How to become a Community of Shalom:
Within your congregation's community there are opportunities for:
·
economic development
·strengthened multicultural relationships
·health, healing, and wholeness
·spiritual development
If your congregation has a desire and commitment to strengthen the community and work for SHALOM in your neighborhood, you may want to apply to become a Community of Shalom and join the expanding network.
Counting the Cost:
Becoming a Community of Shalom requires judicatory endorsemnet, shalom training, and an approved Plan. In order to schedule training, applications from three sites, each with at least eight members, are required. Training occurs one Saturday a month for five months.
Following are the basic steps:
I. Complete a Communities of Shalom Application form, which can be downloaded here:
This application should be completed only after your local church leadership has committed to support a Shalom site within your community. The congregation/church council should be aware of the goals of Communities of Shalom and express a willingness to embrace ministry that includes community development. When assessing your congregation's willingness, be sure to review each part of the application and discuss it within the church's leadership. Research other churches, businesses, and organizations in the community to establish interest and partnering opportunities.
II. Complete and mail the Communities of Shalom application to your Conference Connectional Ministries office for approval.
If your annual conference has already had Shalom training and Shalom sites have been established, your application should be mailed to the Conference Shalom Coordinator. If you are uncertain about who is fulfilling this responsibility, mail the application to the Connectional Ministries Director.
III. Three or more congregations within the annual conference should make application in order for the Conference Connectional Ministries office to submit the joint applications to the Shalom Resource Center at Drew University.
The Shalom training is a five to six month process involving one Saturday per month over a designated period. The effectiveness of the training depends largely upon a committed group of participants. Training is a significant investment of resources and the intent is to maximize the benefits of the investment by making the training available to as many as possible; a minimum of three separate Shalom sites, each with at least eight Shalom team members, are required before the training program can begin. An informational meeting may be requested during the group formation process. Additionally, the networking that results between the participating Shalom sites is extremely beneficial as sites initiate community ministry in their respective communities.
IV. Local sites assign a Site Coordinator and begin to develop relationships with individuals, agencies, other churches and organizations within the community that share concerns for community development. Local sites will then begin to share information with community and congregational partners.
The site coordinator is generally selected during the training. It is helpful to select an individual who has a presence in the community and working relationships with groups, organizations and businesses that may be involved in the Shalom work. The pastor's support is vital to the success of a Shalom site; however, it may be in the best interest of both the pastor and the Initiative if the site coordinator's role is not borne by him/her, but by another congregational or community leader.
V. The Annual Conference may develop a Conference Shalom Team and appoint a Conference Shalom Coordinator.
The Shalom Initiative is not a program with a specified duration. It involves on-going work that will address the changing needs of communities and congregations. A committed, defined annual conference leadership support team should be organized to resource the work of Shalom across the conference. Participation on this team should be identified relative to interest in and sensitivity to the many issues that the Shalom Initiative embraces; skills, membership and influence in areas of community organizing, fund raising, economic development, racial and cultural diversity; leadership role and recognition within the church and community; a long term commitment; and a willingness to be an advocate for those whose conditions in life are the core reason for the Shalom Initiative. This conference Shalom team will serve in a number of capacities and assist the conference coordinator and the site coordinators in securing human, financial and physical resources to accomplish the work of Shalom.
The appointment of and participation of the conference coordinator is a vital component of the entire preparatory and training process. No activity, beyond an initial consultation, can be accomplished without this individual's involvement. Conference leadership is encouraged to give focused deliberation in assigning this responsibility with attention to identified gifts and graces (as outlined in the Roles and Responsibilities of the Conference Coordinator); and length of assignment as the needs of evolving Shalom sites require training, developmental guidelines, on-going orientation for additional Shalom team members and other activities that can best be accomplished through sustained team building.
VI. Upon receipt of the application to the Director - Communities of Shalom and approval by the National Shalom Committee, a Senior Program Associate is assigned to hold an Initial Consultation to share more information; test the level of readiness of the Conference and prospective sites; and set a schedule for the training.
The Senior Program Associate will work with the Conference Shalom Coordinator to facilitate the five training sessions. Senior Program Associates represent a pivotal part of the overall preparation and maintenance of the Shalom Initiative. The senior program associates are persons recruited from across the country whose experiences, skills, commitment, and overall gifts advance the purpose and goals of Communities of Shalom. The Initial Consultation is 2-3 hour information sharing with annual conference leadership and pastors and laity from interested congregations. This session outlines the responsibilities of each participating role throughout the planning and implementing of the training. It provides a forum for questions and answers so that all are aware of the process and individual and collective responsibilities. This session is an opportunity for the annual conference leadership and prospective Shalom sites to meet the Communities of Shalom -Director and/or the Senior Program Associate assigned to the task of facilitating training and serving as a resource to the annual conference. The Initial Consultation is a critical first step to determine the readiness to begin the training process.
In order for the Communities of Shalom Initiative to be most effective in the Conference, it will require the support of the Bishop, District Superintendents, Conference Connectional Ministries Director and other conference leadership with spiritual, financial and human resources. It will require the Conference to:
·designate effective leadership for coordinating the Shalom effort;
·make available resources across the Conference to assist in the initial and on-going stages of Shalom; and
·disseminate preliminary information describing the Shalom Initiative.
Public relations and communication are an invaluable component in launching any new ministry. The sharing of information across the conference as well as the individual communities where the Shalom sites will be developed will be of enormous benefit. Often, there are potential sites that are unaware of the Initiative being undertaken in the annual conference, and as a result are left out of the training. Every effort is encouraged to promote and inform prospective local churches so that participation is an equitable opportunity.
