Training Programs Training Programs Faculty Training Philosophy Typical Training Day Training Costs Cancellations Grievance Procedures Continuing Education Program Evaluations Training Schedule Teleconferences	Small Rural Church Summit Huron College, Ontario, Canada July 27-30, 2006 Small rural churches across North America are facing a huge challenge of declining numbers and income to the point that many are no longer economically and emotionally sustainable in their present form. Within the Episcopal tradition this decline is compounded by several factors. Appreciative Inquiry teaches that we work toward the images of the future that we hold in consciousness. What happens though if the images are unrealistic? For many people in the church the "image of church" is of a small cathedral, doing a scaled down version of cathedral worship, four hymns and an anthem. Most rural churches do not have the resources to do such worship, and their impoverished efforts at creating such worship are often deadly and unattractive to potential newcomers. We have become Eucharistically oriented in worship. This requires that a priest be present for worship, yet many communities can not afford a priest. Using monthly supply clergy can often inadvertently reinforce the notion that "real worship" requires an ordained person. Local ordination and non-stipendiary clergy, while helpful in many situations, also reinforces the notion that ministry is the ministry of the ordained. Re-Imagining the Small Church The purpose behind the appreciative inquiry summit into small rural churches is to help participants create new images of church in which they are aware of God's presence and work in ways that are sustainable. The Program Members of small congregations and clergy engaged in ministry oversight will gather and spend 2 1/2 days learning the theory and practice of appreciative inquiry by conducting an appreciative inquiry into their own life and work. From this experience participants will clarify their personal sense of purpose and mission. The participants will then conduct an appreciative inquiry into the churches they attend to create new images of church that are sustainable and are synergistically related to the participants personal sense of purpose. Participants will learn how to take the appreciative process back to their congregations to use in the development of their congregations. Note: The purpose of the summit is not to instruct participants what images of church are appropriate. Rather by engaging participants in their own appreciative discovery of how God is present and how they are and can be church we will allow images to creatively emerge from their experience. Presenters and Facilitators Rob Voyle is an ordained Episcopal priest, psychologist, and coach. He is the Director of the Clergy Leadership Institute and is a leader in the use of appreciative inquiry in church related settings. Ed Leidel is Bishop of Eastern Michigan and along with Instructors from Huron College has developed cutting edge team ministries in rural communities within the Diocese. Logistics The cost of the appreciative inquiry training and summit: US $250 Accommodation: Residential: US $250, Commuter: US $125 Discount: When two or more people register from the same parish each will recieve a $50 discount. We are encouraging people to participate in a grassroots promotion of this program. Please click here to download a Small Rural Church Summit Flyer to distribute to potential attendees.

Training
Programs

Training Programs
Faculty
Training Philosophy
Typical Training Day
Training Costs
Cancellations
Grievance Procedures
Continuing Education
Program Evaluations
Training Schedule
Teleconferences

Small Rural Church Summit

Huron College, Ontario, Canada

July 27-30, 2006

Small rural churches across North America are facing a huge challenge of declining numbers and income to the point that many are no longer economically and emotionally sustainable in their present form. Within the Episcopal tradition this decline is compounded by several factors.

Appreciative Inquiry teaches that we work toward the images of the future that we hold in consciousness. What happens though if the images are unrealistic? For many people in the church the "image of church" is of a small cathedral, doing a scaled down version of cathedral worship, four hymns and an anthem. Most rural churches do not have the resources to do such worship, and their impoverished efforts at creating such worship are often deadly and unattractive to potential newcomers.
We have become Eucharistically oriented in worship. This requires that a priest be present for worship, yet many communities can not afford a priest. Using monthly supply clergy can often inadvertently reinforce the notion that "real worship" requires an ordained person.
Local ordination and non-stipendiary clergy, while helpful in many situations, also reinforces the notion that ministry is the ministry of the ordained.

Re-Imagining the Small Church

The purpose behind the appreciative inquiry summit into small rural churches is to help participants create new images of church in which they are aware of God's presence and work in ways that are sustainable.

The Program

Members of small congregations and clergy engaged in ministry oversight will gather and spend 2 1/2 days learning the theory and practice of appreciative inquiry by conducting an appreciative inquiry into their own life and work. From this experience participants will clarify their personal sense of purpose and mission.

The participants will then conduct an appreciative inquiry into the churches they attend to create new images of church that are sustainable and are synergistically related to the participants personal sense of purpose.

Participants will learn how to take the appreciative process back to their congregations to use in the development of their congregations.

Note: The purpose of the summit is not to instruct participants what images of church are appropriate. Rather by engaging participants in their own appreciative discovery of how God is present and how they are and can be church we will allow images to creatively emerge from their experience.

Presenters and Facilitators

Rob Voyle is an ordained Episcopal priest, psychologist, and coach. He is the Director of the Clergy Leadership Institute and is a leader in the use of appreciative inquiry in church related settings.

Ed Leidel is Bishop of Eastern Michigan and along with Instructors from Huron College has developed cutting edge team ministries in rural communities within the Diocese.

Logistics

The cost of the appreciative inquiry training and summit: US $250
Accommodation: Residential: US $250, Commuter: US $125
Discount: When two or more people register from the same parish each will recieve a $50 discount.

We are encouraging people to participate in a grassroots promotion of this program. Please click here to download a Small Rural Church Summit Flyer to distribute to potential attendees.