R w Works. Handouts. Workshop Materials. An Episcopal Planning Tool to Help Your Church Advance Spiritual Growth. Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

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1 R w Works Handouts Workshop Materials An Episcopal Planning Tool to Help Your Church Advance Spiritual Growth Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

2 Contents Episcopal Beliefs & Practices... 3 Parish Profile: Ten Year Trend Data... 7 Parish Demographic Profile... 8 Spiritually Vital Churches: Best Practice Principles... 9 Best Practice Principles Worksheets All Workshop products including the Facilitator Guide, Workshop Design, Participant Workbook and Templates are the intellectual property of The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. This includes sequencing of exercises detailed in the Facilitator Guide, all assignments, exercise descriptions and processes outlined or described. This Workshop was originallly created by the WCA and The WildWorks Group. The WCA graciously granted permission to customize the intellectual property for the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. All materials can be found online at: Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. All Rights Reserved. 2

3 Episcopal Beliefs & Practices Sources: -- The Bible, church tradition, and human reason provide compelling truth about God and creation. -- The Baptismal Covenant and Holy Eucharist serve as the cornerstones of our beliefs and worship. -- The Book of Common Prayer provides comprehensive resources for an individual, family and community life of prayer, in the context of the liturgical year. Trinity God: Commit to examine and deepen your relationship with God Jesus: Embrace Jesus and his teachings and practices as the supreme example of whole and authentic life Holy Spirit: Passionately express your life by responding to the Holy Spirit Episcopal Beliefs: God the Creator We and all creation are the continuing work of a loving God God the Son Jesus is the supreme disclosure of the heart of God. Jesus total trust and obedience to God reveals the unconditional trustworthiness of God, who raised Jesus from the dead. God dwelling within us We experience the power of the Holy Spirit working in us as we place our trust in Jesus promises and follow in his ways in the Church and in company with the followers of Jesus through the centuries. Jesus: Way, Truth and Life Jesus reveals to us what constitutes a whole and authentic life. His radical trust in God and freedom to re-imagine the traditions of his people call us to follow in his way of trust and freedom. God known in manifold ways Every person has freedom and responsibility to discern the truth of God for his or her life through engaging the Bible, in conversation with the historic teachings and liturgy of the church, and human reason. We cherish diverse expressions of belief and practice as people grow into abundant and authentic lives in their time and place. 3

4 Bible the key to discern God s presence in all of life The Bible is the most authoritative source of truth. It is the story of God s creation and God s people and provides a key for understanding the presence and purposes of God in the midst of nature, history and our personal journeys. Jesus is the lived Word of God. Episcopal Practices: Sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist form and nourish faith We embrace the Baptismal Covenant and the Holy Eucharist as the foundation for our belief and practice. We participate regularly in the Holy Eucharist, bringing the substance of our lives and the fruits of our labors, offering them to God, and having them incorporated into the Risen Body of. We honor and serve God s purposes We seek to name and renounce all forces in and around us that corrupt God s purposes of love and unity among all people and with creation. Single-mindedness We put our whole trust in Jesus disclosure of the unconditional love and faithfulness of God. We turn to Jesus as the supreme source of understanding and power for living our lives fully and authentically. Journey to wholeness We promise to persevere, and to repent and return when we fall away from God. Called to witness and serve We promise by word and example to proclaim our trust in God s reconciling love. Called to restore unity with all people and creation We promise to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being. We seek to bring values rooted in faith in God to our participation in public life. Giving away my time We promise to seek and serve in every person and to love our neighbors as our selves. Giving away my money We express our gratitude and trust in God through tithing and supporting works of justice and compassion. 4

5 Prayer We offer regular morning and evening prayers. We offer prayers of intercession for all who suffer from violence, illness, grief or abandonment and for all whose lives are closely linked with ours. We offer prayers of thanksgiving for the gift of life and for the myriad blessings bestowed upon us by God. Spiritual disciplines We read and meditate on the Bible regularly. We prepare and participate in the Prayer Book rites for baptism, marriage, confession of sins, and burial of the dead. We observe the prayers and disciplines provided for the seasons of Advent, mas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost. We participate regularly in the offerings of our congregation for ian formation for children and adults. We seek accountability We seek spiritual friendship and accountability through individual and group reflection on our spiritual journeys. Stewards of Creation We believe that God is present and active in the whole of creation and that we are called to participate with God through appreciation and care for creation, through the arts, through our daily work, through our relationships with other people and in our own inner lives. 5

