What s Assessment All About - draft

Transcription

1 What s Assessment All About - draft NOTE: At present, assessment process and its various tools are beg tested various congregations across Diocese. This document, refore, reflects process as it now stands. Please expect some alterations to take place after this trial run. This document be revised accordgly

2 Fosterg development of healthy congregations Shaped by a Livg Hope is an itiative that is fosterg development of healthy congregations Diocese of Algoma. Addressg first objective named Strategic Plan adopted by Algoma s Synod 2009, Shaped by a Livg Hope is responsive to Mission, Vision and Governg Values we share as a Diocese. Its aspiration is to equip our congregations to live vibrantly today light of God s promised tomorrow. To work toward this outcome, Shaped by a Livg Hope consists of three terrelated components: 1. Benchmarks for healthy congregations; 2. Workshops, trag, consultations and materials prepared for our Diocese, and supportive resources; 3. An assessment process designed to discern health and sustaability of congregations. The Benchmarks for Healthy Congregations Algoma and supportive materials are posted on Diocesan website under Mistry Resources Congregational Development. New resources or resource lks are beg added or suggested re and/or on our Diocesan Facebook page on a regular basis. Lk to Diocesan website: Lk to Facebook page: Algoma-Shaped-by-a-Livg- Hope/ ?ref=ts This document is provided to give some sense of what is volved and what you can expect assessment component of Shaped by a Livg Hope. Shaped by a Livg Hope What s Assessment All About? 2

3 Why are we dog this work? emergg missional opportunities Discernment is a characteristic practice of live and serve joyfully as signs of God s Kgdom, better reflectg dignity and desty Christian Faith. One way which Shaped by a that Christ has won for every human beg. Livg Hope supports development of vibrant and faithful congregations Algoma is by exercisg this practice through assessment The assessment task Who is volved? process called for our Diocesan Strategic Plan. The purpose of this component of Shaped by a Livg Hope, n, is to explore key aspects of each congregation s life order to better ascerta its current health and sustaability, and to determe how effectively we are formg disciples and engagg God s mission local communities throughout Algoma. To this end, process consider relationship between vitality of mistry and mission, exercise of characteristic practices belongg to Christian faith, fancial sustaability and various matters related to a church s buildg and facilities. The process of assessment is designed such a way as to help congregations, along with Deanery and Diocesan leadership, to sustaable congregations encourage vibrant worship, deliberate formation for discipleship, and missional service beyond common life of each congregation; wise, faithful decisions toward fulfillment of our Diocesan mission; move toward vision we have identified as a Diocese; rationalize buildgs and resources with Diocese - particularly to ensure we contue to support our thrivg engaged by each congregation cooperation with its Deanery Assessment Team (A-Team), supported as necessary by Diocesan Congregational Development Officer (CDO). The Program Associate (PA) of each deanery also play a supportive role this work. While certa dividuals of your congregation be responsible for overseeg process or performg certa tasks, re are a number of opportunities to volve as many people as possible from your church. Some of tools for assessment process can be found on Diocesan website. Or materials be made available from Synod Office through CDO (congdevelopment@dioceseofalgoma.com ), or by your PA. support, and promote development of make be congregations, expand strategic mistries where re are adequate resources at present, and identify and support The assessment component of Shaped by a Livg Hope volves active listeng, thoughtful observation and enthusiastic encouragement on part of CDO, PA and A-Team members. These dividuals also assist your congregation its work of congregational selfassessment ( largest part of process) by posg questions, stimulatg conversation, troducg resources and evaluative tools, and providg or assistance as needed. It is anticipated that, from time of itial congregational event (step #1 below), assessment process take a congregation eight to ten weeks to complete. Shaped by a Livg Hope What s Assessment All About? 3

4 What are stages of process? and property coordator/chairperson are on board (y be crucial to subsequent steps The steps of assessment process are as assessment process) follows: Have a flip chart (with lots of paper), one 1. Congregational Event: The purpose of this garg is to troduce marker for each table, maskg tape, a foundational projection screen and a PowerPot projector convictions of Shaped by a Livg Hope, celebrate available and set up where it is easy for all to ways God has worked and is workg your congregation, beg to identify both signs of hope and areas of concern congregation may have, and outle briefly purpose and steps of assessment process. This eveng provides see. (If desired or necessary, CDO and/or PA and/or an A-Team representative can meet with Incumbent and congregational process leaders assessment team and process leaders your congregation furr sight to operative values and overall notions of mission/purpose amongst members of congregation. Who participates? As many people from congregation as possible. (Congregational leaders such as Incumbent, wardens and advisory board/parish council members should be attendance.) Time needed: Two and a half hours. (It is possible to hold more than one event if this better enables widespread participation ) To prepare for this step: Advertise event(s). Encourage participation as widely as possible. Extend personalized vitations to those who might thk I am sure this doesn t apply to me or I really don t have anythg important to offer. 1 Arrange to have light snacks and beverages provided2 Choose two or three people from congregation to serve as process leaders for assessment3 Arrange to have someone set up meetg space so people can sit around tables groups of six Make sure your treasurer, envelope secretary Shaped by a Livg Hope What s Assessment All About? 1 Invite specifically anyone you want to make sure takes part new parishioners, advisory board members, key dividuals that brg energy and sight to your parish s mistry, teens, etc. 2 Food and a relaxed social atmosphere are best suited for agenda of this congregational event. 3 These dividuals be volved each step of process, helpg to move it along at your end. You want to ask forward-thkg, imagative people of faith who get importance of vision and missional posture on part of a congregation, can provide and appreciate fresh perspective, and are able to be honest and sightful assessment of your congregation. You may also want to ensure a balance of newer and long-time members this role. Often it is best, too, to ask dividuals who do not currently hold an office congregation. 4

5 2. Evaluation congregational Meetg: event, Shortly after congregation may decide to run two studies of congregation s chosen book over this period of assessment Incumbent and leadership team meet with A- process. Team facilitators to identify what was learned from To prepare for this step: event and organize remader of Order books for participants. assessment process. Or members from Advertise series/study. Encourage congregation, particularly wardens, treasurer participation as widely as possible. Extend and equivalent personalized vitations to those who might misters) are welcome to take part this meetg, thk I am sure this doesn t apply to me or I too. At this meetg, a book be chosen for really don t have anythg important to offer. property coordator (or 4 third step of assessment process. Who participates? Incumbent, congregational (A similar series for children and youth is beg process leaders, A-Team facilitators, PA and/or developed so that y, too, may have put to CDO, any terested people, possibly wardens this process.) and/or treasurer and/or property coordator (or equivalent misters) Time needed: One and a half hours To prepare for this step: Brg flip chart sheets from table group exercises which took place at congregational event(s). 3. Book Study: Through this study, members of congregation consider mistry and discipleship practices of congregation, usg one of four suggested books coupled with an accompanyg study guide as a resource (if applicable). This step provide a better understandg of congregation s vitality related to worship, formation, common life, service to community and world, and practices around Christian Initiation. Therefore, this exercise pays particular attention to benchmarks related to Vitality. Who participates? Clergy, congregational process leaders, any terested people. (Ideally, or parish leaders take part, too.) Time needed: One afternoon and/or eveng a week (two hours per session), over four to five weeks. If it helps with participation, 4 At present, re are four books recommended: Practicg nd Our Faith (2 Edition) by Dorothy C. Bass, Christianity for Rest of Us by Diana Butler Bass, Born of Water, Born of Spirit by Sheryl A. Kujawa-Holbrook and Fredrica Harris Thompsett, and Small, Strong Congregations by Kennon Callahan. Shaped by a Livg Hope What s Assessment All About? 5

6 4. Reflection on Fances: This stage considers congregation s fances light of previous steps and Diocesan benchmarks for healthy congregations. It allows a better understandg of how congregation s fancial planng, priorities and resources serve mission and allow for future sustaability. Who participates? Incumbent, congregational process leaders, treasurer, envelope secretary, (stewardship coordator), any terested people. Time needed: One afternoon or eveng, plus some preparation time on part of treasurer and/or envelope secretary. To prepare for this step: Provide summaries from book study Treasurer and/or envelope secretary gars formation on number of identifiable givers, annual contributions of dividual parishioners from previous five years, budget for current year 5. Reflection on Buildg: This stage considers congregation s buildg(s) light of previous steps and Diocesan benchmarks. It allows a better understandg of how well congregation s facilities and location serve mission and allow for future sustaability. It also provides a method of analyzg buildg s environmental impact. Who participates? Incumbent, congregational process leaders, property coordator (or equivalent mister), any terested people. You may also choose to vite participation by some dividuals unfamiliar with your buildg. Time needed: One afternoon or eveng. (Plus some preparation time on part of one or two people.) To prepare for this step: Provide completed copy of fancial workbook Determe average monthly cost of utilities Obta a copy of congregation s bookg/activity calendar(s), or some analysis of buildg use It would be helpful to one or all of followg: hospitality audit, accessibility audit, worship space audit You may also wish to obta a report from most recent spection of your buildg by deanery officials Shaped by a Livg Hope What s Assessment All About? 6

7 6. Or Reviews: Usually, re be two or Archdeacon formed of assessment outcomes. three or reviews determed helpful durg step #2 above. Dependg on reviews question, 9. Follow-up: If necessary, follow-up resources, se be filled out by advisory board/parish consultation or formation/trag opportunities council members, or parish leaders and/or any be suggested or provided to congregation by terested members of congregation CDO and/or PA. The A-Team members assigned to your congregation be available to advise or assist any of steps above if you require ir support or participation at any pot. More formation on steps 3-6 is available related tools/workbooks. 7. Assessment Review: When above items are completed, your congregation s assessment work be reviewed by Incumbent, your process leadership team (and perhaps ors volved above work), A-Team facilitators, and sometimes CDO and/or PA. Followg this meetg, facilitators provide a summary of assessment fdgs, cludg ir own impressions and forward copies of all material to CDO. 8. Meetg with CDO: The CDO meet with Incumbent (and process leaders, if desired) person, via Skype or by phone about fal If you have any questions/concerns/comments, assessment. Toger y discern next steps please feel free to be contact with: for congregational development and discuss how fdgs of assessment be The Rev. Dr. Jay Koyle, communicated with congregation. The CDO Congregational Development Officer may also request feedback from Incumbent Phone: , ext. 22 and congdevelopment@dioceseofalgoma.com process leaders about assessment process and tools for benefit of future revision. The CDO also keep your Territorial Shaped by a Livg Hope What s Assessment All About? 7

8 Congregational Development The Diocese of Algoma Anglican (Episcopal) Church of Canada P.O. Box 1168 Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario P6A 5N7 Canada x22 Copyright Diocese of Algoma. Portions of this process are adapted from Mistry Assessment Process of Diocese of New Westmster. Copyright Diocese of Westmster. For those outside Diocese of Algoma wishg to copy or adapt this resource, please contact Congregational Development office for permission.