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Why it’s essential to be intentional

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Why it's essential to be intentional

Executive Director + Minister Rev. Melissa Guthrie reflects this month on “creating change.” She speaks to personal growth and collective change.

Council Secretary Jeff Tobin speaks to proposed changes in his congregation and shares why it’s essential to be intentional:

Several months ago, during a church board meeting, there was an agenda item to modify our Administrative Procedures for the nomination committee to add the bolded and italicized text:

Three (3) members of the congregation who are not members of the Board. “These appointees shall be broadly representative of the congregation with age, gender, and ethnic diversity taken into account.”

During the discussion phase of the motion, several objections were raised:

  1. We’re trying to create a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist.
  2. We’ve done it this way for 40 years and have never had an issue.
  3. The language used creates restrictions on who can serve.

I imagine these types of debates happen at many churches.

One of the many reasons that I’m grateful to serve with AllianceQ is that we provide training opportunities to build inclusive churches and communities. Our Building an Inclusive Church (BIC) Toolkit Training helps in designing and implementing a journey for your faith community to publicly and intentionally welcome and affirm all people.

The training empowers congregations and ministries to create a grace-filled process uniquely designed for the needs of each community. With this training, you will be equipped to deepen relationships throughout your faith community rather than spark debate or division. To navigate difficult conversations like those unfolding at my church.

I believe we are called by Jesus to intentionally include all people in the whole life of the church. This can be accomplished by actively practicing DEI – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – terms used to describe policies and programs that promotes the participation and the representation of groups of individuals, including people of various ages, races and ethnicities, abilities and disabilities, genders, religions, cultures and sexual orientations.

This is the work that we do at AllianceQ and I’m proud to be part of creating change.

Jeff is pictured in the middle with Council Moderator Luther Young and Executive Director + Minister Melissa Guthrie at the most recent Council retreat.

Want to learn about the welcoming journey? Is it the right time to begin or resume the work? If you want information about and support for the welcoming journey, contact us. You can find detailed information about upcoming trainings here: https://disciplesallianceq.org/bic-trainings/

Trainings are scheduled for Thursday, March 16, 2023, from 4-7 p.m. ET, and Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 3-6 p.m. ET.

Have a small group? Interested in scheduling a training experience tailored for your community? Be in touch!