in Vestry Papers and filtered by Conflict
By Anna Olson
“One size fits all” never fits anyone well. Anna Olson identifies two dominant norms for managing conflict that, given the cultural context of a congregation, may undermine attempts to support healthier communication.
By Jerry Keucher
Leadership and finances are the areas most cited by Episcopal churches as sources of conflict. Jerry Keucher shares why leaders need to address the underlying problem(s) fueling that conflict.
By C. K. Robertson
We start by looking back to the early days of Christianity. In “From Factions to Families: Lessons from 1 Corinthians,” C.K. Robertson reminds us that Paul’s advice to the Corinthians has stood the test of time. He suggests we have a choice: Unlike the Corinthians who ignored Paul’s advice, we can choose to listen and take seriously the challenge he offers us.
By Nancy Davidge
Effective teams need a safe and open work environment where all members can openly share their ideas, concerns, and hopes. In “A New Year, A New Vestry” Nancy Davidge looks at how norms and covenants can help a vestry create that safe space.
By Chas Belknap, Michael Butler, Jane Morley y Judith Rees Thomas
Era la Cuaresma de 2013; las Reglas de Orden de Robert habían realizado su magia penitencial. Una reunión de tres horas de duración había sido reducida a tres voces que discutían entre sí (la mía era una de ellas). Los más silenciosos miraban al piso deseando estar en su casa llenando su planilla de impuestos o limpiando las canaletas. Al final de la reunión temí que estaba viendo algun...
By Chas Belknap, Michael Butler, Jane Morley, and Judith Rees Thomas
The leadership team of a small church, over the course of a year, moved from being tired and anxious to enthusiastic about the way in which ‘the Holy Spirit is working through us and with us.
By Kay Collier McLaughlin
“Suwa Bona… I See You, I Hear You” by Kay Collier McLaughlin introduces ‘Holy Conversations,’ a process developed in the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington to help congregations paralyzed by conflict, anger, grief, and/or fear begin the healing process necessary for them to live fully into their ministry.
By Ken Howard
A juzgar por lo que me dicen otros sacerdotes, creo que no se puede decir que las reuniones de las juntas parroquiales son divertidas. Y por los comentarios que oigo de los laicos en reuniones diocesanas, a los feligreses muy rara vez los llena de gozo la idea de asistir a esas reuniones. Eso probablemente explica los ojos en blanco que recibo a menudo cuando les digo que espero con gusto las reun...
By Ken Howard
Ken Howard serves a congregation that attributes its health to its practice of “being church first, do church second.” In “Vestry as Body of Christ”, Ken shares how this understanding plays out in the structure and processes of St. Nicholas’ vestry.
By Richard H. Schmidt
The name Richard Hooker rings no bell for most vestry members. More than a few clergy haven’t heard of him, either.
Save Search