The week of April 23-27, 2018 Episcopal House hosted an Appreciative Interim Ministry Training facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Rob Voyle, director of The Clergy Leadership Institute. Twenty-six Episcopal clergy from the dioceses of Newark, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and a UCC Minister from Northern NJ braved the traffic each day to experience and learn a “way of ‘being’ and ‘seeing’ in the world that leads to positive life-giving ways of ‘doing’.” The second half of the week provided participants with an Appreciative Inquiry based understanding of the work of congregational transformation and transition (or interim) ministry including working with grief, resentment, and forgiveness.
Clergy commented that they felt especially resourced in applying appreciative principles with the people in their congregations, “I have clarity around allowing people to be who they are.” One person was reminded, “I have to look for the value in each person and in their mission.”
As we continue to resource our clergy and our laity as leaders in the work of joining God in shaping our future, we need to remember this comes from a sense of passion, delight, freedom and joy as God’s people.
