Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

It may seem odd to think about listening as a way to engage more people in the life of your congregation. We are used to teaching, preaching, singing, worshiping, setting up web sites, posting on Facebook, tweeting, for heaven’s sake. But listening?

A “listening campaign” started as a project for a small team within Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in South Bend, Indiana. These folks were participants in the Diocese of Northern Indiana’s Diocesan Congregational Development Institute. As a DCDI assignment, they were to interview a few people in their parish and report on what they learned by listening. But the Saint Michael’s team wanted to take that to a whole new level.

It took four or five meetings, but eventually the vestry committed to interviewing the entire congregation. Names were assigned for one-on-one discussions based on four revealing questions:

1. What brought you to Saint Michael’s?
2. What keeps you at Saint Michael’s?
3. What are the greatest strengths of our parish?
4. What do you see as the greatest challenges facing our parish?

Rector Matthew Cowden explains that the interviews were NOT all about the data.

“We knew the data would be important, but we knew it would be more important to build relationships, beginning with the interviewer and interviewee. It took a while for the vestry to understand the value of such an enormous undertaking, involving the whole congregation. It was one vestry member, a successful, no-nonsense banker, who simply stated that the listening campaign was exactly what his bank does to enhance customer satisfaction. When he said, ‘it’s about building relationships,’ the rest of the vestry got on board,” Father Cowden recalls.

The exercise took six months to complete, but the vestry stuck with it and the goal of reaching 100% of the adults at Saint Michael’s was reached.

Valuable outcomes were realized. Out of the process grew a deeper appreciation for the talents and skills in the congregation, many of which were not previously known by leadership or anyone else. Deeper relationships were forged between church members, and new friendship began.

Finally, Saint Michael’s leadership believes there was a direct correlation to the improvement seen in the following year’s stewardship campaign. More people pledged and many increased their pledge. There was the sense that it was an “easier ask” because of deeper relationships.

Father Cowden says he believes the people of Saint Michael’s have always valued relationships and listening, but the listening campaign made that richer.

“A culture of greater transparency exists. As people have learned about each other, they understand each other better. There is a greater understanding of the overall issues and well as who’s in charge of what,” he explains.

As you consider the future of your congregation, try some intentional listening. Besides listening to church members, consider listening to people in the neighborhood outside your doors. Everywhere you listen, you will find stories, ideas and gifts to share, and likely will find those who are hurting, hungry or alone.

If you conduct a listening campaign, plan time to prayerfully review what you heard. St. Benedict would encourage us to listen with our hearts. Reflect on your learning in light of prayer, scripture and the counsel of others, whether that is the vestry, a steering committee or the entire congregation.

The congregation of Saint Michael’s and All Angels realized many joyful benefits of listening. 
What might your congregation learn? You’ll just have to listen to find out. 

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