About Shaping the Parish™

Shaping the Parish is an offering of the Order of the Ascension. The Order of the Ascension is a dispersed Benedictine religious community recognized by the Episcopal Church. Our charism is the revitalization of parish churches.  

How  do we  shape parishes that are characterized by prayer and service? Parishes of adoration, awe and service that also are making use of the best methods of parish development. 

Shaping the Parish is a two-year training program drawing on the methods and knowledge of ascetical theology, organization development and other applied behavioral sciences. There are 60 workshop hours on Zoom, a course of required readings, and a number of projects to be carried out (this is an application of methods mostly done in between modules. Those seeking a certificate will do a larger project is done in the second year). New participants can enter the program at the beginning of any cycle.

 

Structure of the program   See Cycles and Modules

What are the core elements of the learning process?

Each session includes advance reading and assignments, a significant amount of time in a small group applying it to their various situations, and a whole group Q&A.

STP is a mix of ascetical theology and organization development. We draw heavily on the work of Esther de Waal, Evelyn Underhill, Martin Thornton,  Julia Gatta, Edgar Schein, Chris Argyris, Michelle Heyne and Robert Gallagher. See the reading list.

Cost Workshop fee $100 for an individual; $300 for a parish team of three to six people; plus, cost of books

Beginning every Fall 

Dates    Fridays  Sessions begin at 9:00 am Pacific 

There are five 2-hour sessions, 3 times a year (15 total sessions a year). The cycles roll over - one for those returning for their second year and another for those beginning their first year.

             

Registration  

Required Readings  From 7 books and handouts related to a session, send by email or avaialble as a link on-line

On Zoom We’ll meet on Zoom. A link will be provided. Sessions will not be recorded.

Projects  There will be a number of small projects to be carried out. This is an application of methods we’ll introduce to you. Done in between modules and at times during a module.  A larger project is done in the second year for those seeking a certificate. That project is based on one of the developmental initiatives in Nothing so Contagious as Holiness: Developmental Initiatives for Increased Parish Vitality Grounded in Spiritual Practice. You’ll hear more about that during the program.

The small groups

The group work is an essential element of your learning process. It’s where you will be exposed to the thinking of other participants and have the opportunity to offer your own. So, your willingness to listen with the ear of your heart and to spaek up in a manner that helps the group do its work are Christian proficiencies you will need to nurture. The small groups will also offer you the opportunity to learn about group development and dynamics.

In order for the groups to be effective you need to come into the program willing to work within our standards.

Here are the core STP standards. These are norms that we want everyone to agree to work with. You want assent to the norms by everyone in the group.

-We will stay with the process presented in the educational design.

-We will speak up if we think we are drifting away from the assigned work.

-We will arrive at the session having completed the readings and assignments.

-We will make use of a group facilitator who appears to have the gift of facilitating a learning group.

- We will have someone serve as time keeper

-We will treat one another with respect, including gently confronting others if they are breaking the norms

You’ll need for participation

- The ability to get on Zoom using a computer or pad. Please no phones
- Willingness to show yourself.  You will need to have the video on so we can see one another.
- Email   We’ll be sending you material that will be used in a session 
- All the required books. Yes, get them all now. The reading needed for any module will include sections from several of the books.
- A Book of Common Prayer (American) and a Bible. 
- Paper and a pen or pencil. Occasionally we’ll ask you to engage exercises that require some writing. 
- For use in your parish when you make use of application exercises: Newsprint pads and easel (or wall space where you can hang and write on). Magic markers and blue tape. The pads need to be the large size (around 25 x 30 in) made for meetings not the smaller artist sketch pads. You can get Post-it type pads that are more expensive 

 

Parish Teams

If you are attending as a team from the same parish you’ll want to consider how often you’ll meet outside the Zoom sessions and for what purposes, how you’ll function in relationship to the rector and vestry, and how you’ll make decisions about how to carry out projects. Parish teams will not meet as a unit during the workshop sessions. You’ll be in small groups of people coming from other parishes.

If the team you are sending has just 3 or 4 members you may want to consider expanding the group by adding another person or two who can’t attend the workshop sessions. We don’t need to know who they are. Have them do all the readings and provide them with a bit of training from the sessions. Consider if that can be done in a manner that deepens and refreshes the experience of those in the program while at the same time helping the others become familiar with concepts and skills. We hope you’ll consider the costs and benefits of an expanded team before involving more people.

 

Here are two PDFs that may be useful as you think about having an expanded team. PDF1   PDF2

 

 

Training staff  Sister Michelle Heyne, OA is the Presiding Sister and a parish development consultant. Brother Robert Gallagher, OA, is a parish development consultant. Robert and Michelle will serve as the lead trainers and be with the participants throughout the program. Others will join us from time-to-time and play a special role in one of the models each year. MORE on Trainers page

Sponsored by The Order of the Ascension  — a Benedictine religious community of the Episcopal Church.