For many churches June is often spent reflecting on the prior church year and planning for the next.  As you think about your church’s focus for next year, we hope you will consider RenewalWorks. 

RenewalWorks is a discipleship initiative to re-orient parishes around the goal of growing spiritually - growing in love of God and neighbor. The curriculum includes a guided methodology of self-reflection, sharing, best practices, and workshop discussions. It is based on nearly 15 years of Episcopal research from over 350 churches and 29,000 Episcopal parishioners. The methodology has uncovered key characteristics of flourishing congregations.

More practically, participating Rectors report that completing the RenewalWorks process helps to identify lay leaders and to encourage these individuals to become spiritual leaders. What is the difference between having a church job versus being a spiritual leader?  RenewalWorks provides a framework for contemplating how lay leaders might incorporate spiritual components into their own ministry groups. The process invites them to open their thoughts to how church activities can draw us closer to each other, the broader community, and God. 

Last month I had the opportunity to work on-site with Christ Church, Glendale in Ohio.  In one workshop we had an interesting conversation about the Property Committee’s winter work of shoveling snow to clear walkways.  Everyone agreed this was an important and necessary task but wondered how this ministry could be seen as a thank-offering to the parish and to God.  As a result of the conversation, the senior warden plans to acknowledge that Committee’s thank-offering with the entire congregation.  Committee members will be invited to share, through testimonials, why this work is important to them and is ultimately an expression of their faith.

In another church, the RenewalWorks Facilitator decided to begin including a simple lay-led bible reflection into the weekly Prayer Shawl/Knitting Circle group.  She used Forward Movement’s Prayer app to access the daily readings.  In each session a different member would prepare and lead the bible reflection.  The Facilitator reported that this small change completely transformed the focus of that group. 

This spring two RenewalWorks churches had small groups that included active dinner groups. To date they had not incorporated a spiritual practice into these dinners.  RenewalWorks participants wondered how adding a prompt for deeper conversation might create a venue for deeper connection.  For the fall, both will look to provide evangelism cards as a conversation prompt. It’s a small change, but also an opportunity to share our stories and grow in relationship to each other.

The above are examples of how RenewalWorks creates an environment for lay and clergy to jointly examine current church groups and activities.  Does your church view ministries as a way to deepen relationships with each other and God?

Come join us this fall to start the discovery.  We are currently taking registration for our fall 2025 cohort through the end of July.