Working with a Collaboration Coach
Almost every successful merger has found it essential to use an outside coach or consultant to facilitate the process of merger. An outside party brings both fairness and objectivity to the process. An experienced consultant can help you avoid mistakes and keep the process on track.
Non-merger collaborations can also benefit from a coach to help the churches avoid an endless cycle of meetings. An experienced consultant can help your collaboration avoid the pitfalls that have led to frustration with other similar collaborations.
Staff members from your denomination may be available to serve in the roles of facilitator and consultant, or they may have recommendations of qualified individuals.
David
Raymond of ChurchFuture has served as a facilitator and consultant with
a number of congregational collaborations. More information about
Raymond and how he works is at
www.churchfuture.com.
The ChurchFuture site also describes "Discovery Workshops" that Raymond has led for a conference or group of churches that want to look at all the options and possibilities available to congregations today, especially those that are struggling.
Raymond can be reached at Dave@churchfuture.com or 612-227-0526.
(Photo by Adam Bost, Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA)