Behavioral Covenants in Congregations: A Handbook for Honoring Differences

by Gil Rendle senior vice president, Texas Methodist Foundation; author of Doing the Math

Overview

This down-to-earth workbook gets to the heart of modern congregational life: how to live creatively together despite differences of age, race, culture, opinion, gender, theological or political position. Alban Senior Consultant Gil Rendle explains how to grow by valuing our differences rather than trying to ignore or blend them. He describes a method of establishing behavioral covenants that includes leadership instruction, training tools, resources (visual models, examples of specific covenants), small-group exercises, plans for meetings and retreats.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781566992091
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	07/01/1998
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	148
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.40(d)

About the Author

Gil Rendle is a senior consultant with the Alban Institute. An ordained Methodist clergyperson with 15 years in parish ministry, he has extensive experience as a congregational and judicatory consultant, focusing on organizational development and systems theory.

Table of Contents

Introduction vii

Chapter 1 Understanding Uncivil Behavior-The Bigger Picture 1

Chapter 2 The Leader's Response 28

Chapter 3 Behavioral Covenants-Holy Manners for a Faith Community 50

Chapter 4 From Understanding to Action-Modules for Working with Leaders 63

Module I Leadership Retreat-One and a Half Days 64

Module II Leadership Retreat-One Day 74

Module III Board or Committee Meetings 82

Module IV Leadership Team-Four Meetings 86

Resource Section 95

Introduction 97

Resource A Holy Manners: The Spiritual Politeness of Healthy Congregations 99

Resource B Gathering 112

Resource C Guidelines for Our Work Together 114

Resource D Centering Bible Study 116

Resource E Examples of Unhealthy Congregational Norms 118

Resource F Healthy versus Unhealthy Conflict Index 120

Resource G Behavioral Covenant Example-For a Governing Board 122

Resource H Behavioral Covenant Example-For a Congregation during a Time of Trouble 124

Resource I Behavioral Covenant Example-For Staff 126