Strengthening church health and community connection.
The Thriving Congregations initiative is a three-phase program designed to help congregations discern and live out God’s mission in their context. Over three years, the program aims to strengthen church health and community connection.
Through the program, BIC U.S. congregations can embrace a model of church focusing on community connection, thereby strengthening congregational identity and practices that are resilient, peaceful, and hopeful.
Church Health
Phase 1: “Who are we?”
Phase 1 guides congregations to a deepening sense of identity and mission by completing the PEAK Profile and process. Through a congregational survey of both leaders and congregants, a picture of the congregation unfolds. The PEAK profile seeks to help congregations understand what unique strengths and challenges they carry, what unique gifts they can use for the benefit of their community, as well as how the story of their church is informing their future.
Churches work through the PEAK process with their BIC trained coaches both individually and at semi-annual gatherings. At the end of phase 1, congregations will have a Ministry Action Plan as well as their own definitions for Leadership, Mission and Discipleship.
Early Results
God’s unique plan for each congregation is evidenced by the diverse ministry plans that resulted at the end of this phase. One church landed on the goal of “providing opportunities for intentional service to those who are hurting in our communities” and planned to start a community church partnership with other local churches.
Another church wrote their gospel impact as follows: “Belonging and mutual connection will flow from empowering maturing disciples to fulfill their purpose and provide community to the lonely and disconnected.” They planned to cast a vision, write specific opportunities to meet needs, and work to train/find mentors in their first three months.
Community Connection
Phase 2: “Where are we?”
In Phase 2, churches will go through a series of sessions designed to help them explore and describe neighboring in multiple ways. As they reflect on neighboring, coaches also help them align with BIC U.S. Core Values to more deeply engage with their neighbors. Chad Frey, from Neighboring Group, and your BIC trained coaches will guide congregations through individual sessions as well as semi-annual gatherings.
Congregations will work through neighboring as soul work, in groups and in systems first, developing a full understanding of how neighboring looks in various contexts. Next, they will move into listening to their neighbors, creating a goal based on their context and location and, finally, write a proposal for the last stage of the Thriving Congregations program.
Phase 3: “What is our impact?”
As congregations and CLC teams reach the end of phase 2, they will have a proposal (an RFP) for a specific ministry based on their work through both PEAK and Neighboring. In this last phase, the church will work to implement their proposal and make a difference in their community. Their BIC-trained coach will serve as a resource person and help them stay on track with their particular ministry. The Congregation, however, is primarily responsible for implementing their RFP.
Congregational Learning Communities
Each participating congregation will form a Congregational Learning Community (CLC) comprised of pastoral staff, church board member(s), and congregation member(s). The CLC members will commit to participating in semi-annual in-person gatherings with the cohort, as well as individual sessions with their BIC-trained coach. Not all CLC members must attend all events, but the more members that are available, the more valuable the assessments and training will be.
What is a Congregational Learning Community (CLC)?
Participating congregations are expected to assemble a Thriving Congregations team made up of pastoral staff, church board member(s), and covenant member(s); the team should have a minimum of 3 members and maximum of 6 members, reflecting congregation size. This team will commit to engaging in a 3-phase learning process. Each congregational team serves as its own learning community and will work to implement a ministry matching their mission and vision.
Who should serve on a Congregational Learning Community?
Each learning community should include pastoral staff, church board member(s) and covenant members interested in the goals of Thriving Congregations. Those serving in the CLC should be passionate about their congregation and community and must be able commit to the time requirements needed.
Coaches
In Phase 1, each congregation will be paired with a BIC-trained coach who will journey with them through all three years of the program. These uniquely qualified coaches will help congregations process and apply what the CLCs are learning, discern God’s direction and mission in their specific context, and build relationships across the denomination.
Have Questions?
See our Frequently Asked Questions or contact Jennifer Lancaster, Program Director.
*Costs related to travel and other expenses will be offset by the program.