Tag: Rev. Dr. Todd Grant Yonkman

Posted in Change Management, Church Growth & Vitality, Contracting and Negotiating Before Beginning, Entering and Engaging the Congregation, Is Interim Ministry for Me?, Managing Expectations Tagged with

12 min 09 s

Rev. Dr. Todd Grant Yonkman

  • Why setting expectations is critical & how to do it
  • How the metaphor of “Midwife” for the transition pastor can clarify roles and responsibilities
  • The church you were is not the church you are going to be…
  • What are you willing to let go of to get what you most want?
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Posted in Church Decline, Church Growth & Vitality, External Relations, Faith Formation, LGBTQ / ONA, Mission and Vision, Social Justice Tagged with

17 min 03 s

Rev. Dr. Todd Grant Yonkman

  • It was a white church with people of color in it, rather than a truly multiracial multicultural model.
  • The message shifted from, You’re welcome if you come to, we want you here.
  • Racial justice work and church vitality work are, in my approach, connected; they go together.
  • Whatever town you are in, there are people of color there that you can build authentic relationships with, and you can do this work!
  • You know the relationship is authentic when you’re inviting their stories and experiences to change you also. Granby Racial Reconciliation;
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Posted in Assessments and Evaluations, Buildings and Property, Change Management, Church Decline, Church Growth & Vitality, Church Mergers, Legacy Churches / Church Closing, Mission and Vision Tagged with

15 min 33 s

Rev. Dr. Todd Grant Yonkman

  • When the energy gets low, churches often don’t know there are other options to closing;
  • Thoughts on various options: merger restart, adoption, consolidation, redevelopment…;
  • Barrier for vitality is shame and blame;
  • Avoiding the “Twin Titanic” model (throwing a rope from one sinking congregation to another);
  • Key to church mergers: learn to love other things together;
  • The challenge of trying to do vitality work and consolidation work at the same;
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Posted in Buildings and Property, Church Decline, Church Growth & Vitality, External Relations, Healing / Grief Work, Legacy Churches / Church Closing, Mission and Vision Tagged with

15 min 33 s

Rev. Dr. Todd Grant Yonkman

  • An inspiring story of a church that sold its building and joined the community;
  • Shift from, “The church is falling apart,” to, “The church is falling open;”
  • Wisdom about the twists and turns of a building sale;
  • The shift from a downsizing to a restart;
  • Selling a building is highly context dependent;
  • Renovating the building without reconnecting with the community is futile;
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