Consultations

Consultations with Congregations

The overall goals of consultations are to help church leaders build trust and discern vision; explore community diversity; assess effectiveness and relevance of ministries; define measureable outcomes; and train leaders and teams. The specific goals for each congregational consultation will be focused for each church and context.

Preparation for consultation usually requires demographic and lifestyle research, and it is helpful if the client already subscribes to www.MissionInsite.com and has completed “People Plot”. Resources will be customized for each client’s needs.

I ask that leaders read in advance (available through Amazon.com or Abingdon Press):

See, Know, and Serve by Tom Bandy
Strategic Thinking by Tom Bandy

See also my requirements regarding travel, accommodation, food, and venue setup.

Consultations are usually over a weekend. The typical schedule is:

Friday morning (meeting with staff);
Friday afternoon (tour of site and community);
Saturday morning (leadership seminar);
Saturday afternoon (team dialogue and training)
Sunday morning (observation and post-worship Q/A with members);
Sunday afternoon (staff and board summary)

I do not ordinarily preach unless it is specifically helpful to do so; it is usually more important to observe hospitality, worship, nursery, and Christian education options during the morning. I usually do not meet in the evenings, although there may be a dinner with leaders Friday evening and/or pot luck supper with members Sunday evening.

See also my requirements regarding travel, accommodation, food, and venue setup.

A detailed written report with recommendations will be sent to church leaders following the consultation; and a
webinar is offered to leaders to answer questions or provide further guidance.

Consultations with Denominations

Consultations may be with national or regional denominational bodies, and focus specifically on a particular strategy or team. These often include: Church redevelopment (revitalization, mergers, or collaborations); new church development and “fresh expressions” for outreach; understanding demographic and lifestyle trends in specific regions and cross-cultural ministries; outreach and agency ministries; or clergy training and deployment strategies.

Preparation for consultation usually requires demographic and lifestyle research, and it is helpful if the client already subscribes to www.MissionInsite.com. Resources will be customized for each client’s needs.

I ask that leaders read in advance (available through Amazon.com or Abingdon Press):