WHAT WE DO

Partnership for ReNEWal is a not for profit agency dedicated to move beyond surviving to thriving. We partner with congregations of all shapes and sizes to tackle the unique and difficult issues facing modern churches, from attendance and financial solvency to community connection and ministry. PfR takes a mission-first approach. We believe that churches find the most success when they focus on serving others, therefore, our facilitators help churches identify and embrace their divine purpose, formulate a ministry-based plan of action, and translate that into real world results with a sustainable model for being church in the world today.

Full Vestry/Church Leadership Retreat

Our focus at PfR is on clarifying your church’s current mission direction, which is discerned using exercises grounded in Scripture and the core values of the leadership God has brought together in this moment at your church. Our efforts focus on facilitating true servant leadership among the vestry, clergy, staff; and members - the kind Jesus spoke about in Luke: “…the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.” (22:26).  When this transformative shift actually happens, the church is set free from the culturally supported habit of acting like a “holy” non-profit, a habit which, we believe, has been hampering the Church for decades from achieving its true mission: making disciples who help usher in the reign of God. (Mt 28:19)

The full 10-hour retreat includes Phases 1 and 2 as described below.
Phase 1 is usually held in two parts, e.g. Friday evening from 6 - 9 pm, then Sat 9 - 4 (or so). 
Phase 2 is led by the church leadership at a time of their choosing. We support as needed.
The cost for the full retreat is: $2500 (plus expenses) ​

Phase 1:
​Leadership Development

1.1 - Core values & Servant-Leadership

Building leadership among all members in the church; serving as Christ modeled for us.
Church: not just another non-profit. The retreat begins with introductions of participants, clarifying the core values and spiritual gifts of the present leadership as individuals establishing a foundation of self-knowledge and awareness of the gifts God has drawn together in them for the purpose of leading the church in this moment of its life.

​The focus then moves to servant leadership following the example of Jesus. A Scripture-based facilitated process assists participants in thinking deeply about who and where they currently are and opens them to begin to listen prayerfully to where they are being led to go.

1.2 - Evangelism as a Spiritual Practice

Reclaiming Evangelism as sharing Good News -the Episcopal way! Evangelism is a spiritual practice because it leads us closer to God and one another – well, it should anyway. Evangelism has long been co-opted by zealots and religious control mongers, which may be why Episcopalians shy away from what’s out there. At PfR we take a different approach that is grounded in our tradition and effective – with no thumping of Bibles! Using an exercise that frees church leaders from the coercive and fear-based approach to evangelism, PfR invites church leaders to restore evangelism to its original meaning: sharing Good News, then we practice how to make it so. ​Includes a review of in-church and online presence. Website development/consulting when needed

1.3 - STEWARDSHIP AS MINISTRY - S.E.O.L © 

Enouraging a transformed understanding
of Stewardship, this workshop includes a
Vestry Leadership Stewardship Covenant
and a 90 Day Microstrategy for ministry planning (additional 90 DMSs - if time is reserved for it) PfR offers a curriculum we developed entitled, The Stewardship of the Entirety of Our Lives © (SEOL). We journey deeply together into a transformed understanding of stewardship that leads beyond the notion of an annual pledge drive and focuses on year-round stewardship of the resources already present, but perhaps undiscovered or underutilized, in the congregation.  SEOL includes attention to the care and nurture of our spiritual, physical and mental health, our time, financial affairs, relationships and communities, and creation/the environment. This concludes with the development of a church leadership stewardship covenant, using Scripture as the guide. This covenant is taken back to the congregation to share the transformed understanding, language, and approach to stewardship including and going beyond the annual pledge drive.

​Participants learn and practice a tried-and-true tool, adapted by PfR for church use,  that brings the concepts discussed into concrete action steps towards accomplishing sustainable goals. Participants choose one of their own needs for practicing this tool, e.g., increasing pledge income, improving communications, or starting a new ministry.

1.4 - CREATING A DIVINE PURPOSE STATEMENT

The application of transformed listening and visioning skills, this segment includes the creation of a Divine Purpose Statement for publishing (discernment that generates a current vision-to-action statement). We believe that churches are called to shape the future rather than just simply surviving and/or grinding through an ever-evolving present. We believe that what we co-create is going to be different, better, and it will not mean going back to the conditions and the way we operated in previous times. Using Scripture and prayer to guide the process. the PfR facilitators invite the leadership to cast a vision for the congregation by creating a Divine Purpose statement which answers the question: why are we here…what is God’s purpose for us as a parish in this moment?

Phase 2:
Community Matters

Connecting members' gifts to church ministries.

COMMUNITY MATTERS

Discerning the spiritual gifts in your church community:

​Phase Two welcomes all members of the parish community - including the children - to discern and apply their unique gifts toward their shared divine purpose. We have found this workshop is best done in-person.

2.1 - Spiritual Gifts Assessment

This part of the process explores the richness and diversity of the community's present identity as individuals of all ages, experiences, and perspectives. Tools for spiritual gifts assessment along with a pictorial approach for younger children to facilitate discovery of the spiritual gifts present in the whole community. This session allows for quiet time (for the introspective who need that) as well as active movement (for the kinetic and squirmier members). The spiritual gifts inventories may be completed ahead of the in-person gathering when time is limited.

2.2 - Connecting Gifts to Ministry

This session reviews the patterns revealed by the list of spiritual gifts present in the whole community, connects them to the core values of the community, and are connected to the mission and ministries of the parish. This sometimes point to ministries and/or institutional structures that need to be birthed or adapted so that the current gifts have a means for expression.

