In response to a resolution adopted by last year's Diocesan Convention, a Healthy Congregations Task Force has come together to explore what healthy congregations look like and what kind of support they need. The group is now asking everyone to weigh in: Where do we shine and where can we, in collective ministry, find new ways to lift each other up?
The group's first task is to collect some measurable data, using a "Landscape Assessment" survey through Holy Cow Consulting, with the aim of gleaning insight into the current health of the diocese, identify areas that need immediate attention and capture feedback about where people would like to put energy and resources in the future.
Since the survey's launch in late September, 515 people have completed it, with about a quarter of those responses from active clergy and the remainder from lay people who are active in congregational or diocesan ministries, according to the Rev. Lynn Campbell of the Church of the Advent in Medfield. She is co-chairing the task force with Dr. Brian Litzenberger of Trinity Church in Concord.
The task force's message to everyone in the diocesan community: Keep the responses coming.
"We really want a full picture of how things are going in the congregations, the things that are going wonderfully well and are bringing joy, and also the areas where people are feeling like they could use more support. The more information we get from a diverse group of people from throughout the diocese, the better," Campbell said in an interview.
The survey remains open online, in English and Spanish. Responses are anonymous, and all completed surveys go directly to Holy Cow Consulting.
Once the data is in, members of the diocesan community will be invited in the first part of the new year to connect with the Healthy Congregations Task Force at one of a series of gatherings and/or one-on-one meetings to discuss hopes for the future and experiences in the congregations of the diocese. The task force then will begin to draw in and make available resources that support congregational health.
"This task force is filled with people who love Jesus and are really excited about the church," Campbell said. "We want to do all we can to support living into our mission to be followers of Jesus and the building up of churches and church communities where we all can grow in the love of God and be sent out to be that love in the world. Everyone's participation is needed."