Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Across the Episcopal Church, congregations, dioceses, agencies, and individuals are engaged in asset based community development (ABCD) a growing movement that considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development. Placing emphasis on the strengths and assets in their midst, rather than being stymied by tremendous need, congregational leaders using the ABCD model encourage the expression of the giftedness and capacity of the communities to affect positive change.

In our October Vestry Papers, we continue to share stories from congregational leaders acting upon the giftedness and capacity in their faith community to bring about positive change in their congregation, community, or region. These stories include:

The second part of the St. Alban's story by Brent Owens. Why Grow shares what happened after the congregation studied the Great Commission, which shaped their perspective on growth and particularly why they needed to grow. Brent shares how the passion and persistence of parishioners has contributed to the overall health of the St. Alban's congregation.

Rosa Lindahl Mallow's Out of Many, One: New River Regional Ministry offers a look at a different expression of multi-cell or multi-site ministry, created in response to both a need for church planting as part of a congregation's growth strategy and as a response to area congregations in deep crisis. This article is also available in Spanish here.  

The Best Way to be Blocked, by Jamie Coats. Jamie's creative way of approaching change offers congregational leaders a new way of thinking about the obstacles we encounter both in our corporate and spiritual lives.

Lynette Wilson's Sewing Factory for Hondurans Living With HIV/AIDS reports on the Province IX Sustainability Conference where leaders from Latin America, Africa, and the Philippines shared stories and resources related to the ways their congregations and dioceses are working towards self sustainability.

How is your congregation responding to the challenges posed by rising expenses and declining resources? Are you willing to share your story with others? If so, please drop me a note at ndavidge@episcopalfoundation.org, post a comment on our Facebook page, or share your Innovative Stewardship resources in the Your Turn section of this site.

Faithfully,

Nancy Davidge
Editor, ECF Vital Practices

PS: To make it easier for congregational leaders to find the resources offered through ECF Vital Practices, please consider adding a link to ECF Vital Practices to your website.