This PDF contains three workshops for those working specialized ministry.

In December, 2008, 35 members of specialized ministries in The Presbyterian Church in Canada gathered for a four-day conference at Crieff Hills Community, in Ontario. This booklet is a distillation of that time they spent with their leaders.

Workshop 1: Visioning and strategic planning

The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18, KJV). The first workshop, Visioning and Strategic Planning for Your Ministry/Organization, presented by the Rev. Dr. Rick Horst, was based on Kennon Callahan’s book, Twelve Keys to an Effective Church (Jossey-Bass, 1997).

Workshop 2: Governance

Congregations are adept at leadership through a model which has its roots in the Protestant Reformation (or even the Bible) where elders form a session to provide a caring governing structure. However, most of the specialized ministries in our denomination (Christian day care, camps, inner-city ministry, boarding house ministries, supportive housing, and so on) use a board structure. This workshop, led by the Rev. John Henderson, looks at some general features – whether a board or session – of good governance.

Workshop 3: Fundraising and planned giving

The Bible – and Jesus – both have a great deal to say about money and our attitudes towards money. This workshop, with the Revs. Herb Gale and Kirk Summers, along with Heather deSilva, explores principles and planning for fundraising and planned giving.

Video

The accompanying video from the Specialized Ministry Conference can be found at www.presbyterian.ca/specializedministry. This video will be referred to for viewing several times in this booklet.