Vision & Planning
By Jamie Coats
Helping others make spirited and rooted next steps often involves being intentional about not only where you want to go but also what is keeping you from getting started.
By Jeff W. Fisher
Do we really believe in resurrection? That is the question that the people of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Waco, Texas, asked themselves after closing St. Alban’s Memorial School, an Episcopal school that had served the ch…
By John McClung and Mary McClung
How does true spiritual discernment work with nuts-and-bolts issues like vision statements and parish budgets?
By Kris Lee
You do have a parish communication strategy, don't you?
By Stefan Jagoe
Six years ago, when I took on the position of Youth Minister at Grace Episcopal Church, I didn't have the slightest idea of where to begin.
By Gary Gleason
"Why should we spend a year trying to get a new minister? I could fill this job in about a week!" the vestry member proclaimed. "Yes," I replied, "but it's not a good idea."
By Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows & Sabrina Colman
Many small parishes never undertake capital campaigns because of the difficulties and limitations that come with having few resources.
By Linda Buskirk
“Why Strategic Planning” by Linda Buskirk invites congregational leaders to consider discerning God’s call as a community through prayerful reflection and conversation on the gifts God has uniquely provided your congregation …
By Robert Wright
Robert Wright encourages us to make explicit our fire – our common purpose - and to keep it “in front of us” as it will bless our common life in exciting ways.
By Haley Bankey
In this edition of Vestry Papers, you will find five stories from around the church about reimagining assets, be they physical structures or human resources, the land we steward or the culture in which we belong. As you read,…
By Lauren Grubaugh
How do we evangelize and mobilize ourselves to be doers in the Jesus Movement? In Stretching Our Strategic Imagination – Part II, Lauren Grubaugh discusses three ways to activate our souls and bodies towards our work in build…
By Bonnie Perry and Anthony Estes
In this conversation, Bishop Bonnie Perry from the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan and the Rev. Anthony Estes, of the Detroit Church Partnership, encourage us instead to explore the powerful what-ifs of where we find ourselves …
By Charis Bhagianathan
As individuals and communities, the best way we can tackle disasters is by being prepared. In this issue, hear from communities and individuals who share stories of preparation, care and hope.
By Jen Adams
CPR training is a life-skill and a gift that any of us could be called to offer at any time. In Staying Alive, Jen Adams shares how the members and staff of Grace Episcopal Church in Holland, Michigan prioritized this life-sa…
By Frances “Boo” Kay
Schools in our communities require a specific and focused disaster preparedness and recovery plan to ensure the safety of all involved. In Disaster Preparedness Takes Planning, Frances “Boo” Kay shares the preparations that c…
By Sandra Montes
What is our first response when something terrible happens? In When Disaster Strikes, Sandra Montes presents her response, grounded in her faith, and shares those of many others, also asking – what helps you in the face of di…
By Jay Sidebotham
Our gift to you this new year, is a wonderful illustration from Jay Sidebotham – The Church in 2050 – for you to ponder, laugh and hope.
By Ranjit K. Mathews
What is your most radical dream for our church? In Embodying Hope, Ranjit Mathews describes his vision for the church for the future – one that looks, feels and truly is a sacred, inclusive, welcoming home for all.
By ECFVP Team
The Congregational Vitality Assessment (CVA) tool is designed to provide congregations with an assessment of their Vitality (how healthy they are) and their Sustainability (whether they have the people, financial, and context…
By ECFVP Team
An Asset-based Approach to Engaging Church and Community is a process for engaging church and community centered around the belief that individuals, groups, and communities have the gifts to address the needs they see around …