6 Episcopal Beliefs and Practices: Background and Sources The compilation of Episcopal Beliefs and Practices (EBP) is the fruit of an extended conversation between the spiritual life workshop participants at Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, workshop facilitator Clarence Langdon, and colleagues and friends whom Clarence invited to share in the conversation. The spiritual life survey left Church of the Holy Spirit parishioners feeling drawn to the clarity and passion of the faith expressed in the Willow Creek community, yet, troubled by the sense of narrowness and spiritual exclusiveness that was also experienced in the beliefs and practices at the heart of the survey. During the second workshop in which we wrestled with the survey results, participants were very vocal about their belief that the survey did not speak the language of our Episcopal heritage. The survey was asking us to describe our faith experience in terms that were not natural to us. The exclusive focus on the Bible, a personal relationship with Jesus, and the lack of appreciation for other faith traditions were the most common objections to the faith expressed in the survey. The question that arose: If this is not the way we express our faith and describe our spiritual practices, How do we Episcopalians express our faith and describe our practices? The encounter with the evangelical heritage of Willow Creek Church that was expressed in the spiritual life survey was both provocative and creative for Church of the Holy Spirit. It made clear some of the qualities that we admired and some that we resisted in evangelical ianity. More importantly, the encounter challenged us as Episcopalians to find new clarity and new passion for the beliefs and practices that undergird and give life to our journeys of faith. We have realized anew how much we can learn and how much we can share with other faith traditions when we engage each other with respect, curiosity and a desire to find new life in. Characteristics that were found especially valuable in EBP were the expansiveness and generosity of the statements and their grounding in the teaching and practices of the Book of Common Prayer. The Eucharist and the Baptismal Covenant were placed along-side the Bible as foundational to our heritage. The belief and practice that was most strongly embraced states: All persons have the freedom and responsibility to discern the truth of God for their life, grounding that discernment in the Bible, the traditions of the church and human reason. Workshop participants wrestled with the tension of being both free and responsible for discerning the truth of God for our lives. EBP is one articulation of the collective discernment of the truth of God for this community. The freedom and responsibility to discern the direction of our individual and collective journeys of faith can lead us to the clarity and passion in our life of faith that we found lacking. The articulation of EBP informed the creation of the Episcopal Spiritual Life Renewal, a survey customized to the Episcopal faith experience. Our survey and workshop guides for Episcopal congregations who want to assess and revitalize the spiritual lives of their people and communities are the fruits of the work done by the leadership of Church of the Holy Spirit in collaboration with Willow Creek Church. The Diocese of Chicago and Seabury Western Seminary have also been valued partners in this collaboration. Resources that were particularly helpful in the compilation of Episcopal Beliefs and Practices included: Conversations with Jay Sidebotham, Kristin White, Eric Arnson, Mimi Murley, and John Buerkle as we planned and debriefed the spiritual life survey workshops. Conversations with Bishop Jeffrey Lee and the bishop s staff, who all took the Willow Creek Spiritual Life Survey. Conversations with Professor Ian Markham of Virginia Theological Seminary who led the clergy conference for the Diocese of Chicago in October of The writings of Marcus Borg, especially, The Heart of ianity, and Jesus. Anglican theologian, Lesslie Newbigin s book, The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society was also a key resource. An Episcopal Planning Tool to Help Your Church Advance Spiritual Growth Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

7 Parish Profile: Ten Year Trend Data Date: Compiled by: Enter a number in each field Parish Lifestage All Members Births Confirmations Marriages Deaths Parish Attendance Pre-School Sunday School Confirmation Youth Group Study/Small Groups Choir Weekend Service By Age Break Topic Parish Giving Annual Pledgers New Annual Pledgers Average giving/pledger By Age Break Community Census Population Growth Rate Lifestage Diversity Other 7

8 Parish Demographic Profile Topic 2012 Age Age 18 and under Age Age Age Age Age Age Age 70 and older Gender Male Female Marital Status Now married Widowed Divorced Separated Never married Partnered Education Completed some high school Completed high school/g.e.d. Currently in college/some college Completed Associates degree Completed four year college degree Currently in post-graduate or profession school Completed post-graduate or professional degree 8

