Our mission is to strengthen Indiana congregations by helping them find and use the best resources to address their challenges and opportunities. We support congregations through no-cost consulting, low-cost education events, and grants. We share what we learn nationwide through the Center for Congregations podcast and the Congregational Resource Guide (CRG).
- We listen to you about your congregation's needs.
- We provide information and options without telling you what to do.
- We recommend resources and let you decide on the websites, books, articles, etc. you want to use.
- We help you find vendors, consultants, and organizations, but don't dictate who you hire.
- We give you the space and time to work through the information and to follow up with us on your own timetable.
- And we offer grants to help you fund these initiatives.
Consulting
The Center for Congregations offers no-cost consulting to help Indiana congregations navigate their challenges. We listen to you about your congregation’s needs, provide useful information, and discuss plans of action. We recommend resources, letting you decide on the websites, books, articles, etc. you want to use. Using our connections, we help you find vendors, consultants, and organizations, without dictating who you hire. We give you the time and space needed to reflect upon this information and follow up on your own schedule.
The Congregational Resource Guide (CRG) is the Center's resource consulting on demand website which helps leaders of all congregations find the right tools for addressing their unique challenges and needs. Curated by staff members of the Center for Congregations, the CRG offers relevant and robust collections that make it easier to discover useful tools for your congregation. Find resources on a wide variety of topics including administration, information technology, specialized ministries, worship, and more.
Education
The Center for Congregations provides low-cost education events including in-person and virtual workshops hosted by guest instructors from across the country. These workshops cover a wide variety of congregational topics and are designed to equip congregational leaders with practical tools and real-life examples. If you miss one of our virtual workshops, recordings are available for 30 days after the event.
The Center for Congregations podcast– hosted by Ben Tapper, Matt Burke, and other Center staff– helps congregations find the right information and resources to address their needs. The podcast features guest speakers, authors, and congregational practitioners who share their stories and best practices for helping congregations grow and thrive.
Grants
Aligned with our mission, the Center for Congregations grant program helps Indiana congregations increase their capacity to accomplish a new goal. We offer Resource Grants and Equity Grants of up to $15,000 for qualifying Indiana congregations to fund a variety of expenses, resources, and activities. These grants pay for related resources within a single project, such as software, architects, fundraising consultants, attendance at educational workshops, and more.