Alban Weekly on ‘Constructing Your Congregation’s Story’
There are times when all congregations need to reflect upon who they are and where they have been to discern and understand where they are going. At such times, it is important for a congregation to research, create, and present its story. In 1993, Augsburg Fortress published a book by James P. Wind that offered a complete and concise guide to constructing and telling your congregation’s story. The book is now out of print, but the team at the Congregational Resource Guide (http://www.congregationalresources.org) have adapted it for the Web with great success.
The author explains some valuable skills for researchers: an intense curiosity, a healthy skepticism, a creative imagination, and a solid filing system. He encourages researchers to approach their congregations from the perspective of an outsider--by looking with fresh eyes at a congregation’s building, neighborhood, liturgical symbols, organizations, activities, official and unofficial leaders, and significant transitions. He also encourages researchers to explore how the pastor and people embody their faith in the world.
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