Spiritually Vital Churches: Best Practice Principles 2 PASTOR THE COMMUNITY 1 GET PEOPLE MOVING Leadership Team 3 CREATE OWNERSHIP 2 EMBED THE BIBLE Four Principles 1: Get People Moving 2: Embed the

9 Spiritually Vital Churches: Best Practice Principles 2 PASTOR THE COMMUNITY 1 GET PEOPLE MOVING Leadership Team 3 CREATE OWNERSHIP 2 EMBED THE BIBLE Four Principles 1: Get People Moving 2: Embed the Bible in Everything 3: Create Ownership 4: Pastor the Local Community Principle 1: Get People Moving It is not the form of the spiritual jump-start program that determines whether or not people get on track with a process that will lead them into a growing relationship with : rather, it is how the program is executed. Based on our review of the top REVEAL churches, three key strategies make all the difference. Key Strategy 1: Make the destination clear. People leave these jump-start experiences crystal clear about two things. First, they know that the church s top priority is to do everything within its power to help them grow into devoted disciples of Jesus. Second, they know how the church defines what it means to be a disciple. Key Strategy 2: Make the spiritual jump start non-negotiable. A newcomer does not warm a pew long before realizing that participation in the jump-start program is expected and assumed. From verbal announcements at weekend services to written collateral about church priorities, the jump-start pathway is prominently featured as a centerpiece opportunity and implied necessity for congregants. Key Strategy 3: Make the senior pastor the champion. The senior pastor strongly promotes and encourages newcomers to make attending the jump-start program a top priority and, in most cases, teaches one or more of the sessions. Especially when it comes to casting the vision of the church, this is not something typically delegated to the staff or volunteers. 9

10 Principle 2: Embed the Bible in Everything All churches and church leaders love the Bible. As best-practice pastor Marcus Ways put it, The Bible is God in paperback form - everything we need is there! Within Scripture we find the voice of God providing comfort, encouragement, and inspiration. We find God s wisdom and advice about how to handle whatever needs and obstacles confront us. What s not to love? But transitioning that love to congregants who have mixed levels of trust, experience, and confidence in reading and interpreting the Bible for themselves is not easy. This is the distinction of the best-practice churches - not their love of Scripture, because that s common to all churches. It s how they execute the transition of that love to their congregants. Based on our review of the top REVEAL churches, three key strategies appear to make that happen. Make the Bible the main course of the message. While there is great debate over the most effective way to teach God s Word, a number of best-practice churches lean toward the expository-teaching style. However, the most important takeaway about teaching from best-practice pastors is that they all start the preparation of their messages with Scripture. Even if their teaching is topical in nature, their goal is to transfer a life application from Scripture. Their starting point is the Word, followed by application to the world. Take away the excuses. Best-practice churches make Bible engagement practical, meaningful, and accessible - something that can fit even into the busiest of schedules. Model Scripture as the church s foundation. Everywhere you turn in best-practice churches, you see the Bible as core to the church and its leadership. This includes everything from weekend services to serving experiences to leadership selection and training - virtually every ministry activity is founded and depends upon biblical truth for guidance and inspiration. Why and how do best-practice pastors so effectively embed the Bible in everything through these three strategies? Let s tap into their experience and learn from their best advice. Principle 3: Create Ownership When it comes to inspiring and equipping people to live out the values of like behavior, the natural inclination for church leaders is to reach for traditional levers such a volunteer programs, small groups, and training for the lay leaders who lead these programs. Not surprisingly, best-practice churches take advantage of all these levers. However, in the countercultural spirit of Jesus, their goal is not to build up these programs. Their goal is to change behavior. Empower people to be the church. This is the priesthood-of-all-believers strategy, aiming to break down the mindset that divides pastors and congregants. Blurring those dividing lines involves assigning high levels of ministry accountability to lay leaders and using creative ways to inspire people to experiment with like behavior in their everyday lives. Equip people to succeed. It s not enough to simply empower people. Establishing high standards for performance and accountability is critical, as is educating and giving congregants the tools they need to meet those standards. Hold people accountable. Best-practice churches understand that their attendees need spiritual mirrors, which means safe, relational networks that help them navigate the ups and downs of an expanding walk with. Many invest significant time and resources in small-group infrastructures to provide that support. 10

