Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

How do you learn? How do you put your learning into action?

There is no simple or single answer. Much research suggests people learn in a variety of ways. Some are better at conceptualization, some in experimentation, yet others in reflection upon experience. Because adults have both accumulated and experiential knowledge, learning involves finding ways to integrate new information with what we already know. Finally, there is the question of how we act on what we’ve learned. How can we experiment with or consistently practice new behaviors that lead to the outcomes we seek?

I care about these questions because I want to enhance the ways ECF can serve you, the grassroots leaders in the Episcopal Church. In addition to sharing stories and resources through this website, can we create other learning environments to equip you in your ministry?

One intriguing idea is to foster peer learning communities. Sometimes known as “communities of practice,” this model invites people with shared passions or concerns to join a group for the purpose of learning together and improving their practice. On this website Peter Strimer has blogged about some of his experiences in a peer learning group. I’m interested to know if you’ve participated in this kind of a group, what made it most valuable, and, if proven effective, how we might do more of it across the church.

I’d love your feedback to test these assumptions:

• Many lay people have experienced peer learning programs in their workplaces or voluntary associations, but rarely get this kind of support for their church ministries.
• When our Church has provided peer learning opportunities, most of it has been geared toward clergy.
• In these challenging and changing times for the Episcopal Church, congregational leaders – including lay people, not just clergy – need more engaging learning opportunities where we can help each other discern the future and live into it.

If these assumptions are even partly correct, then the next question is what kind of peer learning program will work best? Would busy lay people take time to participate? Would people want to gather face-to-face or using internet/phone technology? Would lay people benefit from a group on their own or alongside clergy? Please email me or comment below with any suggestions.

Finally, I’ll share a few examples that already exist in our Church. If you have others, please let me know. Some of these are more traditionally designed as educational curriculum, yet with a lot of peer learning, while others are focused on sharing and reflecting upon participants own learning.

Education for Ministry (EFM) is a very popular program for lay people. It involves a group of six to twelve participants and a trained mentor who meet weekly for study, prayer, and reflection over the course of a nine-month academic year. While participants study the Christian tradition, they also reflect upon the collective experience of the group's members, so that life and study meet together and empower people to grow and lead in faith. Groups start every year in many congregations across the Church, as well as online for those who cannot attend face-to-face gatherings. For more info, click here.

The Nehemiah Process in the Diocese of Southeast Florida guides church leadership teams in improving, growing, and making disciples for the dynamic ministry of the church. The emphasis is on providing education and resources – plus peer learning across teams in the diocese – so that congregations achieve prosperous measurable results. This process is limited to those within the diocese, but some of their resources can be found here. 

Fresh Start is a program available in many dioceses that seeks to foster healthy relationships among clergy, their congregations and their dioceses during critical periods of transition. The goal is to build a culture in which the mutual ministry of the clergy and congregation starts off on the right foot, enabling their new relationship to begin with a “Fresh Start.” To participate, the diocese needs to have facilitators trained in this process. 2013 Update: While Fresh Start is no longer an active program, some dioceses continue to run Fresh Start locally. 

Gathering of Leaders hosts three-day events a few times a year for clergy to network, learn from and support each other. It is a wonderful project focusing on empowering and developing transformational leaders who have a passion for the mission of Christ and growing the Church. However, this gathering is almost exclusively for priests and bishops, and by invitation. Events are not open for general registration. A brief description of the vision and mission are found here.