Tag Archives: workshop

Discernment Doctor Workshop

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

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The Massachusetts Episcopal Clergy Association is sponsoring a Discernment Doctor Workshop on May 1 at Trinity Church in Stoughton, MA, a suburb southwest of Boston, easily accessible from I-95 and Route 24. See the attached flyer for registration information. Clergy from outside of the Diocese of Massachusetts are welcome.

The workshop is entitled, “Preparing your Portfolio” and will delve into the mysteries of the OTM Portfolio. My question for you, good readers, is what other topics would you like to see covered in a discernment workshop that runs five hours, including lunch and coffee breaks? I cannot cover all the topics covered in this blog in that period. What parts of the discernment process would you like help with?

workshop-flyer-6.pdf

Discernment Doctor Workshop

09 Tuesday Oct 2012

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Dear readers,

Sorry to be away from the blog for a while, but we have been dealing with a terribly sad and unnecessary tragedy at Old North in the last few weeks that led to the untimely death of one of my colleagues.  I cannot comment publicly on the situation other than to say do not believe what you read in the press.   I can also commend my congregation as a wonderful, caring group of Episcopalians who are pastoring to each other and to me in the kindest and most creative ways imaginable.

The Massachusetts Episcopal Clergy Association is sponsoring a day long workshop, featuring your truly, at Christ Church, Plymouth, MA, on Thursday, December 13 from 9:00 until 3:00.   The workshop is entitled, “Preparing your Portfolio; a workshop to help you navigate your way through the “new” discernment process”  The fee, including lunch, is $25.  I am sure clergy from other dioceses will be welcome.  For more information contact: the Rev. Robert Hensley, Grace Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1197, Vineyard Haven, MA 02568.

I am available, from time to time, to lead workshops like this for travel expenses and a small honorarium.  If you would like to bring me to your diocese or seminary, please e-mail me at: stephentayres@gmail.com.

I am trying to find the time to write a blog in honor of the Red Sox by asking the question, “If you were to blow up the discernment process and start afresh, what parts would you trade to Los Angeles, what parts would you keep, and what new players would your seek?”  Your comments are welcome.

Discernment Doctor and Appreciative Inquiry Workshops in May 2012

13 Monday Feb 2012

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The Clergy Leadership Institute will be offering my Clergy Career Development workshop from May 23 to May 25 at Adelynrood Conference Center in Byfield, MA (north of Boston.)  The workshop will be one elective in a weeklong series of workshops.  From May 21 to 23 an Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry workshop will be led by Rob Voyle.  From May 23 to May 25, three electives are offered: one for interim clergy, one for search committee consultants, and one for clergy in or contemplating entering a job search.

Registration information for all four workshops can be found here.  Brief descriptions of each follow.

Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry is our foundational appreciative inquiry program that introduces people not only to Appreciative Inquiry but also to the Appreciative Way. All of our other programs are built on the philosophy and practice of appreciative inquiry.

In this 2.5 day workshop participants will:

  • Gain an in depth understanding of Appreciative Inquiry
  • Conduct an appreciative inquiry into their own ministry
  • Appreciatively review and develop your personal mission
  • Learn practical appreciative tools to apply in your ministry
  • Discover positive alternatives to viewing the church as dysfunctional

Clergy Career Development, led by Steve Ayres, teaches clergy how to use the self-knowledge identified during the Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry to shape their vocational journey and to seek a new call.  The material outlined in “The Five Steps in the Discernment Process”, published earlier in this blog, will be covered in depth with individual hands on guidance from the Discernment Doctor (yours truly.) Bring copies of your resumes, TMO portfolios and other search documents for review.

Intro to Transitional Ministry, led by Rob Voyle, equips clergy for the specialized ministries of interim and priest in charge.  Appreciative Interim Ministry or AIM pays particular attention to what the Transitional Minister “aims” for during the interim time. Rather than relying on a “one size fits all” formula for interim ministry AIM provides an incarnational way to join a congregation and develop a unique ministry for each ministry setting.

Some of the training topics will include:

  • Establishing Goals for the Interim Time
  • The Incarnational Ministry Fractal
  • Joining the System
  • Assessing Congregational Performance
  • Developing Vision, Purpose and Plan
  • Identifying Resources, Moving From Problems to Solutions
  • Responding to Grief
  • Growing Collaboration
  • Leaving Strategies

Clergy Search Consulting, led by Kim Voyle uses the Appreciative Inquiry revision of Assessing Skills and Discerning Calls by Drs. Robert and Kim Voyle.

In this 2.5 day workshop participants will learn how to use the appreciative inquiry approach when conducting clergy searches including how to:

  • Assess congregational needs during the search and transition
  • Conduct a congregation-wide AI summit
  • Create a parish profile
  • Establish criteria for assessing a pastor
  • Create a consensus scoring process for reviewing clergy competencies
  • Use appreciative interviewing strategies
  • Develop and assess performance on simulated ministry exercises
  • Develop congregation specific discernment exercises