“Be kinder to people than you think they deserve.
Everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”
– Unknown
Themes of Ministry to Communities
Services | Communities Sourced by Spirit | Modes of Ministry | Themes of Ministry
Whenever we gather to work together in groups, the questions arise. How are we going to find and live our purpose as a community / organization through what we do together? Are we clear about the vision and mission we serve? What is the “call” we are seeking to answer? Can we enhance the well-being of all group members as well as effectively pursue our goals? How are we going to work together? Is there going to be a contest of wills? Are we going to “hunker-down” and “get through” an agenda, possibly wearing out goodwill and interest in the process? Or do we know how to create synergy: that mutual visioning and co-creation that makes work more like play! How do we discern which concrete tasks and objectives would best move us forward? These are the issues of community building.
Undertaking this type of exploration is an enormous asset for any group because it creates a spiritual grounding that shapes how issues are addressed. It also provides both a long range plan and a template for negotiating daily decisions. Groups of people trying to accomplish something together need to get beyond the power struggles that so often sidetrack and deplete energy. A satisfying experience for group members, in which the needs of each stakeholder and the mission of the group are held with care by the whole, goes hand in hand with creating high impact results. This is the work of spiritual development in community.
Rev. Cat structures events for congregations, organizations and other groups which address these needs.
Spiritual Development in Community
The Foundation: Creating Vision and Mission
The power of having vision and mission statements cannot be overstated. A Vision Statement clarifies where a community or organization is going. A Mission Statement creates an overview of how it will get there. A great example of the difference comes from the Biblical story of the Exodus: Moses’ vision was about the life the Israelites could have in the Promised Land. His mission was to keep a huge community of people inspired, united and committed while moving across a vast desert! Discover how a well-crafted Vision and Mission Statement can unite members behind a shared purpose and become a touchstone for re-energizing members and for conflict resolution.
“Thank you for such wonderful teaching and interaction.” – workshop participant
“It is the small hesitation to enter what is real that makes life feel out of reach.” – Mark Nepo
Walking our Talk: Building a Covenant of Right Relations
Living our vision and mission in communities requires more than being actively involved. It calls on us to develop and live out a Covenant of Right Relations. We need practice in relating to each other authentically and constructively when the going gets tough, and we need a covenant to remind us of what we’re trying to practice! It is the practice itself that creates bonds of trust that carry us through difficulties, renew our spirits and attract others to become involved. Explore what’s involved in creating a covenant that becomes a template for resolution of the thorniest issues communities face, enabling a true sharing of power. There are concrete steps for an effective process. It’s only as we learn to walk our talk that we become the people we have always longed to be.
“Thank you all for your contributions — as always, sharing your gifts created a beautiful and fulfilling experience for all.” – Julie Springer, PCD Leadership School Past Convener
“Whether you think you can, or whether you think you can’t – you’re right!” Henry Ford
Better than Before: Compassionate Conflict Resolution
What’s your style when you sense a conflict? Charging forward to gain control? Withdrawing from the situation? Putting on a smiling/dutiful face that avoids acknowledging that there is conflict? These three positions, also known as “fight, flight, or freeze,” characterize the most common responses to conflict situations – until we go beyond them! All three have in common the assumption that conflict is a sign of something going wrong rather than an organic component of growing communities. Learn how to mine conflict for the opportunities that it presents: greater authenticity, renewed trust, stronger connection and the energy and renewal of creative problem solving.
“The term ‘non-violence’ as Gandhi used it refers to our natural state of compassion when violence has subsided from the heart.” Dr. Marshall Rosenberg; Non-Violent Communication – A Language of Life
“You are more resilient than you know.” – Emerson
Collaborative Leadership through Compassionate Communication
Collaborative leadership is a model community and organizational leadership asks new questions. Beyond questions of the power-over model (“How do I get you to do it my way?”) and the utilitarian model (“How do we get the job done?”) and even the democratic model (“How many people want this?”) the collaborative model asks: “How do we work together in harmonious ways that serve our shared vision? “Imagine the possibilities for creative problem solving if every stakeholder in a complex situation could work cooperatively for the good of the whole! Compassionate Communication – also known as Non-Violent Communication – is a truly ground-breaking and transformative process for building communities and organizations committed to this goal. Learn the basics of applying this an astonishingly effective toolkit for breaking through “stuck places” in relationships and systems. Having key organizational members versed in this practice can serve as a catalyst for new levels of harmony and effectiveness for the whole.
“My renewed awareness of practicing the principles of NVC guided me successfully through two conversations around conflicts in the last 24 hours – Yes!!” – workshop participant
“In order to create harmony with another person, you must care enough to listen and share his struggle.” – Gary Zukov
“For me it’s about ‘equipping the saints for ministry’, as Paul put it.” – Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt
What’s Next? The Stages of Community Building
Communities and organizations, like individuals, are bound to go through changes and those changes are bound to shake things up. Also, like individuals, communities are both unique and go through predictable well-documented stages in development. Each stage has its distinctive challenges and calls for a particular skill set, especially from leaders, who set the tone for the whole. Understanding what is called for in a given phase can greatly ease the stress of transitions and make all the difference in whether the group is able to move forward effectively or whether it “recycles” earlier stages over and over again – never quite reaching for its full potential. Both group leaders and whole communities can benefit from addressing the crucial questions: What do our group dynamics at present have to teach us? And how do we make the most of what’s happening now to take us where we want to be?
“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re likely to end up someplace else.”
– Rev. Robert Latham
“Several members remember you quite fondly from when you came to speak a couple of years ago. Your reputation precedes you.” – workshop organizer
Repairing Rifts in The Church
An ongoing challenge of congregational leadership – both lay and clergy – is trying to accomplish our work in the face of complications caused by damaged relationships in which trust and good will have been lost. There are concrete processes leaders can bring to bear which can reweave the fabric of mutuality and trust in such situations, even without congregants being trained in using them! Experience an in-depth overview of how to meet these challenges blended with hands-on practice sessions. There is a concrete process for the repair of already strained relationships in congregations – as well as guidelines for the prevention of such stresses before they happen.
“The greatest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.”
- George Bernard Shaw
“I’ve totally changed my attitude towards church conflict. I see we can get through it. Thank you for guiding us through the role playing! I can’t believe how much dialogue it opened up.” – workshop participant