Workshop #2:Understanding your DATA

March 26, 2012

Follow-up Questions from the Workshop #1 Webinar (3/19)?

Please enter questions in chat room.

Introduction & Prayer• Led by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham

– Rector, Church of the Holy Spirit

• The Rev. Scott Gunn– Executive Director, Forward Movement

• The Rev. Clarence Langdon– Bishop’s staff, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago

• Terry Schweizer– Research Director, REVEAL

Today’s Purpose

• Recap the Webinar #1• Review the Facilitator Guide in-depth

– Focus on the Exercises

• Discuss the homework (pre-reading)• Provide suggestions to optimize outcomes

“Please be patient, God is not finished with me yet.”

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Developed by & for Episcopalians

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General Construct• Four sessions:

– 1. Spiritual Formation: Understanding FOLLOW ME– 2. Data Sharing: Parish Profiles & Survey Findings– 3. Applying Best Practice Principles to your Church– 4. The Plan and Guiding Metrics

• Each session starts with Scripture & Discussion• Homework, all have pre-reading

Today

Workshop #2

Workshop #2: Purpose & Outcomes

• Confirming the survey is an accurate representation of your congregation

• Identifying who you are spiritually as a church• Capturing the key learnings and insights • Developing priorities to guide possible actions

Pre-Reading

Pre-Reading (part 2)

The Devotional• The devotional—five distinct readings from

Nehemiah—will require pre-reading and reflection prior to the workshop.

• Is important to establish the biblical context for the process:– Gathered facts– Wept and mourned– Prayed– Prepared for the plan and met the King– Gathered a team and commenced

Is being modified to improve fit with exercises and times required.

All workshops changes and refinements will by available by 3/29/2013

Thanks again for feedback and builds!

Workshop Challenges• The forest versus the trees

– Very easy to get ‘too deep’ in the data• Separate facts, conclusions and implications

– Focus on facts and emerging conclusions in this session• The SVI score can be polarizing

– Many Episcopal churches fare poorly• Can be a wake-up call!

– Will be an individual church choice to present (NEW)• The analytic literacy of your workshop participants

– Varies significantly. Will need to manage.• Pre-reading is critical. Lots to digest.

Exercise #1: Parish Profiles

Key

Exercise 1: Parish Profiles• Start early. Takes time.

– Church records often missing data. Don’t worry.

• Trends are key.– Often flat or declining.

• Do project 5-10 years out.– Is most enlightening. And often frightening.

• Check out the sample Vestry report.– www.ForwardMovement.org/RenewalWorks

Report and Data Deliverables

• Full Report (60 pages)• Includes Appendix (100+ pages)• SVI • Overall Summary, recommended direction

• Workshop tailored (30 Pages)• No SVI • No overall Summary• No recommended direction

Workshop #2

Interpreting the Colors

Exercise 2: --Spiritual Continuum

--Spiritual Vitality Index--Components:

Personal Spiritual PracticesChurch’s Role Faith in Action

Spiritual ContinuumSample Profile

© 2012 Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. All Rights Reserved.

Spiritual Vitality Index (SVI)

Personal Spiritual Practices

Church’s Role

Faith in Action

•Study Bible •Reflect

•Solitude•Pray

• Bible teaching• Relationship building • Small groups• Education

•Serving in Church

•Serve those in need

•Conversation and evangelism.

SVI Score

Spiritual Vitality Index

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blanks

SVI: Share or not share?

--Discuss pros and cons

Spiritual Vitality Components

Spiritual Vitality Exercise• Break into three groups.

– Each take one of the areas.

• Review in the absolute and versus others.– Look at the range and where most are concentrated

• Make sure you get to the conclusions.– What do the facts suggest?

• When reporting separate facts and conclusions.– Is this where you want to be?

Best Practice Principles

Best Practice Principles:Building Healthy Churches

– Top 5% SVI Churches

– In-depth Interviews

– Customized based on

Episcopal Pilot Churches

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Key Takeaways• Is an accurate ‘snapshot’• Clearly separate facts, conclusions, and

emerging implications • Is the foundation. Rest of the workshops are

about ‘Growing’, going forward

Key is to be grounded in the data.

•Questions?

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Workshop #3 Homework

• Episcopal Beliefs & Practices– Our very own. Critical to deeply study.

• Episcopal Examples: Best Practice Principles– From the Episcopal Pilot Churches

• Review Workshop #2 Key Findings & Conclusions– Circulated before the next workshop

• Any additional questions for next session

Concluding Remarks & Prayer• Led by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham

Next Steps & Thanks!

• Next session: April 2nd at 2pm CDT• Focus will be Workshop #3• Homework assignment:

– Read Facilitators Guide, pages 37-46– Review the Episcopal Beliefs & Practices– Review Episcopal Examples: Best Practice Principles

Appendix

Workshop Team Composition• Modeled after a Search Committee• Lay led—a must• Clergy, Rector in particular, must not guide

– Nor back seat driving

• Need a separate time-keeper• Plus a separate scribe

– That gets notes and follow-up done

Helpful Hints• Encourage a bit of hospitality 15-20 minutes

before each workshop starts– A number will not know each other

• Start and end each sub-section promptly, even if not completely finished

• Post the key elements of each session to demonstrate progress and be a reference

• Keep a ‘parking lot’ flip chart for unanswered questions, suggestions, follow-up

More Lessons Learned• Make sure ALL the voices are heard

– Set as an expectation, then prompt

• Make differences a value– Will be different viewpoints, especially on ‘growth’

• Do fewer things, well– Will try to do too much

• Close with a reassuring and encouraging prayer