Workshop #1:
Understanding FOLLOW ME
March 19, 2012
Follow-up Questions from the
Workshop Overview Webinar (3/12)?
Please enter in chat room.
Introduction & Prayer
• Led by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham
– Rector, Church of the Holy Spirit
• The Rev. Scott Gunn
– Executive Director, Forward Movement
• The Rev. Clarence Langdon
– Bishop’s staff, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago
• Eric Arnson
– Research advisor & REVEAL co-originator
Today’s Purpose
• Recap the Webinar Overview
• Review the Facilitator Guide in-depth
– Focus on the Exercises
• Discuss the homework (pre-reading)
• Provide suggestions to optimize outcomes
Work in Progress!
• Webinar is a new resource, so may not be
perfect
• Do welcome feedback—positive or
constructive—throughout the entire process
• Especially this workshop, as it sets the tone
and direction
“Please be patient,
God is not finished with me yet.”
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Phases
4. Episcopal Expansion (now)
3. Episcopal Pilots—15 Churches (2010)
2. Episcopal Incubator—Church of the Holy Spirit (2009)
1. RevealWorks—Willow Creek (2003, still going strong)
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Developed by & for Episcopalians
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General Construct
• Four sessions:
– 1. Spiritual Formation: Understanding FOLLOW ME
– 2. Data Sharing: Parish Profiles & Survey Findings
– 3. Applying Best Practice Principles to your Church
– 4. The Plan and Guiding Metrics
• Each session starts with Scripture & Discussion
• Homework, most pre-reading
Workshop #1
Workshop #1: Purpose & Outcomes
• What ‘s at stake—can’t stay where we are
• Understand Spiritual Growth Framework
• Honest examination of congregants personal
spiritual journey
• Church’s role in parishioners’ spiritual growth
Pre-Reading
Has been modified to improve fit with exercises and times required.
All workshops changes and refinements will by available by 3/29/2013
Exercise 1: Personal Experiences
• Best done in groups of four
– Part of homework, in the Participant Guide
• Capture as part of Life-line exercise
– Visual format will be available by next webinar
• Begins with quality of life and overall satisfaction
– Highlight ebbs and flows of your life
– What were the catalysts for movements
• What was my spiritual lifeline throughout the same
period?
– Where did you experience growth? Where stalled?
• Key learnings are shared with group
Exercise 2 & 3:
--Spiritual Life Continuum
--Spiritual Growth Framework
Spiritual Growth Continuum
Episcopal Churches Composite
Relatively low development of
spiritual maturity
Close
Growing
“I feel really close
to Christ and
depend on him daily
for guidance.”
Exploring
“I believe in God, but
I am not sure about
Christ. My faith is not
a significant part of
my life.”
“I believe in Jesus
and am working on
what it means to get
to know him.”
Centered
“My relationship with
Jesus is the most
important
relationship in my life
It guides everything I
do.”
6%
19%
52%
23%
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Custom Episcopal Survey
blanks
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Episcopal Survey:
Additional Topics
– Eucharist
– Prayers of the People
– Interfaith Conversation
‣ Liturgy
‣ Christian Seasons
‣ Advent, Christmas,
Epiphany, Lent,
Easter, Pentecost
– Social Justice
‣ Sharing the Peace
– Symbols/Cross
‣ Prayers of Confession
‣ Music
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Three purely Episcopal spiritual
catalysts were analyzed
Disciple
Follower
Believer
Beginner
Movement 3
Movement 2
Movement 1
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Totally Episcopalian Insights:
Practices, Relationships, Faith-in-Action
• Catalysts for growth
Centered
Close
Growing
• Solitude
• Prayer for Guidance
• Prayer to Express My
Love of God
Exploring
• The Eucharist
• Prayer to Give Thanks
• Serve in a Church
Ministry
• Serve those in Need
(Church)
• Read the Bible, Solitude
• Prayer for Others, Love
of God
• Meet with Close Friend,
Small Group
• Serve those in Need
(Church), on Own
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Most Influential
Episcopal Church Inputs
• Catalysts for growth
Centered
Close
Growing
• Prioritizes my spiritual
growth over my church
membership
Exploring
• Helps me develop a
relationship with Christ
• Engages me in the
Sacraments in a way
that helps me grow
spiritually
• Challenges me to grow
and take next steps
spiritually
• Promotes a strong
serving culture that is
widely recognized by
the local community
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• Provides a worship
service that is
challenging and
thought provoking
Conclusions
• Congregants are in all stages of maturity
• Episcopal Framework similar, some unique aspects
• Are definitive activities that drive spiritual growth
Exercise 4:
Role of the Church
Exercise 4: Role of the Church
Points to Highlight
• Think about your own spiritual life-line. What are
the connections to your church?
–
–
–
–
–
Role of Clergy
Role of Lay Leadership
Roles of Ministries
Spiritual friends, mentors
Activities and events
• What did you hear from others in your group?
Workshop #2 Homework
• Parish and Community Profiles
– Should be assigned NOW
• Episcopal ‘Renewal’ Survey Report
– Sample on website now
• Note: Best Practice Principles are referenced in
report
– Detailed discussion will occur as part of workshop #3
• Any additional questions for next session
Workshop #1: Purpose & Outcomes
• What ‘s at stake—can’t stay where we are
• Understand Spiritual Growth Framework
• Honest examination of congregants personal
spiritual journey
• Church’s role in parishioners’ spiritual growth
Key to set expectations
•Questions?
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Concluding Remarks & Prayer
• Led by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham
Next Steps & Thanks!
• Next session: March 26th at 2pm CDT
• Focus will be Workshop 2
• Homework assignment:
– Read Facilitators Guide, pages 23-36
– Sample Church Report will be e-mailed with invite
to the next webinar
Appendix
Workshop Team Composition
• Modeled after a Search Committee
• Lay led—a must
• Clergy, Rector in particular, must not guide
– Nor back seat driving
• Need a separate time-keeper
• Plus a separate scribe
– That gets notes and follow-up done
Helpful Hints
• Encourage a bit of hospitality 15-20 minutes
before each workshop starts
– A number will not know each other
• Start and end each sub-section promptly, even
if not completely finished
• Post the key elements of each session to
demonstrate progress and be a reference
• Keep a ‘parking lot’ flip chart for unanswered
questions, suggestions, follow-up
More Lessons Learned
• Make sure ALL the voices are heard
– Set as an expectation, then prompt
• Make differences a value
– Will be different viewpoints, especially on ‘growth’
• Do fewer things, well
– Will try to do too much
• Close with a reassuring and encouraging prayer