Return to Home Page

Congregational Development    Services

 

 Congregational Development Consultation 

 
Overall improvement of parish life and ministry - The focus here is on the improvement of the total system. This is a process that begins with a broad assessment of the current strengths, weaknesses and hopes of the parish. Parish leaders and the consultant work together to identify the best places to begin an improvement process.
 

 
Creating a sense of direction - Visioning and planning; establishing a direction that fits the congregation's context, the changes it faces, and the improvements it desires. Includes check-ins over a period of time.
 

 
Annual leadership conference /retreat - Designing and facilitating your yearly leadership gathering. This is often one of the most efficient and effective ways for parish leaders to manage congregational development issues.  More information 
 

 
Increasing trust and managing conflict - Trust and conflict are related dynamics. This consultation focuses on how a parish can actively promote trusting relationships and  a climate of trust. For parishes not currently facing a high level of conflict .
 

 
Team building and improving meetings - This consultation may focus on both or either team building and improving meetings.
 

 
Membership growth  - Explore strategies for membership growth; develop an action plan that fits your situation; follow up consultation visit and e-mail/phone check-ins.  
 

 
Size transitions - Managing increases and decreases in parish size.
 

 
Clarifying the congregation's primary task and aligning resources and energy with that task - A process in which the parish considers various ways of looking at the primary task of any parish church; relate that work to the particular situation of the parish; and create an action-plan for the use of resources, parish structure, training & education, etc. Follow-up consultation by e-mail and phone.
 

 
Exploring options for the future - This is a process in which parish leaders explore the options available for structuring ministry, e.g., living at a smaller size, merger, clustering, etc. Can be done with one parish or several in a region.
 

 
Search Process - Designing and facilitating a search process with the parish
 

 
  Spiritual Life Programs 

 
Several programs are available that relate to the spiritual life of members while also building the parish as a community of prayer and spirituality.        More information

 

 

Dioceses and church agencies  

 

Consultations in staff development and team building, strategy creation, and system development. 

Workshops in evangelization & membership growth, introduction to congregational development   

For more information        

 

 On-Site Consultation Consultation by E-Mail & Phone
   

 

When ODCT works with a congregation, we operate on the assumption that most of the wisdom and expertise needed already exists in the people of that congregation. Our job is to help them draw on that competence; possibly expand the range of information they are looking at; and offer ways to understand and act on the information and wisdom they have. Too many congregations spend significant energy and time putting together the "best" plan only to have that plan put on the bookshelf or in a drawer. Too many grab hold of the latest management fad. Too many see a "best practice" in another congregation and try to use it in their congregation without considering that their congregation may be in a very different context on have a culture in which that "best practice" doesn't work. ODCT will assist a congregation find ways that are appropriate for itself and its setting. 

See more on ODCT Values
 
Contact    E-mail -- ODCT      Phone -- 206.300.3700

Return to Home Page