Your church will be coached through the following general phases and steps, a process that normally takes 6-9 months. After a Ministry Plan is in place leadership may opt for continued coaching or to continue the discernment process in a more focused way, aimed at particular areas of the church’s life.
Phase I: Preparation
- Decision/commitment to use Healthy Church Discernment Process (HCDP)
- Formation of HCDP Planning and Prayer teams
- Orientation/preparation at leadership retreat to understand HCDP and their roles in it
- Leadership and congregation in discernment
Phase II: Information Gathering
- Online Healthy Church Comprehensive Survey administered to congregation
- Gather additional information about congregation and community
Phase III: Conversations
- Conversation about the information that has been gathered: Planning Team and leadership
- Conversation about the information that has been gathered: Planning Team/leadership with congregation
- Planning Team prepares summary of conversations
- Leadership retreat (or additional congregational conversations) to develop priority issues
Phase IV: Ministry Plan
- Planning Team formulates Ministry Plan/Priorities for implementation
- Ministry teams and congregation live out Ministry Plan shepherded by leadership or Implementation Team
Phase V: Celebration
- Dedication, celebration and healthy living (as Plan/Priorities lived out)
Phase VI: Continuation
- Repeat process in 3-5 years