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Scholarships are available. Contact Valori.

Or...  do Phase 1 - one module at a time

While the full retreat has the greatest impact for renewing church vitality, each module moving toward the Divine Purpose, we also offer each part of the retreat as an individual workshop.

All workshops and retreats begin with a  Spiritual Gifts and Core Values assessment, review, and report. Learning HOW to listen for the voice of God in the congregation and among its members is vital to renewal.

Individual workshops generally last between 2 to 4 hours. The time depends on how much time each church needs in conversation. Costs are listed below.

1. Servant Leadership
               (2 hours):   $375 

​​3. Stewardship as Year-Long Ministry
              (4 hours):   $750

2. Evangelism As a Spiritual Practice
                 (3 hours):   $575

​4. Divine Purpose
                (2 hours):   $375

*Note: For workshops and retreats conducted in person, mileage is  charged at current IRS rate.
Meals and accommodation expenses are charged at cost.
​​Hybrid and online versions are available to help alleviate costs.

Years 2 and 3

While the initial Two-Phase process stands on its own, PfR recognizes that congregations are living, breathing organisms that need continuous nurturing in order to thrive. Years 2 & 3 are the maintenance years of the process. At your annual parish retreat, annual meeting, or similar, PfR Facilitators will assist in revitalizing and refocusing leadership in the PfR model. This includes reviewing module(s) as requested, providing new content continuing the work from year 1, orienting new vestry members or church leadership, and continuing to refine the vision moving forward.  Costs are determined at a per-hour rate plus expenses.

ADDITIONAL WORKSHOP OFFERINGS

As a follow-up to the first two-phases, we offer a variety of workshops on mission/ministry, finance, prayer, relationship-building, and other relevant topics. These workshops provide continuing support for the "new way" of being church. A few examples are below (click the + to read more). We are also able to create custom workshops on topics specific to your church.  Cost: $185/hr plus expenses - one facilitator only.

MISSION IN THE LOCAL CONTEXT 

​This 4-hour seminar engages participants in an intentional review of your current core values, local demographics and how your ministry and mission are in harmony with your church’s divine purpose. Once clear on that, a tool is taught and utilized to provide concrete, short-term steps for accomplishing your mission goals. ​

new ministry startup

​This 3-hour seminar offers a comprehensive review of the core values driving the start-up, the needs of your local context, the assets available or needed to meet those needs, and utilizes a tried and true tool for moving from dream to successful ministry.

MISSIONAL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT

This 2-hour seminar facilitates a mission-centered approach to the budget which becomes a tool for stewardship of the fullness of the gifts present in the parish. Group discussion of servant-leadership, stewardship, and the current expenditures of the budget enables the facilitator to work with the vestry/leadership to fit the entire budget into four missional categories then create a visual and narrative explanation to share with the membership. This seminar offers a concrete follow-up to the SEOL curriculum and is especially suited for Treasurers and Finance Committees. ​

HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT MONEY

​We need to be able to talk to individuals in our church communities about money and its stewardship, yet many clergy and lay leaders in the Church find that difficult. Using discussion and role-play, this half-day seminar is designed to help a rector and her/his chosen lay leader to achieve a level of comfort and ease when talking to people about money. This 4-hour seminar is a natural next component of the Stewardship of the Entirety of Our Lives © (SEOL) initiative.

CONTEMPLATIVE RETREAT

Nothing Short of Everything
​This 4-hour seminar engages Scripture and the discipline of contemplative prayer to build relationship and community among vestries, ministry teams, and committees, breathing new and harmonious life into stale ministries or groups experiencing the start of  conflict or the consequences of previous conflict. 

THE BASICS OF GRANTWRITING

This 3-hour seminar offers basic how-to information: how to find a grant, how to write a grant, how to write a grant budget, how to keep documentation for the grant, and how to report to the grantor. ​

INTERIM INTERVENTION

Many churches may be hamstrung by unresolved systems issues following a clergy transition. This 4-hour workshop, designed and led by a certified interim, enables the church to move freely into its present divine purpose and invest in the short and long-term health of the parish and its rector. ​

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much time will it take?
The full Leadership Retreat (Phase 1) takes 10 hours and is usually completed over 2-3 days. Phase 2 brings in the entire church community and takes 1-2 hours. This often works best as part of a parish retreat or event.

Can we complete the process online?
Both Phases can be conducted in person or online. Phase 2 often works better in person due to the involvement of children, while conducting Phase 1 online can be a helpful way to cut down on expenses.

What if we need additional support?
Engaging with PfR means establishing a long-term relationship. Email, phone, and Zoom support is always available. In addition, follow-up workshops can be scheduled as needed. Choose from our menu of existing workshops, or work with PfR to create a bespoke workshop tailored to your specific needs. 

What if the process is out of our budget?
There are a few ways to reduce costs: 1)  conduct the process online, eliminating travel expenses; 2) do a portion of the full retreat as a workshop;  3) scholarship funds. While the availability of scholarship funding varies, PfR is almost always able to accommodate the needs of any diocese or parish. You will have the opportunity to inquire about scholarship funding during the registration process.

Who conducts the events?
All events are conducted by a Renewal Team of trained and licensed PfR facilitators or by PfR's founder and Executive Director, Rev. Dr. Valori Mulvey Sherer.

Can I become a PfR facilitator?
Engaged congregations and dioceses have the opportunity to nominate candidates to become licensed PfR facilitators as part of their initial engagement process. Individuals wishing to become trained as facilitators can apply directly.