How Do We Begin
Conversations
Using the tools identified below, talk to your leadership team and explore the following questions:
How do we maximize the impact of our mission with the resources we have?
What should we keep doing?
What should we stop doing?
What should we start doing?
Tools
Asset-Based Community Development Toolkit
Community Toolbox: A Model for Getting Started
How Do We Begin Taking Action in the Community?
Practical Strategic Planning Tools
A Simple Approach: Creating A Vision for your Parish
S.W.O.T Analysis: Review the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats facing your organization
Explore how to carry out a SWOT analysis and how to put your findings into action. We also include an example and a template to help you get started on a SWOT analysis in your own workplace.
Articles
A North Carolina Nonprofit Helps Churches Convert Property from Liabilities into Assets: Leaders of a community development corporation believe that even struggling congregations can survive and thrive if members take stock of their assets and put them to use as resources for their communities.
John McKnight: Low-Income Communities Are Not Needy – They Have Assets: People who want to help low-income communities should see them as “half-full glasses,” places with strengths and capacities that can be built upon, says the codeveloper of the asset-based community development strategy.
A Network of Black Farmers and Black Churches Delivers Fresh Food from Soil to Sanctuary: The Black Church Food Security Network promotes long-term economic empowerment among black farmers and congregations while addressing issues of health, food accessibility, and self-determination.
A Nonprofit Works to “Green” the Black Church: “Green the Church” encourages African American congregations to commit to an environmental theology that promotes sustainable practices and helps build economic and political change.
Take a Look At Yourself: Self-in-System Sensitizers: The purpose of the Self-in-System Sensitizers is to help us become more aware of our typical patterns of organizational behavior.
Framing The Conversation: Essential Characteristics of Ecclesial Leadership: Bishop Frank Caggiano proposes “empowered humility” and “commitment to creativity in ministry” as two fundamental qualities for ecclesial leadership.
Featured Articles
How to Open a Roth IRA: A Roth IRA can help you earn tax-free growth on your investments.
How to Lead Online Worship Without Losing Your Soul-Or Body: 8 tips for stewarding church technology in a time of social distancing.
Alternatives to Calling the Police: Unpack the reasons why a congregation might call the police and highlight alternatives that are less harmful to people of color.
Opioid Epidemic Practical Toolkit: Helping Faith and Community Leaders Bring
Hope and Healing to Our Communities: This 24-page toolkit from the Department of Health offers opioid-awareness resources for faith-based organizations.
Websites
Asset Based Community Development: ABCD Institute
The Asset-Based Community Development Institute (ABCD) is at the center of a large and growing movement that considers local assets as the primary building blocks of sustainable community development. Building on the skills of local residents, the power of local associations, and the supportive functions of local institutions, asset-based community development draws upon existing community strengths to build stronger, more sustainable communities for the future.
ECFA: Enhancing Trust in Churches
ECFA’s Knowledge Center provides access to hundreds of documents including policies, procedures, and a wealth of research on topics such as charitable gifts, expense reimbursements, board governance, fringe benefits, and much more. ECFA is an online resource brimming with content on subjects like governance, financial management, legal compliance, gift administration, and leadership.
Dorothy A. Johnson Center: Webinar Series
Explore resources provided by the Dorothy A. Johnson Center, such as featured videos on implementing sustainable development goals provided by the United Nations: Using Sustainable Development Goals to Create Thriving Communities and Community Leadership and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Utilize Leadership Roundtable’s resources to promote best practices and accountability in the management, finances, communications, and human resources development of the Catholic Church in the United States, including greater incorporation of the laity.
COVID-19 Recovery Resources
Leadership Roundtable: Resources for the Covid-19 Crisis
This resource was created by Leadership Roundtable in response to hearing from many diocesan and other Church leaders that their world has shifted dramatically in almost every way. Find offerings and resources for Catholic leaders during this time of crisis management.
Racial Equity Tools: Covid-19 and Social Justice
This list of racial equity resources sheds light on disparities and provides tailored Covid-19 information for Black, Asian, and Latinx-Americans. It offers resources for analyzing the disparities, responding strategically, caring for the vulnerable, and building funds, as well as organizing and solidarity.