The Wake Forest Center will establish an Institute for Congregational Health focused on empowering clergy and lay leaders to work collaboratively within their faith communities to help them thrive. The project will organize 10 learning communities of 36 people -- eight lay leaders and one ordained clergy member from each of four congregations of different denominations located in the same geographical area. These learning communities will meet monthly over the course of a year. Each meeting will be facilitated by two trained faculty members from the Center for Congregational Health’s network of consultants and facilitators. The project’s goal is for the participants to explore their common ground and to learn and practice skills that will allow them to better lead their congregations in their shared geographical context. The initiative is designed to serve smaller congregations, those with an average worship attendance of less than 500.
Thriving Congregations Initiative
Winston-Salem, NC
Regional
Chris Gambill