In 2013, the Diocese of Massachusetts invited 14 small congregations to be part of a study to learn more about what helps churches grow and thrive, and what hampers positive efforts to change. Working with diocesan congregational development staff and the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, the congregations identified projects they believed would help to energize their churches, and received mentoring support in trying to implement their ideas. The Mission Institute agreed to capture some of the most compelling learnings from this collaborative project for wider dissemination. The result is "Being Church: A Video Parable Study Series."
Central to the six-part video series and accompanying study guide are stories of people engaged in the transformative and often difficult work of building community right where they are. These video parables invite congregations and communities to reflect on the struggles, fears, hopes and courage of people bringing new life to their churches and neighborhoods.
The "Being Church" series and study guide are available at www.themissioninstutute.org.
The Mission Institute is a collaboration between the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, Episcopal City Mission and Episcopal Divinity School.