Faith-Based Ecumenical Resource
Network Concept Paper

The Body of Christ: A Radically Connected Church

The twenty-first century church can no longer operate primarily as a hierarchical structure, but is functioning as an interconnecting network of relationships that can empower excellence in ministry on all levels of leadership. Recognizing this new dynamic in ministry, representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and The Episcopal Church began conversations in August 2007 on how to best resource church leaders as they seek to meet the deep challenges of ministry today in this changing environment. As of February 2008, the Presbyterian Church USA and the Alban Institute have also joined the conversation. Informal contacts indicated that there is interest in the United Methodist church to participate in this effort. We have also made exploratory contact with representatives in the Moravian Church and the United Church of Canada.

In 2007, the Vocation and Education unit of the ELCA conducted a survey of 42 of its 65 synods to assess the use of coaches and consultants. Survey results indicated a need for the development of a faith-based ecumenical resource network. This is the central goal of our continuing work. The following objectives fulfill this goal:

1. Develop an ecumenical network of faith-based coaches, consultants, spiritual directors, and client stakeholders for promoting excellence in the doing of ministry, and the infrastructure of local, and national chapters to sustain this network.
   
   
2. Develop a collective understanding of faith-based coaching, consulting, and spiritual direction that leads to standards and a process of accountability that also includes identifying outside sources of accreditation and certification.
   
   
3. Establish a process of judicatory endorsement and create a database of coaches, consultants, and spiritual directors and promote it within the judicatories.
   
   
4. Serve as a clearinghouse for continuing education resources for coaches, consultants, and spiritual directors.
   
   
5. Raise awareness of the need for and opportunity to make use of faith-based coaches, consultants, and spiritual directors.
   
   
6. Hold creative consultations to create and sustain this network that will provide both continuing education regarding coaching, consulting, and spiritual direction and opportunities to build a network of coaches, consultants, spiritual directors and client stakeholders.

Existing organizations such as the Interim Ministry Network and the International Coaching Federation (ICF), while not addressing precisely the same clientele or practitioners envisioned by this effort, have much to offer in the areas of standards of practice, credentialing, and codes of ethics.

We are currently working towards the first national consultation to be held in 2009 or 2010 that will connect the above mentioned resource people, clients (end-users), and other stakeholders such as credentialing or continuing education organizations.

The initial consultation in 2009/2010 would bring together approximately 150 stakeholders and would both provide an opportunity for work groups to begin to further network formation and governance and opportunities for continuing education. This consultation can also provide a venue for interacting with similar organizations, such as the Interim Ministry Network or ICF.

A future consultation, projected to occur in 2011 or 2112, would bring together approximately 400 people and would initiate annual or bi-annual consultations that would offer both continuing education and continue network development. The intent is to seek a five year grant for these consultations and the work involved in planning them.

Plans are currently underway to invite other denominations to join us in this venture in order to create a truly ecumenical network that can resource the whole Body of Christ.

The dream of the Steering Committee is to encourage an approach to ministry that is passionate, asset-based, and forward-thinking, recognizing the presence of the Holy Spirit among us as it births new ministry possibilities. Through this approach we believe we can practice better stewardship of the gifts in the Body of Christ to:

1. Redeem gifts that have gone previously unrecognized
2. Discern gifts that are needed for specific ministry needs and concerns
3. Connect gifts in order to build up the body for the task of ministry together

We are eager to embark upon conversations that can inform this process, and help us to better shape this concept into a workable initiative - one that will support and help to promote the emergence of a new way of being the church in the twenty-first century.

etwork Concept Document - General Copy
March 5, 2008

The original document was written by the Revs. Susan M. Lang, RevWriter Resources, LLC and Richard Bruesehoff, Director for Lifelong Learning, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Edited by the Revs. Susan M. Lang, RevWriter Resources, LLC and Twila Glenn, Consulting Manager, Alban Institute

Other pages in this section:

ELCA Vocation and Education Survey Report, August 21, 2007
Appendix to the 2007 ELCA Survey Report
Early History of the Conversation
Faith-Based Ecumenical Resource Network Steering Committee Roster