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College for Congregational Development
The College for Congregational Development is a two-year clergy and laity training program that:
- Builds skills and increases capacity for participants to develop congregations of all sizes, locations and conditions into more faithful, healthy and effective communities of faith.
- Is designed to increase leadership capacity and refine facilitation skills necessary to lead meetings, small groups and teaching sessions.
- Equips participants with tools to assess the needs of their congregation, to develop strategies for its growth and vitality, and focus energy on its priorities.
- Uses a curriculum that teaches participants the skills to lead change processes, manage conflict and articulate the identity and purpose of their congregation.
- Provides a learning opportunity grounded in both organizational development theory and practice; in congregational development theory and practice; and in the unique ecclesial tradition, beliefs and character of The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church.
FAQs
Who should participate?
- Teams of clergy and laity from congregations who are ready to gain practical skills in assessing and implementing changes that will lead to greater vitality.
- Congregations with the will to invest the time, money and effort to work as a team, and with other congregations, towards greater vitality using these tools and skills.
- Individuals who are willing to commit to the whole program, to read the materials and to participate fully, being responsible for their own learning experiences.
What is congregational development?
Congregational development and vitalization is the development of congregations of all sizes, locations and conditions into more faithful, healthy and effective communities of faith. These communities are:
- Focused on their unique reason and primary task for being: congregations that are local manifestations of the Body of Christ.
- Connected to and expressive of their unique ecclesial tradition, ethos and character.
- Self-renewing and responsive to the challenges and opportunities before them.
- Sustainable, or working towards greater sustainability, in the elements of their organizational life: vision for ministry, worship, leadership, culture, size, property, finances and program.
How is congregational development related to organizational development?
- Organization Development is how organizations and groups of people function most effectively and authentically in the service of their core purposes. Congregational Development shares this goal, and does so in the unique context of Christian congregations. In this diocese, our unique contexts are the Episcopal and Anglican traditions.
- CCD draws extensively from insights and skills in the Organization Development (OD) community, and also from pastoral theology, Anglican spirituality, scripture and church history. Shared worship is a core component of all CCD sessions, and Episcopal identity and congregational life are the focus of many of the core models.
Examples of core content
- The Primary Task of Congregations (Gather, Transform, Send)
- Key elements of Congregational Life (Sources of Transformation)
- Faith Development in Community
- The Benedictine Life
- Life Cycle of Organizations
- Congregational Size Model
- Elements of an Organizational System
- Change Processes (Lewin, Action Research, Appreciative Mindset)
- Managing Change Processes (Kotter)
- Episcopal and Anglican Identity, and your Congregation’s Identity
For more information on available classes online and in person, or if you have any questions please contact:
The Rev. Canon Alissa Newton
Director, The College for Congregational Development
anewton@ecww.org
206.325.4200, ext 7258
https://www.cdcollege.org
Core Content Examples
- The Primary Task of Congregations (Gather, Transform, Send)
- Key elements of Congregational Life (Sources of Transformation)
- Faith Development in Community
- The Benedictine Life
- Life Cycle of Organizations
- Congregational Size Model
- Elements of an Organizational System
- Change Processes (Lewin, Action Research, Appreciative Mindset)
- Managing Change Processes (Kotter)
- Episcopal and Anglican Identity, and your Congregation’s Identity
