Healthy Congregations Workshops

Introduction/ Description/ Workshop One/ Workshop Two/ Workshop Three/ Workshop Four/ Workshops Five and Six / Schedules / Contact

Introduction

These workshops were designed by Dr. Pete Steinke, a recognized authority in the fields of church health, congregational conflict, and change management (see Leadership Journal interview with Steinke).  One of his popular books, Congregational Leadership in Anxioud Times: Being Calm and Courageous No Matter What, builds on the same concepts. 

In developing the workshops, Steinke was careful to reflect his strong belief in biblical authority.  He beautifully integrates the idea of emotional systems with the biblical theology of the church as a body.  The material is laced throughout with biblical references, and blends scripture with helpful insights from the fields of systems theory, conflict management, organizational change, and leadership.   

There are six workshops of five hours each.  Each workshop has five one-hour sessions that include a well-designed notebook, activities and videos.  The first two workshops are required, the other four are optional, but recommended.

Workshop One:"Creating Healthy Congregations," introduces the concept of the congregation as an emotional system, that our behaviors and emotional reactions in the church are mutually influenced.  For example, a church enters a change after having followed a responsible change process.  Yet, once the change is initiated, some within the church respond with various forms of resistance and difficult behaviors.  These behaviors feed upon each other in such a way that people become catalysts for conflict perhaps without realizing it.  They key to resolution is for members to become aware of where they are co-participants in the conflict, and make the necessary changes in order for matters to be resolved.  Not uncommonly, however, anxious members will target one another rather than each person attempting to discover their own contributions to the difficulties and behave positively toward corporate resolution.

One session of the first workshop compares/contrasts "The Anxious Congregation" to "The Responsible Congregation."  An excellent video depicts a congregation that is experiencing conflict over the initiation of a major change.  The first 20 minute segment shows the anxious congregation behaving in a way that the conflict spirals out of control.  Dr. Steinke points out each of the unhealthy behaviors.  The second 20 minute segment takes the same congregation, this time showing how healthy behaviors create a different outcome.  Dr. Steinke points out each of the healthy behaviors, particularly addressing leaders.  There are several handouts contrasting the leadership behaviors that escalate conflict and those that manage conflict constructively.

The remainder of the first workshop discusses how healthy congregations 1) accept differences rather than denying them, 2) focus on strengths rather than weaknesses, and 3) focus on mission.  Mission is set forth as a healthier pursuit rather than the goals of "everybody getting along," "let's just do things the way we've always done them," "the minister is at fault," or some other issue.

Workshop Two: Healthy Congregations Respond to Anxiety and Change, teaches churches how to respond rather than react to anxiety.  It describes how reactive behaviors choke our ability to manage issues constructively.  Other insights include the twelve most common triggers of anxiety in congregations, how the brain functions during anxiety, how emotional intensity is a greater factor in church conflict than subject or content issues, how anxiety is contagious and spreads like a virus.  Of special value is his insight that anxiety usually targets people who are in two positions, the most responsible and the most vulnerable (e.g. ministers, elders, youth ministers).  His description of the chronically anxious congregation is priceless.

Also included in this workshop is how to manage conflict constructively instead of denying it or accommodating to demands from anxious members.  Special insight is given on the dangers of secrets, underhanded behavior, covert activities, etc.  In contrast to these behaviors, Steinke describes the healthiest ways for churches to respond to change.  The final sessions of Workshop Two address how to plan for a healthier future.

Workshop Three: Leadership in Healthy Congregations, builds upon the previous two by focusing on the kind of leaders that are necessary for a congregation to remain healthy.  In a video depiction of a church facing a major decision, Dr. Steinke describes how healthy leaders are self-differentiated.  By this he means that leaders are able to be a part of an anxious church without becoming caught up in the anxiety themselves.  They continue as an active part of the anxious system, yet remain separate from its harmful behaviors.  This allows them to be more resourceful to others who are less differentiated, and to have a presence that actually brings insight and direction rather than increased polarization and chaos.  In an anxious congregation, the anxiety is like a virus.  In order for the virus to spread, it must have host cells that take in the virus and allow it to proliferate.  Unhealthy churches have leaders and a number of members who allow themselves to become host cells that propel the virus into the rest of the church system.  Healthy churches, on the other hand, have leaders with strong immune systems that make them less vulnerable to becoming host cells to these anxiety viruses.  Their very presence boosts the healing capacities of the congregation, and helps the church to welcome challenges and growth.

Workshop Four:Relationships in Healthy Congregations, is a powerful sequel to the first three.  Steinke becomes very specific about the behaviors that are necessary for a church to experience health.  He discusses the importance of forgiving, truthtelling, connecting, and helping.  Of special value in this workshop is Steinke's discussion of the conditions that make it difficult for a congregation to deal truthfully, e.g. rigid hierarchy (lots of power at the top), silence as a normal strategy, deference given to powerful individuals and families, "happy face" religiosity, etc.

Workshop Five:Healthy Congregations Develop Generous People, and Workshop Six: The Spiritual Care of Healthy Congregations, are Dr. Steinke's newest additions to the sequence, and address the issues of giving and pastoral care.

Recommended Schedule

The first two workshops are required, i.e. a facilitator cannot contract to present any less than the first two workshops.  Optimum results are achieved, however, when a congregation completes the first four workshops.

For more information, or to schedule and event, please email, cgupton@jbc.edu, or call my office: (865) 251-2257.