THE CHURCH FUTURES PROGRAM
The Church Futures Program is for communities of faith that are at a crossroads and are facing critical choices about the future. Can we carry on? Should we seek an amalgamation partner? Do we have the energy to renew our ministry? How could we leave a legacy? How do we figure it out when we know we are running short of time and energy?
At a “crunch-time” the Church Futures Program is designed to help you identify and consider all the realistic options for your community of faith’s future and then choose the one you feel God is leading you to.
It’s a 4 – step intensive process. Working with a consultant, you are helped to:
- Identify every option that members believe is open to the congregation;
- Research each option identifying what is involved in each one;
- Communicate openly to the congregation what will be required to implement each;
- Realistically assess the options and the congregation’s capacity and resources to implement them;
- Identify, decide and implement a preferred choice.
We believe the faithful way is for communities of faith to choose their future, rather than let the future happen to them. With a Church Futures process, you take the decision about the future and have a clear pathway for getting there.
AMALGAMATION & REGIONALIZATION
Is your church thinking about amalgamating with another church to regroup and strengthen your resource base? Are you looking at ways to group your strengths through deeper cooperation with neighbouring congregations?
Amalgamations are complex and take a tremendous amount of energy, time, skill, leadership, and faith. Leaders have the challenge of dealing with an extensive list of logistical tasks and decisions, plus a sea of emotional processes—their own as well as those of the congregations.
CCDL consultants offer a structured pathway to manage all of the dimensions of an amalgamation or regionalization process, focusing always on the possibilities amalgamation can bring for new mission and energy.
“We have truly valued your insights, good humour and calm demeanour. You have an exceptional gift in being able to move us to being very thoughtful as well as pushing back on us to probe further, rethink, and be honest with each other.”
For more information contact Jill Strapp, Coordinating Consultant for the Centre for Church Development & Leadership, at 905-771-5124 ext. 25 or jill@tucc.ca
