Workshops

Your congregation’s ability to have healthy conversations impacts everything you do - programming, volunteer engagement, visitor welcome experience, outreach, community involvement, the list goes on and on. Culturally though, we live in an age of polarization and distraction, and the biggest casualty is face-to-face communication. Research tells us that Americans of all ages have never felt lonelier or more frustrated. But science also offers a solution: conversation.

Join writer, speaker and podcaster Mike McHargue as he presents what the latest research reveals about healthy, productive conversations. In doing so, you will learn how to facilitate intimacy, resolve conflict, and help others find a sense of belonging.

By the end of this live online event you will:

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Strategic planning is challenging but it doesn’t have to be complicated. When done well, strategic planning can provide an opportunity to hear numerous voices in your congregation and use that input to determine your future path.

In this fast-paced, upbeat workshop, you will learn about an innovative strategic planning process that congregations of all sizes can successfully complete and implement. This luncheon workshop is a hands-on experience, which prepares you to take what you’ve learned back to your congregation to begin the process of planning.

Led by June Miller, a nonprofit consultant with years of experience, this workshop provides fresh ideas and a better understanding of what it means to think and plan strategically. Miller explores the tools of strategic… more

This on-demand series focuses on learning gleaned from Indiana congregations by the Center for Congregations in 2015-2016. Tim Shapiro, president of the Center for Congregations, shares the six principles distilled from the Center's experiences with Indiana congregational youth ministries.

Course Elements

 8 topical videos from 3 - 5 minutes each  Group reflection worksheet  Resource Guide for further study on youth ministry

Take the Course

 Estimated total time required: 1 hour  Course is free  Create an account with your email only (no password required)  Take at your own pace; stop and return when it's convenient  Keep this email to return to the course or bookmark the link

Technology Requirements

 Best accessed on a laptop or desktop computer

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When your congregants face illness, death and grief, they experience not only physical and emotional pain, but questions, problems and doubt.

What is your role and how can you best lead your congregation through these most difficult times? How do these events effect the spiritual lives of those involved? How do you bring faith together with medicine, the hospital, HIPAA, and death and dying? What about DNR, ethical dilemmas and advanced directives?

Bedside pastoral care is vitally important, but so is broaching these subjects. Death is the one common event in the future for every parishioner, so how can you prepare to not only face death personally, but also to support others who are facing death?

In this daylong event, Rev. Patrick Riecke will explore these… more

Capital campaigns are intimidating. They involve a lot of decisions, planning and work, along with uncertain outcomes. And often there’s a lot at stake. Hearing from those who have completed successful capital campaigns is one of the best ways to prepare for a new campaign or to navigate your campaign that’s already underway.

Join fundraising executive Rob Henson as he provides an interactive presentation utilizing research, his experience and anecdotes about the ingredients for a successful capital campaign. Henson will bring a mixture of real-life examples and templates, as well as campaign theory from current trends in modern philanthropy.

At this luncheon workshop, you will learn:

the basic processes and steps of a successful capital campaign. building blocks… more

This on-demand course explores Engaging Young Adults, a special report of the 2015 American Congregations study of Faith Communities Today (FACT).

Wendy McCormick of the Center for Congregations interviews the report’s author, Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, about the research and what congregations can learn and apply from the findings.

Course Elements

 6 topical videos from 5 - 8 minutes each  Group reflection worksheet  Recommendations for additional information

Take the Course

 Estimated total time required: 1 hour  Course is free  Create an account with your email only (no password required)  Take at your own pace; stop and return when it's convenient  Keep this email to return to the course or bookmark the link

Technology Requirements

 Best… more

With the rapid pace of cultural and social change, “we’ve always done it this way before” is likely not as effective for you as it used to be. The new challenges you’re facing don’t fit the road maps you used to rely on. Even your education and past experience may have little to say about your current realities.

The challenges you’re facing can be overcome. You need a willingness to see these challenges as opportunities and a desire to grow in your capacity to lead adaptively. Join leadership expert Dr. Aleze Fulbright as she challenges you to let go of the past, keep the faith in challenging times and learn to gain the trust of others in order to move your congregation forward.

“If you’re going to scale the mountains of ministry, you need to leave behind canoes and… more

This on-demand course focuses on the 2015-2016 Center for Congregations investigation of Indiana congregations engaging young adults. Center staff member Wendy McCormick coordinated the project, which included interviews with leaders of young adult ministries around the state and a gathering of leaders from about 20 congregations effectively engaging young adults.

Course Elements

 6 topical videos from 3 - 6 minutes each  Group reflection worksheet  Center for Congregations article on young adult engagement

Take the Course

 Estimated total time required: 1 hour  Course is free  Create an account with your email only (no password required)  Take at your own pace; stop and return when it's convenient  Keep this email to return to the course or bookmark the link… more