Affinity Groups

 

 

 

Download a PDF with workshop descriptions  HERE.
Download a PDF of smart network descriptions  HERE.

 

"Improvisation in the theater is a practice through which actors

seek to develop trust  in themselves and one another

in order that they may conduct unscripted dramas without fear." 

- DR. SAMUEL WELLS, DUKE DIVINITY SCHOOL AND CEEP CHAPLAIN 2012

Recommended Reading: "Improvisation: The Drama of Christian Ethics" - Dr. Samueul Wells

 

REGISTER FOR AN AFFINITY GROUP AND:
+ Learn from One Another
+ Meet for an hour at the beginning of the conference and again at the end
+ Mix with people from around the country who are dealing with the same issue
+ Mingle your ideas and resources
+ Make new friends for the conference and beyond

 

This unique experience will provide you with a new network of resources from around the country as you participate in a facilitated, topical discussion with other churches who are facing similar ministry challenges or issues. You will get to brainstorm, see what others are doing around the challenge, and leave with new ideas about how to move forward. What are your challenges?  Choose one Affinity Group and start talking!

 

  

 

AFFINITY GROUPS:  THURSDAY 3:45-4:45PM & SATURDAY 10:00-11:30 AM

E-mail any of the facilitators by clicking on their names if there are specific issues you are interested in bringing to your session.

 

 

Affinity GROUP 1: Churches in a Rector Search

 

FACILITATOR: Jean White, Chair of Search Committee, St. Paul's, Richmond VA

This group is designed for members of search committees currently in a search and for those churches who expect to be in a search in the near future.  Led by Jean White who recently chaired the search committee for St. Paul's, Richmond, VA,  successfully completed search, Jean and attendees will  discuss the best practices and pitfalls of searches for new rectors. Come and share your succesess, learnings, thoughts and ideas about what makes a successful search for your new rector.

 

   

Affinity GROUp 2:  GOT HR ISSUES?

Co-FACILITATOR:  Darien McWhirter, Author, "Your Rights at Work" and "The End of Affirmative Action"

Co-FACILITATOR: Pattie Christensen, Vice President, Church Pension Group

 

How recently has your Parish Business Manual been updated?  .Who performs annual review of your lay employees?  your clergy?  What sort of records do you need to keep - even as a non-profit Church?  Have you determined what the financial or personnel impact will be for implementing the Lay Pension System, Resolution A138, which is now canonical law and must be completed by January 1, 2013?  How can you fire staff in an efficient yet humane way?  How can you avoid the common mistakes - like making promises you can't keep?  Want to learn some best practices and hear about other people's HR pitfalls and successes?  Join this affinity group!

 

Affinity Group 3: Managing Endowments

FACILITATOR: Ernie Petrey

Ernie Petrey, member of St. Paul's, Cleveland Heights, OH, and long-time evangelist for managing and marketing parish endowments, will facilitate a discussion in this Affinity Group. Attendees will discuss the pros and cons of third-party advisors, foundation/endowment board issues and structures, and more. This discussion is for everyone, from the very experienced, to the novice vestry or staff member who wants to round out their parish knowledge base. As a group, you will meet both Thursday and Saturday, and will share ideas from parish experience and from the workshops you attend. 

 

Affinity GROUP 4: IMAGINING A Different Kind of Legacy

CO-FACILITATOR: (L)  Barbara Miller,  Vice President for Principal and International Gifts, Auburn University, Auburn, AL;

Member of Holy Trinity, Auburn;  Member: CEEP Board of Directors

CO-FACILITATOR: (R) The Rev. Luke Back, Rector, Heavenly Rest, Abilene, TX , Member: CEEP Board of Directors

When you hear the word legacy, do you automatically think planned giving and including the Church in your will?  In this day and age, most of us do,  But what if a legacy were much bigger than money?  What if the true legacy we have to leave our Churches and our world is a deep commitment to changing who we are as a society. What would it mean?  How might we go about it?  If you'd like to join Barbara Miller, Vice President of Principal and International Gifts for Auburn University and The Rev. Luke Back, CEEP Board member and Rector of Heavenly Rest in Abilene, TX for a rich and deep discussion of the broadest kind of legacy, be sure to sign up for this Affinity Group!

