By Cynthia Woolever
"Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration." Thomas Edison
Scientists say we share 98.5% of our DNA with chimpanzees. In this instance, the 1.5% difference is of great consequence. We also sharee 50% of our DNA with bananas. Fortunately, we are not half bananas (on most days)!
Congregations, as organizations, share many similarities, regardless of location, size, or denominational affiliation. But the small percentage-point-like differences across churches and parishes make ministry outcomes difficult to predict. Those who wish to help congregations be more effective in ministry often advocate "best practices" for congregations. These advisers are operating on the 99-percent-alike model. What would a model be like if it focused instead on the 1-percent-difference that occurs across congregations?
The Indianapolis Center for Congregations (ICC) uses an approach based on the one-percent-difference that they describe as "resourcing congregations." What makes their approach different from the more commonly used tactics of church consultants? First, the model assumes that any congregation can address whatever challenges they face. The essential trick is to direct them to a useful resource. The resource could be an on line article, book, seminar or other learning event, or perhaps a specialist (e.g., church architect). However, in each instance the resource is the "best fit" for the congregation's context and current capacity. Timothy Shapiro, ICC Director, explains that their staff "expertise" rests on correctly identifying the resource that could be most helpful to a congregation at a specific time and in their specific circumstances. In short, the model requires the staff to ask many questions and narrow in on the one-percent difference—what makes this congregation unique?
The resourcing congregations model assumes that strong congregations are essential to the faith formation of individuals and to the well-being of the communities that they serve. The ICC believes that the systems of support for congregations are not as strong as they need to be. While there is a wealth of helpful resources for congregations, they argue most church leaders need some assistance in finding the "needle in the haystack."
Six issues that congregations wrestle with surface frequently in the ICC's work—technology, strategic planning, buildings, leadership development, volunteers, and spirituality. To learn more about the Center for Congregations in Indianapolis, Indiana and what they are learning from their work with congregations, read an interview with Rev. Timothy Shapiro or visit their website.
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