Called to Transformation

Working Together for Lasting ChangeEpiscopal ChurchCalled to Transformation

An Asset-Based Approach to Engaging Church and Community

is centered around the belief that individuals, groups, and communities have the gifts they need to address the needs they see around them. 1 Corinthians 12 tells us that each of us are given different gifts to serve the community and we are all a part of the body of Christ working together. Learn more…

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  • Trainings
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  • More Info
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  • Legacy Toolkit
    • About
      • The Model
      • Values
      • Defining the Terms
      • Opportunities and Challenges
      • Communication
        • Communication Resources
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Source Material
      • Resources
    • Build a Foundation
      • Initiative Leadership
      • Calling a Team
    • Plan
      • Developing Your Plan
      • Theological Grounding
        • Theological Grounding Resources
        • Scripture Resources
    • Discern
      • Gifts Discernment Resources
      • Designing and Facilitating Your Gifts Discernment Workshop
      • Discernment With Our Neighbors
    • Map Assets
      • Individual Asset Map
      • Congregation Asset Map
      • Community Asset Map
      • Mapping Physical Assets
      • Asset Mapping Resources
    • Take Action
      • Discovering Your Dreams or Visions
      • Taking Action Resources
      • Evaluate

Opportunities and Challenges

Engaging the ABCD project is inviting transformation.

And while the opportunities on the other side of this transformation are enormous, the process of reaching these opportunities can uncover challenges to the underlying patterns, beliefs and structures of your faith community, including:

  • Existing leadership models,
  • Long-held community priorities,
  • Desire for a quick-fix or immediate results,
  • Need for a recipe-style approach,
  • Judgement based upon styles or theological beliefs, and
  • Latent discrimination and stereotyping

It’s important to recognize when these challenges are taking place and to respond pastorally to any individual or group reacting strongly to the process. Your Leadership Team will play a critical role in working together to adopt a non-reactive stance and an appropriate response, which may range from one-on-one personal conversations to pausing the process so that you can attend to the situation.

You will find resources throughout this toolkit that may be useful in gaining a deeper understanding of community systems and a developing a process for responding to challenges as they arise.

Through it all, keep in mind that while this may be an unintended and painful reality, on some level these challenges are a normal and predictable part of the process – and can even be seen as an indication that your process is working.

Learn more about this Project

This program represents the intersection of mission and passion embraced by its collaborators and has a shared vision for how this work is important in the life of our communities. Read more from our collaborators about this project:
  • Episcopal Relief and Development
  • Domestic Poverty Office of the Episcopal Church

We also give special thanks to the team at The Beecken Center of the School of Theology at the University of the South who helped facilitate this process and pilot the training.

This program represents the intersection of mission and passion embraced by The Episcopal Church and Episcopal Relief & Development. ©2021 Episcopal Relief & Development and The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, The Episcopal Church, 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017


episcopalchurch.org

www.episcopalrelief.org

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Special thanks to The Beecken Center who helped facilitate this process and pilot the training.
beeckencenter.sewanee.edu

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