 

 

Affinity Group 5: Small Groups in Big Churches

FACILITATOR: Rebecca Hall,  Director of Adult Education and Spiritual Formation, St. David's, Austin, TX

 

What's the secret to creating a vibrant congregation with a real sense of community?  Small Groups. St. David's, with its 2500 communicants and 7 Sunday services has had to dig deep to find ways to build communities of different interests within the large congregation.  Small groups focus on specific topics for limited time periods on subjects from "How to Read the Old Testament" to "The poets of C.S. Lewis" to one-night sessions on a variety of subjects.  The Church has also instigated geographically based sessions called Compass Groups.   What is your church's experience with small groups?  What are you doing?  Join Rebecca and others who are doing interesting and creative ministries in small group settings.

 

 

Affinity GROUp 6:  Challenges of Downtown churches

FACILITATOR: The Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley, Rector, St. Paul's, Richmond (by the Capitol)

Is your Church or Cathedral located in the middle of downtown?  Perhaps you're near the State Capitol or in a rapidly changing urban setting?  If so, you have unique challenges and opportunities for ministry and probably  a congregation from diverse geographical areas.  This is your opportunity to network other clergy and volunteers to discuss how best to do ministry in an urban setting.  Join The Rev. Wallace Adams-Riley from the heart of downtown Richmond, Va, Rector of St. Paul's, and share your difficulties and successes with others.

 

 

Affinity Group 7: Capital campaigns: The Good, The Bad and the UGly

FACILITATOR: Frances Caldwell, Director of Development and Stewardship, Diocese of Virginia

Are you in the middle of a Capital Campaign?  About to embark on one?  Just finished a capital campaign with great success or not as much as you had hoped?  Join this Affinity Group and learn from one another about your experiences with capital campaigns, capital campaign companies, the good experiences and the bad experiences - all in a confidential setting.  Make some personal contacts you can benchmark with as you move forward in your own campaign.

 

 

Affinity GROUP  8:  LET's TALK ABOUT ANnual Campaigns

CO-FACILITATOR:  Maria Elliott, Director of Giving, Trinity Church, New Orleans, Member: CEEP Board of Directors

CO-FACILITATOR:  Kimberly Mize, Director of Stewardship, Christ Church, Charlotte, NC

 

Everyone wants to run a better annual campaign - a creative and inspiring one.  But sometimes, annual campaigns can make you feel like Sisyphus every year: like you're just pushing a heavy stone up the hill one more time.  In endowed parishes, annual camapaigns are especially important as income from annual campaigns are the foundation for church operations. Join these two stewardship professionals from CEEP member parishes and other people involved in annual campaigns from around the country.  Bring your own campaign materials - enough to share with others - and get inspired all over again to move forward with your annual campaign in a deeper and more meaningful way.

 

 

Affinity GROUP 9: Getting the most out of your ceep membership

FACILITATOR: Cynthia Cannon McWhirter, CEEP Executive Director

 

CEEP has been working hard over the past year to make improvements to its website and to enhance the ways our members can communicate to one another.  Want to learn about what CEEP has to offer and what opportunities are present for you and your congregation?  Join CEEP executive director Cynthia Cannon McWhirter - learn what CEEP is already doing you may not know about, and pass ideas along for continued improvements.  CEEP is your organization - let us work together to find the best possible ways to support one another.

 

 

Affinity Group 10: COMMUNICATING AMONG  GENERATIONS

FACILITATOR: Jeanie Sablatura, Communications Director, St. David's, Austin

 

Are you a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of ways of communicating to your congregation that are available today?  Are you frustrated because you are a great user of social media but half of your church refuses to even consider anything but basic email?  How do you find a successful communications strategy that will work among the generations of your church?  Join Merlynne for a lively conversation on communicating in different ways to different target audiences without going insane!!!