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Transformational Resources
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
- Romans 12:1-2
A number of workshops and teaching pieces are available. One of the convictions of this ministry is that one size does not fit all. We are convinced and convicted that each church is unique in its own right, and the Office of New Church Development and Transformation will work with each individual congregation to help devise a plan that will help it move from where it is today to a ministry that is transformed for the work of making disciples of Jesus Christ and advancing the kingdom of God.
The following resources are available to assist in the transformation process for congregations of all sizes and typologies:
Healthy Church Initiative
"The Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) has become our process to transform existing congregations thru continuous learning communities. The centerpiece of the Healthy Church Initiative is the Pastoral Leadership Development Group (PLD), a voluntary, nine-month, small-group peer learning experience for pastors that involves professional coaching, in-depth reading, and mutual support that gives pastors tools for training laity and helps pastors develop strategies and skills for congregational transformation. Some congregations step beyond PLD to the next level of HCI which involves a weekend congregational Consultation. A team of trained consultants meet with staff and laity for in-depth analysis, discussion, and teaching to arrive at key congregational prescriptions for change that leads to growth. Churches who accept the recommendations receive on-going congregational coaching. Recently we've added a lay teaching component to the HCI called Lay Leadership Development (LLD) to train using readings and peer group discussions to support and complement the PLD groups... The HCI provides a process that strengthens pastoral effectiveness, improves clergy moral, deepens our connection, and enhances skills for ministry. This process bears fruit in the five core practices of fruitful congregations. The HCI is key to growing fruitful congregations." - Bishop Robert Schnase
Pastoral Leadership Development 1
PLD1 is the first logical step in the HCI for many of our pastors. This program is designed to develop the leadership skills of pastors in order to enable them to better lead themselves, their church and others. There are two other main purposes of this program:
1. Develop core competencies of our pastoral leaders.
2. Prepare pastors and churches for the weekend consultation which is the Centerpiece of the Peer Mentoring program.
There are eight sessions in this program--four hours each. These are done once a month over eight months, typically in-line with a school calendar.
Study Books for PLD1
Re-Creating the Church--Leadership for the Postmodern Age, by Richard Hamm
Direct Hit, by Paul Borden
Shaped by God's Heart, by Milfred Minatrea
Simple Church, by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger
The Externally Focused Church, by Rick Rusaw & Eric Swanson
Communicating for a Change, by Andy Stanley & Lane Jones
Unbinding the Gospel, by Martha Grace Reese
PASTORAL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT 2
PLD2 was created to allow pastors who have completed PLD1 and whose churches choose not to have a weekend consultation an opportunity to continue in a structured learning community.
This program was designed to build on skills learned in PLD1. There are eight sessions in this program--four hours each. These are done once a month over eight months, typically in-line with a school calendar.
Study Books for PLD2
Time Management for Peak Performance, by Ken Willard
Visioneering, by Andy Stanley
Taking Flight with Creatiity: Worship Design Teams That Work, by Len Wilson & Jason Moore
Unleashing the Word, by Adam Hamilton
Breaking the Missional Code, by Ed Stetzer & David Putman
Beyond the First Visit, by Gary L. McIntosh
Not Your Parents Offering Plate, by J. Clif Christopher
LAY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
This program is designed to mirror the PLD1 process. The topics and books are all the same and the materials have been adjusted to reflect leaders and not pastors. The intention is to have lay leaders learning the same skills and developing the same leadership gifts as their pastors in order to provide support and accountability. The church pastor is required to be in some phase of the HCI for the laity to be eligible for this process.
There are two other main purposes of this program:
1. Develop core competencies of our church leaders.
2. Prepare leaders and churches for the weekend consultation which is the centerpiece of the Peer Mentoring program.
There are eight sessions in this program--four hours each. These are done once a month over eight months, typically in-line with a school calendar.
Study Books for LLD
Re-Creating the Church--Leadership for the Postmodern Age, by Richard Hamm
Direct Hit, by Paul Borden
Shaped by God's Heart, by Milfred Minatrea
Simple Church, by Thom Rainer & Eric Geiger
The Externally Focused Church, by Rick Rusaw & Eric Swanson
Communicating for a Change, by Andy Stanley & Lane Jones
Unbinding the Gospel, by Martha Grace Reese
SMALL CHURCH INITIATIVE
This process is designed for church leaders (pastors and laity) in churches with an average attendance of 80 or less. These sessions will have pastors and lay leaders together.
The Small Church Initiative includes two main components:
1. The SCI group training sessions for pastors and lay leaders. These six sessions are held very other month over the course of
one year.
2. Full-day church consultation on-site with a trained consultant provided by the conference.
Not all pastors/churches who take the group training will continue on to have a consultation experience; however, that is an underlying focus for these sessions.
Study Books for SCI
The Healthy Small Church, by Dennis Bickers
Ultimately Responsible, by Sue Nilson Kibbey
Evangelism in the Small Church, by Royal Speidel
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