Thriving Bi-Vocational Congregations
The Iona Collaborative believes small congregations have much to teach the wider Church about God’s vision for its future flourishing. Small communities are ideal laboratories for learning together how to discern shared callings, ways of being in community, and best practices for engaging cooperatively to God’s ongoing mission in our rapidly changing culture. Our program works with vestries and clergy to use a toolkit of communal spiritual practices and exercises to discern a faithful and hopeful path forward that is unique to your community.
We support congregations individually while creating a larger learning community of bi-vocational congregations who learn from and co-create with each other.
Program q&A Session
WHEN: Tuesday, April 30 || 6:30-7:30pm CDT
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Lay vestry members/clergy from any church currently led or planning to be led by: part-time clergy; lay leaders; non-stipendiary clergy; clergy with more than one church; locally-formed clergy.
WHERE: Online on Zoom
Congregations who are currently bi-vocational or are considering a bi-vocational journey are invited to join Iona Collaborative Programs Director, Rebecca Hall, MSF to learn about the program through this 1-hour Zoom presentation and Q&A session.
Register using the button below.
DISCERNING OUR FUTURE IN COMMUNITY
WHEN: Every Other Thursday, Sept. 12-Dec. 5 || 4:00-5:15pm CDT
WHO SHOULD ATTEND: Churches who have completed the Thriving Bi-Vocational Congregations program in the last 3 years.
FACILITATORS: Dr. John Lewis & Rebecca Hall, MSF
WHERE: Online on Zoom
Vestries, clergy, and all church leaders are continually discerning the future of their congregations in large and small ways. Should we start or end a ministry? Should we share a leader with another congregation? Should we fix the roof of the sell the building? This group will employ a scripture-based method of communal discernment around questions that participants bring related to their churches. We will practice the method together, and participants will be able to put it to use with their vestries or other leadership teams.
Register using the button below.
Any church that is led by part-time clergy; lay leaders; non-stipendiary clergy; clergy with more than one church; locally-formed clergy.
Fall 2024 through Spring 2025
We will offer 2-3 weekend workshops for your congregation in your setting. These workshops will share the parts of our spiritual practices toolkit that will best meet your community’s needs. We also offer monthly Zoom conversations with all churches in the program to share ideas and best practices.
Please register for a Q&A session above!
Resources
Videos for Congregations
COMING SOON!
Toolkits
COMING SOON!
