Getting to know the community that your congregation will focus on is a critical step in defining your mission. To start, work on getting answers to several key questions: What are the primary issues in your community? How do the…
Read MoreOur New Front Door: How Congregational Web Sites Communicate Church Vision
Jonathan, 28, believes Web sites function like a “front page” for organizations. He notes that his generation surfs the Internet continuously, both during the work day and during leisure hours, and that they would almost never visit a church or…
Read MoreCongregational Readiness for Visioning and Planning
Before I agree to work with a planning team, I determine if the leadership is ready for the test. Congregations are different. Some are doing great and don’t need to do developmental planning now. Others lack a readiness to plan….
Read MoreCENTERview: The Congregation as Author: Sharing Stories, Listening Deeply, and Finding New Creative Vision
Once upon a time… The Center for Congregations encourages faith communities to reflect on once upon a time—that is, we listen to and encourage stories. Sharing stories builds commitment to the congregation’s mission. Stories testify to the rhythm of a…
Read MoreThe Performance Planning Meeting: Putting Our People Where Our Mission Is
Whether we are talking about congregations with one staff person or very large congregations with dozens, volunteer and employed staff—people—are the primary resource used to accomplish the mission of the congregation. Commonly 65 percent or more of a congregation’s annual…
Read MoreCongregations and Foundations: Meeting in the Spaces Between
“Everything is connected…no one thing can change by itself.” —Paul Hawken, entrepreneur The nation’s clergy and congregations might be dismayed or exhilarated by what foundation leaders had to say at a recent meeting convened by the Alban Institute. The meeting…
Read MoreRight-Sizing Your Space or Right-Sizing Your Vision?
“Do you provide architectural services and can you help us ‘right-size’ our church facilities?” This question was posed to the Alban Institute by an inquiring congregation. While Alban typically has not provided such services, the Institute invited Roger L. Patterson,…
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