Webinar Overview:Episcopal Spiritual Life Survey

& RenewalWorks

March 12, 2012

Introduction & Prayer• Led by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham

– Rector, Church of the Holy Spirit

• The Rev. Scott Gunn– Executive Director, Forward Movement

• The Rev. Clarence Langdon– Bishop’s staff, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

• Eric Arnson– Research advisor & REVEAL co-originator

Today’s Purpose• Why this matters!• Explain the post-survey process• Provide insights and lessons learned from

other churches• Make sure the ‘pilot mindset’ continues• Be a shared resource

Work in Progress!• Webinar is a new resource, so may not be

perfect• Do welcome feedback—positive or

constructive—throughout the entire process• Keep improving the product and process

“Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet.”

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Why This Matters• Spiritual Hunger is very evident in our culture

– Addressed in the right way?

• Need to open the door for people to have personal knowledge and experience of the beautiful faith heritage we know formally and corporately—but often not personally– Says Brian McLaren

Spiritual Life Assessment• To discern where we are going when we have

not asked where we presently are, is an operational definition for being lost.

• Profile

– Mission: Reinvigorate the Church

– Access to 6,600 Episcopal Churches; 121 Dioceses, 16 Conferences

– Deeply respected, autonomous & nimble

– Content library spanning 75 years, editors/writers

– Instant 501(c3) status for giving, separate budgets & reporting

– Full digital and traditional publishing; website, creative

– Office space and full ‘back office’ capabilities8

Message from the Bishop• Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnPToPDKJ_o&sns=em

Phases

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1. RevealWorks—Willow Creek (2003, still going strong)

2. Episcopal Incubator—Church of the Holy Spirit (2009)

3. Episcopal Pilots—15 Churches (2010)

4. Episcopal Expansion (now)

The Episcopal Survey• Have or are in the process of taking• 26 Episcopal Churches have• 1,700 other churches have taken the non-

Episcopalian version• Originally developed at Willow Church • Painstakingly revised by Episcopalians

– More later

Survey Results• Are a ‘Snapshot’ or point in time.• Serves as a baseline

Church Archetypes• After studying 1,700 churches, clear patterns

emerged• Are eight archetypes• Based on spiritual health, not demographics

or church-o-graphics• Is helpful to understand what other chuches

‘like yours’ are doing

RenewalWorks: Why this Approach?

• Originally developed by WildWorks, a Christian consulting group specializing in transforming ideas and processes

• Optimized by twenty churches in 2007, working with the WCA

• Re-tooled and further customized by 12 pilot Episcopalian churches, in conjunction with CHS and Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

General Construct• Four sessions:

– 1. Spiritual Formation– 2. Survey Findings and Conclusions– 3. Applying Best Practice Principles to your Church– 4. The Plan and Guiding Metrics

• Each session starts with Scripture & Discussion• Is Homework, most pre-reading

Workshop Team Composition• Modeled after a Search Committee• Lay led—a must• Clergy, Rector in particular, must not guide

– Nor back seat driving

• Need a separate time-keeper• Plus a separate scribe

– That gets notes and follow-up done

Helpful Hints• Encourage a bit of hospitality 15-20 minutes

before each workshop starts– A number will not know each other

• Start and end each sub-section promptly, even if not completely finished

• Post the key elements of each session to demonstrate progress and be a reference

• Keep a ‘parking lot’ flip chart for unanswered questions, suggestions, follow-up

More Lessons Learned• Make sure ALL the voices are heard

– Set as an expectation, then prompt

• Make differences a value– Will be different viewpoints, especially on ‘growth’

• Do fewer things, well– Will try to do too much

• Close with a reassuring and encouraging prayer

Be Prayerful• Let the Spirit be heard• Come back to scripture• OK to reflect

Be Intentional• Healthy Churches have healthy congregants• This process will open many eyes

Is Evolutionary• Not revolutionary• Make change a positive value• Rooted & Restless

We will HELP!• Through the webinars• Weekly Q & A• Blog posts• Shared best practices

•Questions?

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Concluding Remarks & Prayer• Led by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham

Thanks!• Next session: March 19th at 2pm CDT• Focus will be Workshop 1