Engagement Toolkit
Empowering the Gifts of the Community
Design Process
1. Assess: Engagement Processes of the Parish Community
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1. Assess: Engagement Processes of the Parish Community
Processes for Developing the Gifts of the Community
(Sharing the Ministry: A Practical Guide for Transforming Volunteers in Ministers. Jean Marie Trumbauer. Augsburg Fortress, 1995.) Shifting the Paradigm from Volunteers to Ministers
(Sharing the Ministry: A Practical Guide for Transforming Volunteers in Ministers. Jean Marie Trumbauer. Augsburg Fortress, 1995.) ![]()
Parish Assessment of Volunteer Ministry in the Parish Community
(Sharing the Ministry: A Practical Guide for Transforming Volunteers in Ministers. Jean Marie Trumbauer. Augsburg Fortress, 1995.) ![]()
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2. Explore: Discovering the Gifts of the Community
Option 1. Discover the Talents in the Parish Community using Strengths Finders from Gallup |
This first option uses the StrengthsFinder from Gallup as the basis for helping people in the parish community identify their talents. This can be implemented in many different ways, for example as a workshop or small group program with current and potential leaders, as an adult faith formation program, or as a Lenten series.
Living Your Strengths: Discover Your God-Given Talents and Inspire Your Community
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Living Your Strengths shows all members how to use their innate gifts to enrich their congregations and parishes. It teaches people to identify and affirm their talents, and how to use them for growth and service. Every church member plays a role in energizing and shaping the church. Living Your Strengths will help them find their role, and, most importantly, inspire people to discover their true calling. The book includes a unique access code that gives people access to the Clifton StrengthsFinder, a personality assessment that reveals a person's top five talent themes. The book is available in English and Spanish, and there is a Catholic edition.
Download the Clifton StrengthsFinder Themes to review the 34 talents. ![]()
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Conduct a Workshop or Small Group Program Using StrengthsFinder and the Living Your Strengths Book
The Living Your Strengths Guide and Moderator's Manual is designed to guide small group discussions centered on the Living Your Strengths book and related StrengthsFinder® assessment. Small groups coming together to learn more about their unique God-given talents, those of others, and how we each contribute to fulfillment of the Body of Christ results in a greater sense of belonging and more effective stewardship. The five session program includes the following modules. They can be used independent of each other.
Building Bridges in the Heart of Your People: Strengths and Talents as Keys to Engagement and Participation
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Option 2. Gift Inventories1. Gift Inventory (and Letter)
(Created and Called: Discovering Our Gifts for Abundant Living. Jean Marie Trumbauer. Augsburg Fortress, 1998.)
2. Gifts and Talents Inventory
After people complete this gifts inventory have them move on to the inventory of ways they can be involved in the church community and world. Have them think about which interests best match with their gifts and talents. Some activities may be more traditional, such as teaching or singing, while others may be new, such as digital ministry. Customize the "inventory of ways to be involved" to the parish community and local community. ![]()
3. Finding Your Gifts and Talents for Service (Ministry Matters)
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3. Plan: Develop an Engagement System
The "Guide to Developing a Ministry Leadership System" helps parishes design an engagement system that builds on the strengths and areas for improvement identified in Part 1 (Assessment) and utilizes the results of the Gifts Inventory process in Part 2. The Guide has three elements:
Part 1. Inviting People into Leadership Step 1. Identify the leaders you need. Step 2. Develop job descriptions for each leadership position. Step 3. Search for persons with leadership potential. Step 4. Develop a database of potential leaders. Step 5. Secure needed leaders. Step 6. Meet with each prospective leader. Part 2. Preparing and Training Leaders Step 1. Provide an orientation workshop for all leaders. Step 2. Develop and implement a training plan. Part 3. Supporting Leaders Step 1. Authorize leaders to begin service. Step 2. Provide the information and resources that leaders need. Step 3. Gather information and evaluate the work of leaders. Step 4. Deal with problems. Step 5. Express and celebrate the support of the church.
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Additional Resources
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