ECF Successfully Completes Boot Camp II in Atlanta, GA
As part of the Episcopal Church Foundation’s (ECF) Lilly Endowment Initiative “From Economic Challenges to Transformational Opportunities,” ECF, in collaboration with the Church Pension Group (CPG), hosted a second Boot Camp on June 8-10th, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. This conference follows a very successful pilot Boot Camp in October last year. Read more about Boot Camp I here.
This three-day intensive event, designed specifically for newer clergy and lay leaders, focuses on how to work collaboratively, while practically addressing the financial, leadership and strategic challenges in congregational life. In Boot Camp II participants came from 14 churches, representing ten dioceses from Province IV. The event was held in the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. The teams of three (rector, vestry member and emerging lay leader) from each church learned a variety of tools, resources and information to better equip them as leaders in their church to face the challenges of congregational ministry in the 21st century. Staff and consultants from ECF and CPG led workshops and presentations covering a wide array of topics such as, visioning and planning, parish finance, risk management, Vital Teams, and stewardship.
This unique Boot Camp experience seeks to build congregational vitality and growth by bringing teams together, encouraging strategic focus, providing access to practical resources, studying the impact of results and ensuring ongoing support for sustainability. Participants leave with concrete next steps and an ECF coaching program to guide them over the next six months in their ministry.
During the 3-year Lilly grant, Boot Camp is in the process of being evaluated for further development.