute Read).
Fall 2022 Lunch & Learn Schedule
The Center for Transformational Leadership is pleased to announce the new Fall Schedule for its hallmark Lunch & Learn for Leaders series! Beginning in September, join us on Zoom the third Thursday of each month for an hour-long session of learning facilitated by experts in various areas of church practice. These "snapshot" sessions pack important information into an introductory presentation, followed by Q&As.
Our Fall 2022 schedule includes the following sessions:
September 15 - The Endemic Church - The Reality and Possibilities for Ministry Now and Over the Next Few Years: We know that the global pandemic has had a dramatic impact on faith communities, but what exactly is the impact? How is it changing attendance? Giving? Use of technology? The role of clergy? What are the implications for congregational leadership? Which of these changes were simply amplifications of existing trends and which were new avenues for ministry? Join us as we look at significant patterns from the Faith Communities Today Initiative, (www.FaithCommunitiesToday.org) which has tracked strengths, challenges, and opportunities in the congregations since 2000, and the first three pandemic surveys of the five-year project Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (www.covidreligionresearch.org). Bring your questions; there will be ample time for Q&A.
Session Presenter: Dr. Scott Thumma, Professor of Sociology of Religion and director of the Hartford Institute for Religion Research at Hartford International University.
October 20 - The Benefits of Coaching Services: Do you or your church envision something new? Are you or your congregation feeling stuck or struggling with tensions that get in the way of the work? Do you or your congregation need an outside perspective to support you and accompany you as you move through a process? Have you heard all the talk about Coaching and wondered what it is and how it might help. A coaching relationship may be useful when you are feeling stuck, when launching a new ministry, for finding common ground and a common goal, or discerning a new path. Join Rev. Heather Ramsey Mabrouk for an introductory presentation about individual and group coaching, the process of working with a Together We Thrive Coach, and a special program that is re-launching in January of 2023.
Session Presenter: Rev. Heather Ramsey Mabrouk, Director for the Center for Transformational Leadership and Program Director for Together We Thrive, an ecumenical initiative funded by the Lilly Endowment.
November 17 - Introduction to Christian Contemplative Practices: What does “contemplation” mean? When we “contemplate” an idea, it implies something deeper than thinking only. In the practice of contemplation, we start from a place of mystery and an acceptance of not knowing. This is often called the “mystical” dimension of faith, which shares a root with the word “mystery”. Spiritual truths often begin as a mystery because there is much we must spiritually unlearn, including many beliefs that no longer serve us. As we release fear’s grip and open our minds and hearts, new revelations are revealed to us.
Session Presenter: Rev. Matt Carriker, Agape Spiritual Community
+(5).png?width=540)
The Endemic Church:
The Reality and Possibilities for Ministry Now and Over the Next Few Years
We know that the global pandemic has had a dramatic impact on faith communities, but what exactly is the impact? How is it changing attendance? Giving? Use of technology? The role of clergy? What are the implications for congregational leadership? Which of these changes were simply amplifications of existing trends and which were new avenues for ministry?
Join us as we look at significant patterns from the Faith Communities Today Initiative, (www.FaithCommunitiesToday.org) which has tracked strengths, challenges, and opportunities in the congregations since 2000, and the first three pandemic surveys of the five-year project "Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations" (www.covidreligionresearch.org). Bring your questions; there will be ample time for Q&A.
Leadership Academy Foundations:
Basics for Treasurers
Thursday, October 6th from 7:00-8:30 PM
During this 1.5-hour workshop session, featured speaker Jeff Swanberg, CPA, will share best practices as well as his extensive expertise in the area of church finance. Participants will explore ways to improve financial reporting, review the role of the Treasurer, and have opportunities to raise tax and payroll questions.
Momentum: Community & Conflict Transformation
Thursday, October 20th from 7:00-9:00 PM
What prevents your congregation from moving forward? Do you ever feel conflict is keeping your congregation from flourishing? Churches often are locked in the “basement” level of communication – precariously hovering between conflict and compromise. This workshop explores how to create a path forward, organize your structure for momentum, “navigate the nonsense” in churches, and avoid bad habits that undermine effective communication. Led by the esteemed Rev. Doug Bixby, this workshop seeks to uncover hidden pathways to higher levels of communication that promote community and creativity in ministry.
+(500++400+px).png?width=540)
Writing Pastors, Writing Faith:
Creativity as Spiritual Practice
An Affinity Group for Clergy
The craft of writing is a powerful tool to understand ourselves, the world we inhabit, the faith we live, and the God we hope to know. Writing creative non-fiction (memoir, essays, personal reflections) will form the heart of this group. We’ll work on a writing prompt in preparation for each gathering. (i.e., What scares you? Describe a childhood encounter with God. Who was your first spiritual mentor?). Each meeting will include craft discussions, sharing our written pieces, and playing with the art of language and rhetoric. It will be fun! This is for writers at any level of proficiency. The main thing is to have a love for words and the power these bring to our lives.
This affinity group for writers will meet for 6 monthly zoom sessions, beginning January 2023, from 9:00-11:15 AM. Dates for this series are: 1/27/2023, 2/24/2023, 3/24/2023, 4/28/2023, 5/26/2023, and 6/23/2023. The series will culminate in a day-long retreat September, 2023.
The cost for this program is $300 per participant. Space is limited, so register soon to secure your seat!
Facilitator: Leading the workshop is the Reverend John Hudson, a longtime syndicated online and print newspaper opinion columnist, blogger, and Collegeville Institute alum and resident scholar. Hudson has served churches throughout New England for thirty years as a United Church of Christ pastor. His work has also appeared in The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, USA Magazine and Bearings Online.
NOTEWORTHY OFFERINGS
