A LEARNING AGREEMENT

The Church Development Institute

CDI agrees to provide the Church Development Institute program as described on the web site and in this manual.

Our educational method includes:

1. Linking theory and practice. We make use of experiential education methods. Participants are helped to learn from their experience in working groups and as congregational development practitioners. We engage in disciplined reflection on our experience and relate that to theory and research.

2. Active adult participation of all involved

3. CDI trainers serving as managers, coaches, facilitators, and presenters in the learning process

4. Shared responsibility for the learning process

5. Feedback as part of the learning process, including critique of the Congregational Development Project Reports by other participants and trainers, assessments of the program, and feedback on participant and leadership skills.

6. Creating a learning community of congregational development practitioners

7. Maintaining CDI standards

8. A focus on organizational and system issues. Intra-personal, interpersonal, group, and spiritual life issues are important elements in effective congregational development, and are included in the program. For participants with less skill in those areas, and for anyone considering becoming a consultant – what we do in CDI does not provide enough work in those areas. Participants may want to consider additional work.

9. Participants are asked to try to use the knowledge and skills provided, "as given". This is to give ideas and methods that may be new to the participant a "fair chance" before evaluating and modifying them when back home.

10. Participants are asked to "resource" themselves as needed with mentors, spiritual direction, and/or therapy.

The participant agrees:

1. I have looked at the program description on the web site.

 2. I am willing to fully cooperate with the learning approach offered by CDI

3. The program appears to address my current learning objectives.

4. I will make the program a priority for my continuing education.

5. I am making a commitment to fully participate in the program, including participating in all sessions (about 110 hours), the community’s worship and social life, completing the required readings, participating in a "back-home" Learning-Application Team, engaging in designing and implementing congregational development projects, and completing required Congregational Development Project Reports.

6. If I miss sessions for any reason including family emergencies or illness. I will make up the sessions in a manner approved by the program leaders. I understand that if too many sessions are missed I may need to drop from the program (and begin over again.)

7. I will work in a collaborative manner with other leaders in my organization as I apply what I am learning in CDI.

Participant Signature: ___________________________________ Date: ____________

Print Name: _______________________________________

This is to be turned in on the first day of the program.