The Sustainist

Holy Currencies and the BBQ

A team of church leaders from Humber Valley United Church, Toronto has been participating in a year-long “Holy Currencies” training program. Before the summer, the team learned to create a “gracious invitation” to invite people from the neighborhood to come to their annual BBQ as an initial effort to build up their currency of relationship. At a subsequent church service, church members were asked to identify five people in our neighbourhood whom, although not members of the church, they are thankful to know.  In addition to delivering invitations to the identified friends outside their church, they also invited the renters of their facilities and bravely went door-to-door inviting their neighbours.Here is the actual invitation and the article written by Donna McCorquodale reporting on the success of the event.

You are invited To a “Friendly Community” all-ages BBQ To Kick off the Fall Season at Humber Valley United Church On Sept. 14, 2014, from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. BBQ and activities both inside “Steed Hall” and outside on the lawn. ***************** At this BBQ we will share our hospitality, our appreciation and our friendship as we enter into a new year together as partners and neighbours in Humber Valley Village and environs. We will share lunch, enjoy some old-fashioned games and tell stories about our lives and times in Humber Valley. HVUC will not recruit new members nor indoctrinate in any way, but we will provide ample opportunity for getting to know each other better. We hope to enhance our relationship around this building and within this wonderful community. Humber Valley United Church 76 Anglesey Blvd. “The Friendly Community Church”

Article by Donna McCorquodale from the October issue of Humber Valley United Church’s newsletter:

Congratulations!”

“What a success!”

“I had my concerns, but it all turned out great!”

Many people approached me after the Fall BBQ with these words!  Thank you, one and all, for working with me on making another whacky idea into a success story. Here is what happened. The word “currency” stems from the same Latin derivative as the word “current”. It means “to flow”.  Without flow there can be no life and our faith will wither on the vine. If we stop putting up obstacles to the expression of our faith, it will flow. So we put our faith outside on the front lawn and opened our doors wide. We delivered personal invitations. We went door to door. We reached out into the community.

During the BBQ “things” flowed. People talked to people. People met new people. The Director of Mom Net met Diana Pace of the Hillside Montesorri School. They needed to talk. One of the representatives of the Camera Club asked Carolyn Whiteside if they could take photos at the Fashion Show and the Vintage Sale. Representatives of Nels Christansen’s campaign party talked with me about the dearth of restaurants and gym facilities in central Etobicoke. Ideas flowed. The Camera Club representatives were interested to hear about the speaker at our Conference who specializes in using photography in worship.     Perhaps they will ask them to speak to their group. We sat down with members of our friends from the True Light Korean Church and got to know each other.  Relationships grew.

We had enough food. The sun shone bright and clear on a perfect early fall day. People invited other people to come to our church with no motive other than to express their gratitude. Jesus did not send forth his disciples to “recruit members for the church” but to love one another as he loves us.  Straight and simple. We put tables and balloons and a giant bouncy dog on the front lawn. We opened our arms wide. And people came in; children played and ran around. People talked and talked; they ate big long hot dogs and delectable field-fresh corn from Saturday’s Civic Centre Market. The community came to the church. We celebrated our blessings together, all together. Let this be a new beginning of ministry, not just to ourselves but to our community. We will demonstrate our Christian faith and we will grow. If you missed this one, don’t worry. There will be more.

(For those considering coming to our Winter Institute in Los Angeles, please notice the date change to March 19-24, 2015.  Due to scheduling of facility issue, we have to move the dates.  We are sorry for the inconvenience that this might create for some of you.)

