I'm now serving two congregations that yoked about a year and a half ago. They're starting to really dig into collaborating with planning at the board level to some extent (the Presidents have agreed to meet quarterly or more frequently) and I've been encouraging them in other ways. It's so cool watching them build this relationship with each other.
After years of trying and failing at this in the Episcopal Church (where we have *much* more structure!), I struck out into the world as a Free Range Priest. It's sort of the inside-out opposite of trying to merge communities: it's changing the way clergy serve them. I serve on task-based contract (doing a variety of tasks - some of them about worship, some about digital development, some about spiritual growth). In this way, I can serve multiple small congregations in ways they need and can afford, and I can easily serve multiple congregations without being overwhelmed. I teach clergy how to do this, too!
I'm now serving two congregations that yoked about a year and a half ago. They're starting to really dig into collaborating with planning at the board level to some extent (the Presidents have agreed to meet quarterly or more frequently) and I've been encouraging them in other ways. It's so cool watching them build this relationship with each other.
After years of trying and failing at this in the Episcopal Church (where we have *much* more structure!), I struck out into the world as a Free Range Priest. It's sort of the inside-out opposite of trying to merge communities: it's changing the way clergy serve them. I serve on task-based contract (doing a variety of tasks - some of them about worship, some about digital development, some about spiritual growth). In this way, I can serve multiple small congregations in ways they need and can afford, and I can easily serve multiple congregations without being overwhelmed. I teach clergy how to do this, too!
I tried to foster a merger….. but you’re so right — petty individualism won out.
So far, collaboration for me looks like Hosting facilitator trainings for our whole lives and using that to help build local relationships.
I am curious how others collaborate or What kind of ideas bubble up for collaboration?
That’s a great question! I hope others jump in.