Where Two or Three are Gathered:
Creating Multiple Worship/Gathering Options in the
Small Congregation
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”
(Matthew 18:20)
The 2005 Faith Communities Today (FACT) report reveals that:
Small congregations that offer multiple worship services are more likely to be growing (39% of small congregations that offer three worship services are growing; 20% of small congregations that offer only one worship service are growing.)
Small congregations that offer innovative and diverse worship services are more likely to be growing (37% of small congregations offer innovative and diverse worship services are growing).
These findings suggest that offering multiple services that differ in style can be an effective way for the small congregation to reach new people.
Therefore, the Episcopal Church Center, in collaboration with Dr. Charles Arn (author of How to Start a New Service: Your Church CAN Reach New People), is launching a pilot project, “Where two or three are gathered”. This project is aimed to assist small congregations interested in introducing a new style of worship service/gathering. This new service/gathering will be in addition to the congregation’s current service(s).
This pilot project will be limited to 25 congregations with an average Sunday attendance (ASA) of 70 or less who seek to nourish the unmet spiritual needs of people in their wider community.
Over a period of approximately 18 months, the Office of Congregational Development will provide these congregations support and materials. Additionally, a two-day training conference with Dr. Arn and Episcopal Church Center staff will be offered January 25-26, 2008.
If you would like to consider participating in this exciting pilot please contact:
The Rev. Suzanne E. Watson
Staff Officer, Congregational Development
The Episcopal Church Center
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
e-mail: swatson@episcopalchurch.org
Creating Multiple Worship/Gathering Options in the
Small Congregation
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them”
(Matthew 18:20)
The 2005 Faith Communities Today (FACT) report reveals that:
Small congregations that offer multiple worship services are more likely to be growing (39% of small congregations that offer three worship services are growing; 20% of small congregations that offer only one worship service are growing.)
Small congregations that offer innovative and diverse worship services are more likely to be growing (37% of small congregations offer innovative and diverse worship services are growing).
These findings suggest that offering multiple services that differ in style can be an effective way for the small congregation to reach new people.
Therefore, the Episcopal Church Center, in collaboration with Dr. Charles Arn (author of How to Start a New Service: Your Church CAN Reach New People), is launching a pilot project, “Where two or three are gathered”. This project is aimed to assist small congregations interested in introducing a new style of worship service/gathering. This new service/gathering will be in addition to the congregation’s current service(s).
This pilot project will be limited to 25 congregations with an average Sunday attendance (ASA) of 70 or less who seek to nourish the unmet spiritual needs of people in their wider community.
Over a period of approximately 18 months, the Office of Congregational Development will provide these congregations support and materials. Additionally, a two-day training conference with Dr. Arn and Episcopal Church Center staff will be offered January 25-26, 2008.
If you would like to consider participating in this exciting pilot please contact:
The Rev. Suzanne E. Watson
Staff Officer, Congregational Development
The Episcopal Church Center
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017
e-mail: swatson@episcopalchurch.org
3 comments:
This sounds VERY Interesting. For background, can you point me to the 2005 Faith Communities Today (FACT) report. Thanks
All research reports and data can be found at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/research_51538_ENG_HTM.htm?menupage=51354 (From the congregational dev web page of The Episcopal Church Center site visit Research. There is a box on FACT.)
The 2005 FACT report is NOT Episcopal specific, although a large number of congregations were included. Dr. Kirk Hadaway further analyzed the data and produced the 2005 FACTS on Episcopal Growth report. Both reports are highly recommended, and available on the site as a free download.
Update on interested congregations...
When we conceived of this pilot we anticipated about 15 congregations taking part. By the time we announced the pilot we thought perhaps as many as 25 would be interested.
Since John 10:10 and the promise of abundant life speaks to my heart, I suppose I shouldn't be suprised, but friends, what an overwhelming response!!!
We currently have approx 70 congregations that have expressed an interest, many more e-mails, plus entire dioceses that would like to take part. The congregations are located with in both domestic (from Maine to California, Michigan to Florida) and non-domestic dioceses as well (Convocation of Churches in Europe and Panama), so the geographic diversity is phenomenal.
The ASA of the congregations is also varied, from worshipping communties from 5 to 70.
The types of gatherings people are discussing are also interesting: a golfer's Eucharist in the clubhouse of a new development, a special gathering for families with autistic children, and a lay led "emergent church" type gathering in someone's home have all been mentioned.
To say we are excited is an understatement; the response exceeded our wildest expectations.
The applications are due back by August 1, 2007. For now we are simply rejoicing in the response and the willingness to look at mission in a new way, while remaining flexible about how the pilot will unfold.
If your congregatoin is interested it isn't too late to join and reach out to the world in new, alternative, and/or fresh ways. And if you are not sure how you would go about it, or what you would do, we are here to work with you. It is a journey we can take together.
Blessings,
S.
Post a Comment