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: November 16-20, 2014 Memphis, TN Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries January 19-23, 2015 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training I and II Community Transformation I (Offered by the Doctor of Ministry program of Bexley-Seabury Seminary) February 13-14, 2015 Oakland, CA Gracious Leadership Training I KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training (for Gracious Leadership I only) March 19-24, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 21-25, 2015 Sewanee, TN Gracious Leadership Training Missional Ministries in the Grace Margin (Register with Sewanee School of Theology, Beecken Center) July 20-25, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training Register at:  www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for Proper 26 (Year A) Joshua 3:7-17    What is the community covenant that will help your community to get through difficult time? Psalm 107:1-7, 33-37    What did God turn dry land into water-springs for you? Micah 3:5-12   What are the things/actions at which God is angry? Psalm 43   In what ways can you put your trust in God? 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13   How do you lead a life worthy of God? Matthew 23:1-12   What did you learn from this passage about leadership?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org

Holy Currencies at St. James’s

As more church leaders took the Holy Currencies Training through the Kaleidoscope Institute, we are witnessing more practical applications of these model, tools and concepts.  Here is one from the St. James’s Episcopal Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts; the rector, the Rev. Holly Lyman Antolini came to one of our earliest Holy Currencies Training.  The following explanation of Holy Currencies and the graphics are from St. James’s website. (http://www.stjames-cambridge.org/)  I especially  appreciate the graphic representation of how the activities at St. James’ connect with the currencies.

As we launch our pledge campaign this October, We’re talking about ALL the “Holy Currencies” and how they increase and support each other and in turn, support us to pursue God’s Mission in a sustainable way at St. James’s. So what are "The Holy Currencies?"  We know about the Currency of Money.  But as any "endowed parish" knows, money alone doesn't sustain a vibrant ministry, nor keep it focused on God's Mission of justice and mercy, advocacy and reconciliation in a world that, despite its inherent beauty and abundant creative energy, is divided, unjust and broken. For that, we need other "currencies" less quantifiable but no less critical, and those currencies need to flow one into another, multiplying each other endlessly to energize God's Mission.  The need for a flowing Currency of Time & Place is one we know poignantly well, as we await the building of our new parish house, since we have had to find currency of place by the grace of our neighbors, the Pine Village Preschool for our church school, the Friends for our offices and Women's Meal, the Fresh Pond Apartments for our Food Pantry, and as we find our schedules impacted and our anxiety rising at our over commitment, finding currency of time hard to dispense in the flood tide of priorities in our lives. Time & Place depend upon and flow from another Currency, the Currency of Relationship.  It is the desire for relationship that motivates parishioners to offer their houses for a Newcomers' Meal or a Lenten Class.  It is the fruit of relationship that enables us to expand our "footprint" from the Food Pantry to the "Cooking Nights" at Fresh Pond so our guests at the Food Pantry become our friends.  And it's the fruit of relationship that supports the vibrancy of our parish life “in diaspora,” relying on the kindness of our neighbors as we wait to build our parish house. Currency of Relationship flows directly from the Currency of Truth, in which everyone in a congregation feels heard, can express their views without rancor, and stretches to listen carefully and hear the views of people very different from themselves, and in which we become able to hear and be moved to action by "the cries of the poor" in our surrounding community.  The prison ministry, the Anti-Oppression Team, and the Outdoor Church are all places where the currency of Truth flourishes at St. James's. And it's Currency of Gracious Leadership that keeps that space open and inviting for both Relationship and Truth to expand and deepen in worship, formation, and outreach ministry.  All these Currencies - Money, Time & Place, Relationship, Gracious Leadership, and Truth - flow together to enhance our fundamental Currency of Wellness, that rootedness in God's goodness, love and abundance that grounds itself in worship and reminds us that we are each of us beloved of God and gifted to increase God's love in the needy world. 

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: November 16-20, 2014 Memphis, TN Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries January 19-23, 2015 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training I and II Community Transformation I (Offered by the Doctor of Ministry program of Bexley-Seabury Seminary) February 13-14, 2015 Oakland, CA Gracious Leadership Training I KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training (for Gracious Leadership I only) March 19-24, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 21-25, 2015 Sewanee, TN Gracious Leadership Training Missional Ministries in the Grace Margin (Register with Sewanee School of Theology, Beecken Center) July 20-25, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training Register at:  www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for Proper 25 (Year A) Deuteronomy 34:1-12    What did you learn from this passage about hope and promise? Psalm 90:1-6, 13-17    What does this psalm help you deal with suffering in life? Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18   What does it mean for you to be holy? Psalm 1   How do you meditate on God’s law day and night? 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8   What is your motive for sharing your faith? Matthew 22:34-46   How does Jesus help you recapture the original calling of you life and community?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org

