Healthy Church Initiative
Who or What is Healthy Church Initiative?
The Healthy Church Initiative (HCI) is a process designed to transform churches. Our focus is on providing resources and strategies to church pastors, staff, laity, and congregations so that they in turn will be able to reach new people for Christ and become the church God wants them to be in their community.
General Information about the HCI
The Healthy Church Initiative is a process to transform existing local churches through continuous learning communities. The centerpiece of HCI is the Pastoral Leadership Development Group (PLD), a voluntary, peer learning experience for pastors that involves professional coaching, in-depth reading, and mutual support that gives pastors tools for training laity and helps pastors develop strategies and skills for congregational transformation. We have launched a pilot PLD group. This summer, laity from the churches with their pastor in the PLD will be invited to a retreat to “catch up” with the pastors. We will then move forward together, complete our learning for this phase of the process.
There are three main components to this process:
1. Continuous Learning - for both pastors and laity leaders
2. Coaching - for both the pastors during the continuous learning programs and for the whole church after the consultation
3. Consultation - an onsite visit with trained consultants to identify strengths, concerns, and provide prescriptions to address those areas of concern.
Introduction to the HCI Process
Kay Kotan will provide an overview of the HCI process, focusing specifically on the needs of the small membership church. Kay is a certified coach, speaker, and author.
The process for small membership churches includes meeting together on a bi-monthly basis in order to learn more about the issues surrounding church health. Both laity and clergy meet together with a group of four to six other churches with similar needs. After completing the learning process, churches will be provided with an opportunity to come together to determine specific next steps during a consultation event in their church. Coaches support the entire process. Larger churches follow a similar process. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Training for Facilitators of the Process
Quality leadership is necessary to create the conditions for maximum HCI effectiveness. Ken Willard will teach facilitation process skills. Ken is a certified church consultant, speaker and author. Attendance is by invitation.
Training for the Necessary Administrative Processes
Process administration is a key component for a successful HCI program. David Hyatt will provide guidance to form a systematic administrative structure that both links the components and tracks individual progress. David has served as pastor for 26 years, is one of the creators of the HCI process, and coordinates the coaching process within the overall HCI process. Attendance is by invitation.
Take it to the next level...
Some congregations step beyond PLD to the next level of HCI which involves a weekend congregational consultation. A team of trained consultants meet with staff and laity for in-depth analysis, discussion, and teaching to arrive at key congregational prescriptions for change that leads to growth. Churches who accept the recommendations receive on-going congregational coaching. There is also a lay teaching component to the Healthy Church Initiative called Lay Leadership Development Group (LLD). The purpose of the LLD Group is to train laity using readings and group discussions to support and complement the Pastoral Leadership Development Group. The Healthy Church Initiative provides a process that strengthens pastoral effectiveness, improves clergy moral, deepens our connection, and enhances skills for ministry.
