In the book, Signs of Life, author and RenewalWorks founder Jay Sidebotham discusses the best practice principles that emerged from RenewalWorks data on the most spiritually vital congregations.  These congregations, those that present in the top 5% of the database do not share a denomination, or a location, or size. Instead, they do share a commitment to five best practices. One of those practices we call, "The Heart of the Leader" and it is particularly critical for episcopalian churches as they seek to foster spiritual growth (a deeper love of God and neighbor) within their congregations.

The Heart of the Leader emphasizes that the spiritual vitality of a community is deeply influenced by the inner life and authenticity of its leaders. A leader's personal connection with God, rooted in prayer, self-reflection, and spiritual discipline, sets the tone for the entire congregation. Leaders who model humility, integrity, and a genuine commitment to their faith, will through their actions inspire others to engage more deeply in their spiritual journeys. By cultivating a healthy, vibrant spiritual life themselves, leaders can more effectively guide their communities and foster an environment where faith can thrive and grow.

For many churches that we work with, when we discuss the Heart of the Leader, the workshop team assumes we are taking about the clergy.  A key piece of the RenewalWorks process however is awakening the lay to their role as spiritual leaders.

How would a church community look if everyone saw themselves as a leader? Does the lay leadership see themselves as a committee chair with a task to be completed or is their work a ministry and an offering to God? How can lay leadership model discipleship and love of God and neighbor? What spiritual practices do you engage outside of Sunday worship?

This spring RenewalWorks worked with Christ Episcopal Church in Dayton, Ohio.  The church completed RenewalWorks focused on encouraging/exploring daily and weekly spiritual practices amongst parishioners beginning with their leadership. RenewalWorks lay Facilitator Gary Kuziensky began to explore daily bible reflection as a spiritual discipline and ultimately settled on using Forward Day by Day. The practice became important to him especially as he began to layout the RenewalWorks workshop team’s final report to the vestry.  In his own words he wrote,

“I am grateful for the idea Neil Kumar planted in Forward Day by Day that the church he visited in Poland when he was between high school and college was a beautiful example for how the community makes disciples. 

I did some research and arrived at a concept that I am going to use for our parish presentation on the results of our RenewalWorks process - Brick-by-Brick Discipleship. Instead of telling the parish that they are complacent, I can give them an illustration of what can be done if we build disciples brick-by-brick just as the Day-VII churches were built in Poland. I love and care for the people of Christ Church and I think it will get people moving.”

We invite you to read the May 15,2025 Forward Day by Day reflection written by Father Neil Raman which inspired Gary.  And you may also view the video Gary created to summarize the RenewalWorks process to Christ Church’s congregation-wide gathering here.  We hope it inspires you to examine your role as a spiritual leader as well as your own spiritual practices.

Loren Dixon
Director of RenewalWorks, a ministry of Forward Movement