Holy Currency Ministry-Business Plan

To create a missional and sustainable ministry, you can start anywhere in the Cycle of Blessings and imagine how each of the currencies can flow and rejuvenate each other. At the end of the exploration, create a ministry plan that will incorporate all the currencies:

1. Name the wellness (physical, social, ecological, economical and/or spiritual) you are fostering in this new ministry.
2. Name the truth that you are seeking through this ministry or the truth to which this ministry responds.
3. Construct a relational network (internal and external) that supports this ministry.
4. Establish a place and time in which this ministry will take place.
5. Name or develop the “product” or “by-product” for which people with financial resources would be willing to pay.
6. Clarify the expectation of the clients/guests to pay back using the currencies they have. 
7. Create a wellness plan for people involved (both workers and clients/guests).
8. Develop leadership-training processes to empower people for this ministry (both workers and clients/guests).
9. Find initial investors to give money, time and talent to launch this ministry.
10. Formulate a financial plan for ongoing financial sustainability.
11. Project a timeframe when this ministry will be self-sustaining.

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: November 16-20, 2014 Memphis, TN Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries January 19-23, 2015 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training I and II Community Transformation I (Offered by the Doctor of Ministry program of Bexley-Seabury Seminary) February 13-14, 2015 Oakland, CA Gracious Leadership Training I KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training (for Gracious Leadership I only) March 19-24, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 21-25, 2015 Sewanee, TN Gracious Leadership Training Missional Ministries in the Grace Margin (Register with Sewanee School of Theology, Beecken Center) July 20-25, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training Register at:  www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for Proper 24 (Year A) Exodus 33:12-23    What did you learn from this passage about leadership? Psalm 99    What does it mean to proclaim the greatness of God? Isaiah 45:1-7   How do you relate to God as described in this text? Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)   What does it mean to acknowledge and worship such a powerful God? 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10   How do you serve a living and true God? Matthew 22:15-22   What did you learn from Jesus about truth?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org

Holy Currency Mission Statement

I appreciated the great responses to my last two posts which applied the Holy Currencies/Cycle of Blessings to year-round stewardship and volunteer job descriptions.  In that spirit, I offer here a “holy currency” way of writing a mission statement. Very often, a mission statement can be too long, not focused, and static.   A holy currency mission statement captures the dynamic exchanges of currencies.  Here is the step-by-step process: 

1. What is the “product” or service that this ministry provides? (This product or service can be any of the currencies:  time, place, gracious leadership, relationship, truth, wellness and money.)
2. Who is your client/guest?
3. What are the benefits/blessings that this ministry cultivates? In other words, what blessings do the product/service plus the client/guest exchange into?  (Again, blessings can be any of the currencies: time, place, gracious leadership, relationship, truth, wellness and money.)
4. Create a mission statement based on your answers to the above questions by combining the following two simple sentences:
   1. We provide [product or service] for [customer/client/guest].
   2. We help [customers/client/guest] do/achieve/other verb [primary benefit/blessing].

Example:  

We provide training resources to help church leaders to create sustainable ministries and communities.

Try writing a mission statement for an existing or new ministry using this process.  Be sure to capture the dynamic flow of more than one blessing.  For example, “We provide food for the hungry” is a static statement because it only utilizes one exchange.  However, “We provide food, a place and a community network for people to discern a sustainable future” is a dynamic mission statement that names exchanges of the currencies of wellness, place and relationship.

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: November 16-20, 2014 Memphis, TN Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries January 19-23, 2015 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training I and II Community Transformation I (Offered by the Doctor of Ministry program of Bexley-Seabury Seminary) February 13-14, 2015 Oakland, CA Gracious Leadership Training I KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training (for Gracious Leadership I only) March 19-24, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 21-25, 2015 Sewanee, TN Gracious Leadership Training Missional Ministries in the Grace Margin (Register with Sewanee School of Theology, Beecken Center) July 20-25, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training Register at:  www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for Proper 23 (Year A) Exodus 32:1-14    What are the “Golden Calves” in today’s world? Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23    What does it means to relate to a God who changes his/her mind? Isaiah 25:1-9   How do the images of God in this text connect with you? Psalm 23   How does this Psalm help you address your fear? Philippians 4:1-9   What are the things we need to keep doing so we can have peace? Matthew 22:1-14   What does this parable say to you about forming a sustainable community?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org

