Congregational Development - Fresh Start

Fresh Start is a joint program of the Episcopal Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, and the Lower Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. It seeks to strengthen the relationships among clergy, congregations, and dioceses/synods during the critical periods of transition in clergy leadership in the congregation.

NEW:  Upcoming Diocesan Fresh Start Dates and facilitators: 

Monday, September 24
Monday, October 22
Monday, December 3

All meetings begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 1:30 p.m.  and are held in the Pennsylvania United Church Center, 900 S. Arlington Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17109-5024

Facilitators:

The Rev. Virginia J. Cover
Assistant to the Bishop, Lower Susquehanna Synod
E-mail vcover@lss-elca.org

The Rev. Robyn Szoke
Canon for Children and Youth Ministry, Diocese of Central PA
E-mail rszoke@diocesecpa.org

Higher purpose:

* assisting with the transition and transformation issues inherent in any new ministry;
* •sharpening the skills for congregational development;
•* strengthening the collegial relationships among the clergy of a diocese and Lower Susquehanna Synod of the ELCA; and
•* deepening the trust and interconnectedness between the clergy, congregations and Bishop/Bishop's staff.

Who Should Attend? 

For clergy in new cures and their congregations who seek to strengthen the relationships among Episcopal clergy, congregations, and dioceses during critical periods of transition in clergy leadership and lay leadership of the congregation.

Core modules are:
-- Entering a New System
-- History-Sharing and Understanding
-- Transition

New Modules will include:

Dialogue: Searching for Common Ground
Introduce the concept of dialogue and how it can be used to help people with profound differences stay in relationship.

Leading Planned Change
Participants reflect upon their readiness for change, as well as the readiness of their congregations, and to see how well they are doing in following the basic steps needed for change to be effectively implemented.

Topic: Leadership of Our Times
This module explores the authority of leadership, the changing environment within which we live, and how to respond given the type of challenges being faced.

Conflict Module I and II and III: Conflict Management To deepen participants’ understanding of conflict and provide ideas and tools they can use in managing conflict effectively.

For more information contact The Rev. Canon Robyn Szoke 717-236-5959 rszoke@diocesecpa.org