It’s a decision every church will probably face:
When and how do we close the doors?
Like our lives, individual congregations seem to have distinct cycles and were never intended to last forever. For example, the churches St. Paul started two millennia ago are all closed and we can hardly fault Paul as a lousy church planter.
So what are the signs we may be nearing the end? How do we approach the delicate conversation of closing? What should the conversation look like? And what do we need to do to end well?
In this class, noted author and consultant Thomas Bandy, who has worked with hundreds of congregations on this very subject, shares the ins and outs of identifying, coping with, and implementing the final chapters of a congregation’s life.
This class discusses:
-When churches should consider closing
-The Four Critical Questions every church needs to address when considering closure
-How to lay down a fleece – or take a litmus test that can indicate closure
-The 5 keys to faithful ending
-The ‘Real Legacy’ of the church
-How to walk through the final moments with grace and hope.
Tom Bandy has 25 years pastoral experience, in three denominations and has served as the National Officer for Congregational Mission and Evangelism for the United Church of Canada.
Tom’s expertise comes from his background of philosophical theology in which he holds a doctoral degree. He has lectured in the theology of culture, ethics, adult faith formation, and future mission and is also a member in the American Academy of Religion. Tom consults with congregations for church growth with topics such as volunteer empowerment, evangelism and other areas regarding a move in transformation.
This class is perfect for a small group of church leaders, like the church board, vestry, or session. It includes a downloadable 72 minute video teaching, downloadable e-Book, as well as a worksheet to accompany the video. This is a great way to initiate or add to the difficult but needful conversation churches have around ending. And if you’re not completely satisfied, I’ll give you your money back.
