REVISED SCHEDULE

for

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

 

November 1-30, 2006

Planning team members will conduct an “initial conversation” with each congregational team on-site.  The purpose of this conversation (1 ½ -2 hrs.) is to undertake an “appreciative inquiry” conversation that will assist the planning team—and eventually the other congregational teams—to appreciate the congregation’s context and circumstances, what the congregation hopes to gain from this collaborative process, and what strengths the team brings to the process.

 

These initial conversations should accomplish the follow (from 10/12/06 minutes ):

  1. Make sure that the pastor and lay persons understand the basic purpose and overall plan for the 18-month “leadership development project” (see “Leadership Development Project” handout and revised schedule).
  2. Review the congregation’s application form, and have those present elaborate on their responses to the questions on the application:
    • “What about David Mayer’s presentation piqued your interesting in engaging in a longer leadership development process?”
    • “What congregational leadership development goals do you hope to achieve through this process?”
    • “What ideas/suggestions do you have to offer to this process?”
  3. Suggested questions for the “appreciative inquiry process” to allow you to become better acquainted with the congregation:

·         If we were to inquire of a person in your community who is not a member of your church, how would that person describe your congregation?

·         Describe to us what your congregation would be like if it were the ideal congregation.

·         Tell us about your congregation’s size, physical facilities, worship, ministry goals and program, joys and hopes, etc.

·         Tell us a story or stories about a time when you felt truly alive and effective in your church and in your community?  What happened?  What did you do?  How did you do it?

·         If you could have three wishes for your congregation, what would they be?  Think big!

 

Initial Conversation Visits:

  • East Koshkonong Lutheran Church – Pastor Clint Schnekloth (Visitors:  Tom Loftus & Ken Smith)
  • Grace Lutheran Church – Pastor Rachael Powell (Visitors:  Tom Loftus & Ken Smith)
  • Cooksville Lutheran Church – Pastor Margo Martens (Visitors:  Dennis O’Brien & Jim Bailey)
  • Sugar Creek Lutheran Church – Pastor Gerald Petersen (Visitors:  Bryan Engfer & Jim Bailey).
  • Jefferson Prairie Lutheran Church (Pastor Tom Groth) – (Visitors:  Jim Bailey & Dennis O’Brien)

 

1st Plenary Learning Gathering

Date:  Saturday, March 3, 2007, 8:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m.

Place:  Trinity Lutheran Church, 314 Barrie St., Fort Atkinson, WI

Topics & Activities:  Getting acquainted, presentation on “A Theology of Gifts,”

      panel discussion with guest pastors on ways of empowering lay ministers,

      congregational teams’ clarifying goals for the process, familiarization with “reflection

      guides” and others resources, planning for first site visits, and setting calendar.

Preparation:  Congregational teams will be invited to do some reading prior to this

     first plenary gathering.

 

 

1st Site Visit to Host Congregations

Time frame:  March 10-April 1, 2007 (Easter is April 8th)

Purpose:   Exposure to a host congregation that has shown evidence of developing

     effective lay leaders within its ministry and mission.

Procedure:  Each congregational team will review the profiles of the

      host congregations and submit first and second choices to the planning team,

      which in turn will determine the best match and make arrangements for the visit. 

      Two congregational teams may join together for a visit.  The visit to the host

      congregation may occur on a weekday evening or a weekend.   Cost for each visit is

      covered by the planning grant.

 

2nd Plenary Learning Gathering

Date:  Saturday, 8:45 a.m.-2:45 p.m., April 21, 2007

Place:  Trinity Lutheran Church, 314 Barrie St., Fort Atkinson, WI

Topics & Activities:  Sharing learning from site-visits, presentation and discussion

      on “Effective Outreach & Inreach Ministry” (Pastor Mick Roschke & Pastor

      Mary Martha Kannass and/or Craig Nessan as possible resource persons), exercises

      designed to help congregational teams develop a strategy and action plan, introduction of

      resources, and arranging for second site visit (in September).

 

In-Congregation Analysis and Discussion

Time frame:  May-August, 2007

Purpose:  Each congregational team should meet occasionally for discussion and

      refinement of its strategy and action plan for pursuing its stated goals.  The team

      may choose to engage other members of the congregation in its thinking and

      planning.  The team may also experiment with implementing activities within the

      congregation.

 

2nd  Site Visit to Host Congregation

Time Frame:  September – October, 2007

Purpose:  Each congregational team will be matched with another host congregation

      that offers the team further challenging examples of effective missional ministry with

      strong lay involvement.

 

3rd Plenary Learning Gathering

Date:  Saturday, 9:00 a.m. (length to be determined), either November 3 or 10, 2007

Place:  To be determined

Likely Focus:  Strategy & action plans, practice of ministry, and what seems

      important at this point in the process (resource persons as needed).

 

3rd Visit to Host Congregation

Time frame:  January-February, 2008

Purpose:  Each congregational team will select the host congregation to be

      visited.

 

Final Plenary Gathering

Date:  Sometime during March or April, 2008

Place:  To be determined

Purpose:  Final wrap-up and sharing plans, celebration, etc.

 

 

 

Prepared by J.L. Bailey, CCL (10/27/06)