We have a group of several Missional Coaches who have been trained to guide parishes in becoming more missional. There is a foundations workshop which helps us to understand where we are as a church and how we got here.
It helps us know some history, some of the studies that show how people really feel about faith and little things that can make a big difference for us in reimagining our churches and our lives.
The other workshops address different areas of our lives together. How we might take what we are already doing and think about it missionally.
Community Outreach
Missional Small Groups
Communication
Organizational Structures
Youth & Children
Personal Sharing of Faith
These coaches are trained to come to parishes (or by electronic means) and provide a workshop on the overall foundation as well as any of the six topics listed above. The workshops contain the following areas for discussion.
Naming present practice - this is where the parish group discusses what is already happening in the parish and how this topic is already being addressed.
Reflecting on present practice - this is a further discussion that goes a bit deeper regarding current practices.
Scripture's Word - This portion uses scripture to help us to discuss how we are perhaps called or might be guided by scripture on this topic.
Implications for our context - How might what we've learned affect our current situation?
Envisioning and Committing to a new practice - In this final step the parish prepares to put into practice a new thing. Perhaps a slight alternation to an already existing practice or a new one altogether. They set a goal and timeline to revisit and see what might be altered and to celebrate successes along the way.
Sometimes thinking differently takes a bit of time and help. These coaches are all well trained and capable of walking alongside you and your parish to help that transformation happen.