11 Principle 4: Pastor the Local Community Given the clarity of s command in Matthew 25, we know why these churches place such a premium on community outreach. But how do they fit that into the daily demands of ministry? And how do they then inspire their people to make it such a high priority in the midst of their busy lives? Three strategies emerge as the ones that make this work. Set a high bar for serving the church and the community. Best-practice churches make it clear early and often that they count on congregants to serve the needs of both the church and the community. The senior pastor sets the tone and pace for this commitment because - according to senior pastor Steve Gallimore of Tennessee Valley Community Church - your people will care no more than you do; go no farther than you will. It s that simple. Build a bridge into your local community. Most best-practice churches establish strong relationships, and often partnerships, with other churches, non-profits, and community leaders. They do this for two reasons: to stay in touch and involved with the most pressing community needs, and to generate the greatest possible impact by working shoulder-to-shoulder with others to address those needs. Make serving a platform for the gospel. It s a no-brainer, says Barbara Sullivan, who co-pastors Spirit of God Fellowship in South Holland, Illinois, with her husband, John. Her comment acknowledges that best-practice pastors see a natural affinity between evangelizing and serving those who are struggling and broken - because people who feel hopeless have hearts that are fertile ground for s message of grace and redemption. 1 GET PEOPLE MOVING 2 PASTOR THE COMMUNITY Leadership Team 2 EMBED THE BIBLE 3 CREATE OWNERSHIP 11

Exploring Growing In Close To Centered handouts Best Practice Principles Worksheets Movement 1 Movement 2 Movement 3 Get people moving Options: Get People Moving Key Strategy 1: Make the destination

12 Exploring Growing In Close To Centered handouts Best Practice Principles Worksheets Movement 1 Movement 2 Movement 3 Get people moving Options: Get People Moving Key Strategy 1: Make the destination clear. Key Strategy 2: Make the spiritual jump start non-negotiable. Key Strategy 3: Make the senior pastor the champion. Holy Bible Holy Bible Embed the Bible Do you go to church? No, I am the Church. Create ownership Priorities: Pastor the community Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. All Rights Reserved. 12

13 Exploring Growing In Close To Centered handouts Best Practice Principles Worksheets Movement 1 Movement 2 Movement 3 Get people moving Options: Embed the Bible Key Strategy 1: Make the Bible the main course of the message. Key Strategy 2: Take away the excuses. Key Strategy 3: Model Scripture as the church s foundation. Holy Bible Holy Bible Embed the Bible Do you go to church? No, I am the Church. Create ownership Priorities: Pastor the community Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. All Rights Reserved. 13

14 Exploring Growing In Close To Centered handouts Best Practice Principles Worksheets Movement 1 Movement 2 Movement 3 Get people moving Options: Create Ownership Key Strategy 1: Empower people to be the church. Key Strategy 2: Equip people to succeed. Key Strategy 3: Hold people accountable. Holy Bible Holy Bible Embed the Bible Do you go to church? No, I am the Church. Create ownership Priorities: Pastor the community Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. All Rights Reserved. 14

Exploring Growing In Close To Centered handouts Best Practice Principles Worksheets Movement 1 Movement 2 Movement 3 Get people moving Pastor the Community Key Strategy 1: Set a high bar for serving

15 Exploring Growing In Close To Centered handouts Best Practice Principles Worksheets Movement 1 Movement 2 Movement 3 Get people moving Pastor the Community Key Strategy 1: Set a high bar for serving the church and the community. Key Strategy 2: Build a bridge into you local community. Key Strategy 3: Make serving a platform for the gospel. Options: Holy Bible Holy Bible Embed the Bible Do you go to church? No, I am the Church. Create ownership Priorities: Pastor the community Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. All Rights Reserved. 15

Follow Me. R w Works. Participant Workbook. An Episcopal Planning Tool to Help Your Church Advance Spiritual Growth. Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

Follow Me. R w Works. Participant Workbook. An Episcopal Planning Tool to Help Your Church Advance Spiritual Growth. Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Follow Me R w Works Participant Workbook An Episcopal Planning Tool to Help Your Church Advance Spiritual Growth Episcopal Diocese of Chicago Contents Welcome to RENEWALWORKS... 3 Workshop 1 Understanding