Congregational Development - Christ Church 2016

Christ Church, Frederica Vestry Retreat 2016

Overall Purposes of Leadership and Vestry Retreats

A yearly leadership conference that is a mix of:

1. Developing strategies and plans for the improvement of parish life & ministry. This would be based on a process of reflecting on and learning about, the whole, or some area of parish life

2. Community building among parish leaders

3. Spiritual development

4. Increasing the common competencies of parish leaders for the above. Part of our purpose is for the vestry and other leaders to increase their skills and knowledge for congregational development and leadership

Specific area of interest for this year

We'll be working on the parish's need for more space; especially for the Sunday Eucharists and parking. One aspect of this will be exploring the possibilities. Another will be developing a draft outline for a decision making process.

As change around church space is frequently an anxious undertaking we'll also provide ways of dealing with change: 1) From our roots on Benedictine spirituality -- How do we have adequate change and adequate stability in the parish? How can we listen to one another as we make changes about our future. And 2) How do people with different temperaments work in unity? How to offer our gifts and manage our blindside and emotions during change?

Advance Work

There are two things we're asking that you do before we gather.

1. Complete the MBTI

2. Read this chapter from Fill All Things on the Benedictine Promise

Friday Evening

5:00		Arrival & Social Time
6:00		Supper
7:00		Work Session: 1) Overview 2) Connecting 3) Getting started
9:00		Compline – beginning with intro to doing the Office in a group (Michelle); then Compline
9:30		Social time

Saturday