Congregations are invited to explore leadership, growth and change at this unique and exciting workshop.

The Indiana Nonprofit Capacity Building Conference is 8:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 12, 2010, at the Indiana Government Center South, 402 W. Washington St., Indianapolis. At this year's event, The Amazing Race: Prepare, Measure, Succeed, participants will

Building a Better You Ministry is 3-6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, August 30-December 16, 2010, at Virtue and Praise Ministries, 2989 W. 71st St., Indianapolis. The mission of Virtue And Praise Ministries’ Building A Better You Ministry (BABYM) is to clean up our communities through education.

Great Composers in Concert begins at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 29, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 151 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis. The evening features a violin performance by Sonya Hayes,

The Mental Wellness Series begins October 9 at North United Methodist Church, 3808 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis.

Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Greenwood hosts a blood drive in its parking lot 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, September 11, 2010, as part of a Patriot Day celebration. A free pancake breakfast will be offered from 8-10 a.m., and a celebration of freedom continues until noon.

Zionsville Christian Church presents the speaker series Presenting on the Path at 7 p.m. Wednesdays, September 15, October 13 and November 17, 2010. The speaker series, held at the church at 120 N. 9th St., Zionsville

What is possible in a post-9/11 world? A new artistic community called The Worship Studio invites the public to explore this question in an event open to people of all faiths and no faith at 7 p.m. Saturday, September 11, 2010,

All are invited to a new intergenerational spiritual growth event at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 N. Meridian, Indianapolis. Soul Feast is 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, September 24, 2010 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, September 25, 2010.

Inspirational speaker Matthew Kelly talks 8-9 p.m. Monday, October 18, 2010, at St. Paul Catholic Center, 1413 E. 17th St., Bloomington. Reflections with Matthew Kelly invites participants to

Putting a Face on African Women is at 6:30 p.m. October 4, 11 and 18, 2010, at St. Luke's United Methodist Church, 100 W. 86th St., Indianapolis.

Developing Congregational Generosity is a long-term learning program for northeast Indiana congregations to improve their capacity to talk about money in faithful ways, to understand the religious and spiritual motivations of givers, and to invite generosity from their members.

Sustainable Youth Ministry is a four-session learning program for southwest Indiana congregational teams to grow significantly in their capacity for ongoing youth ministry. Participating congregations will learn and implement systems and structures needed

More than 50 persons gathered for a terrific lunch and conversation about all things tech related on August 5 in the northeast region. Aaron Spiegel, information technology director of the Center, presented a lively and spirited conversation

Children and Your Congregation's Ministry with Carolyn C. Brown is November 3, 2010 in Indianapolis and November 4, 2010 in northwest Indiana.

There was a time when “marketing” was a dirty word in congregations. Too corporate. Not spiritual. But the Center is finding more and more congregations who are serious about marketing and not afraid to use the word.

Butler University Men’s Basketball Coach Brad Stevens speaks to the student body of Butler at 7 p.m. Wednesday, September 15, 2010 at Clowes Memorial Hall. Sponsored by Butler’s Center for Faith and Vocation,

The annual CROP Walk fundraiser happens this fall. Organized through Church World Service, neighbors and communities walk together to raise awareness and funds for international relief and development.

"Congregations" and "taxes" are not words we’d normally associate with each other. But congregations do need to be aware of many tax-related issues.

The 3rd annual Ken-ya Help Us? fundraiser is 2-6 p.m. Saturday, September 4, 2010 at Second Presbyterian Church, 7700 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis.

Check out podcasts from the presenters of the Diversity and Congregations workshop.

June Miller of the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network offers basic marketing tips for identifying audience and making a plan.

Calvary Lutheran Church, 6111 S. Shelby St., Indianapolis, hosts a community day 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday, September 18, 2010. Activities include a car show

Congregations magazine article explores the Bowen Family Systems Theory and how congregations can learn learn and grow using theory principles. Bowen Family Systems Theory resources are often recommended to congregational leaders to provide a framework for understanding behaviors.

This southeast Indiana luncheon series is Thursdays, August 26, September 30 and October 21, 2010. Participants will explore newcomer welcome, retention and assimilation.

Almost every copier built since 2002 has a hard drive built into them. Those hard drives store a digital image of every item copied, printed, scanned or faxed from them.

The Summer Centerpiece newsletter is on the website and ready for download. Click here to see the latest news from the Center's quarterly newsletter.

“Summertime and the reading is easy.” Ah, my apologies to George Gershwin for rewording his song lyrics, but it is that season when many of us are taking a break and catching up on reading – both for fun and professionally.

Holy Cross Catholic Church presents Feast of the Holy Cross at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 11, 2010

Rather than providing quick fixes, the Center for Congregations walks alongside congregations helping them to help themselves. Faith and Leadership recently posted a Q&A-style interview with Center President Tim Shapiro

The Center for Congregations helps congregations find and use resources to address their opportunities and challenges. One such resource is the African American Online Lectionary. The African American Online Lectionary features free, in depth resources to strengthen and assist worship in Black churches.

At a recent Center for Congregations workshop, leaders of the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving suggested that congregations can learn a lot by mapping their sources of donations.

At this one-day event, author, consultant and speaker Eric Swanson will tell new stories of the amazing things congregations are doing and will also give participants a framework within which they can think and plan to launch themselves into their communities.

Why do some congregational leaders succeed, when others do not? Grounded in Family Systems Theory, Israel Galindo will challenge congregational leaders to consider a different perspective in thinking about the nature of congregational leadership.

Good governance starts with clearly defined roles and authority; it succeeds when lay and professional leaders conduct ministry together as collaborating partners.