Holy Currency Pledge Cards

Last month I got a request from a local church leader, who said, “We are nearing the traditional time for pledge campaigns and I was wondering if anyone has a ‘pledge card’ based on Eric Law's model.” October-November are usually what many churches call “stewardship season” at which time church members are asked to pledge financial support for the following year.  Based on the Cycle of Blessings-Holy Currencies, I started to construct what a pledge card might look/sound like beyond asking for money.  Here is what I came up with.  This is a draft and many edits will be needed in order for them to be useful for local churches.  Obviously, this is too much to put in one card.  I prefer a year-round stewardship approach – perhaps, every two months, invite church members to pledge one of the currencies.

(January)

For the Currency of Relationship,

• I pledge to establish ____ new relationships outside my church, and
• I pledge to strengthen ____ relationships I have within the church.

(March)

For the Currency of Truth,

• I pledge to discover/discern the truth about ___________ for myself and/or my family.
• I pledge to discern the truth about _________________ in my church.
• I pledge to discern the truth about _________________ in my neighborhood, my town/city or my country. 

(May)

For the Currency of Time,

• I pledge _____________ (hours) per week for ______________.(name of existing or new ministry in the church)
• I pledge _____________ (hours) per week for ______________. (name of existing or new ministry in the community/neighborhood)

(June)

For the Currency of Place,

• I pledge to renovate/beautify/refurnish  ___________ (location of church property) for ___________. (name of existing or new ministry)
• I pledge _____________ (location I own) for ____________ (name of existing or new ministry) and
• I pledge to make ___________ (location I have influence over) available for ______________ (name of existing or new ministry)

 (July)

For the Currency of Gracious Leadership,

• I pledge to participate in ________________ (name of leadership training programs) in order to become a more gracious leader in my church and/or the community, and
• I pledge to mentor and/or train _______ new leaders in my church and/or in the community to ____________________. (describe ministry role).

(September)

For the Currency of Wellness,

• I pledge to ______________ (name sabbatical activity) for my own physical wellness.
• I pledge to ______________ (name sabbatical activity) for increasing my social wellness with my family, friends and people in my community.
• I pledge to ______________ (name sabbatical activity) to enhance the ecological wellness of my neighborhood, my city/town and my country.

(November)

For the Currency of Money,

• I pledge $ ______________ for my church’s ministry.
• I pledge to raise $ _____________ from ________________ .(sources outside church membership) for ___________________. (name of existing or new ministry) 

Upcoming Opportunities to Study with The Sustainist and learn more about Holy Conferencing: November 16-20, 2014 Memphis, TN Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries January 19-23, 2015 Chicago, IL Gracious Leadership Training I and II Community Transformation I (Offered by the Doctor of Ministry program of Bexley-Seabury Seminary) February 13-14, 2015 Oakland, CA Gracious Leadership Training I KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training (for Gracious Leadership I only) March 19-24, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training April 21-25, 2015 Sewanee, TN Gracious Leadership Training Missional Ministries in the Grace Margin (Register with Sewanee School of Theology, Beecken Center) July 20-25, 2015 Los Angeles, CA Gracious Leadership Training Holy Currencies: Creating Sustainable Missional Ministries KI Catalyst (Facilitator) Training Register at:  www.kscopeinstitute.org

Reflection Questions for Proper 22 (Year A) Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20    What is the relationship between commandments and sustainable community? Psalm 19    What did you learn from this Psalm about how to listen to God? Isaiah 5:1-7   What does God expect from the gifts given to us? Psalm 80:7-14   What is the process of restoring our relationship with God and each other? Philippians 3:4b-14   How do you connect with the different images of God in this text? Philippians 2:1-13   What is the cost of knowing Christ? Matthew 21:33-46   What are the fruits of the Kingdom that God expect from us?

Eric H. F. Law
Kaleidoscope Institute
For competent leadership in a diverse changing world
www.kscopeinstitute.org