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EDUCATION

Thriving Ministry Model

Strategies for creating thriving, coherent and integral ministries

For ministers, board members, lay leaders, practitioners, licensed teachers and led by Rev. Dr. Gary Simmons, the Thriving Ministry Model is a new paradigm for church growth and development. Based on the Integral theory of Ken Wilber, this new model emphasizes a movement from the pastor/flock model to a community/mission centric model of ministry. It equips church leaders with dynamic tools for creating cultural and systemic shifts in the church that lead to increased congregational ownership and organizational resilience. Based on the ground-breaking research of Rev. Dr. Gary Simmons, this seminar reveals how church leaders can effectively impact how their congregations support the ministry. It provides a holistic framework for working with organizational issues that result in operational congruence and interpersonal integrity.

The focus of the seminar is on growing the consciousness and numbers of those who are committed to the well-being of the church, starting with those already in the pews. When more of a ministry's congregants become committed to the well-being of their church, the result is an increase of energy and resources. Participants will grow in their understanding of how the church operates from a systemic and cultural perspective, and will learn how to create new ways to strengthen the ministry. Topics include:

An integral approach to church growth and development.
How church size and type eclipse growth strategies.
How leaders can move from parenting to partnering to support healthier interpersonal dynamics.
The three congregations in every ministry and their unique attributes.
Growing ownership, consciousness and organizational coherence.
Dismantling the pastor/flock paradox.

For information regarding upcoming Thriving Ministry Model seminars, see the calendar.

For details regarding hosting a Thriving Ministry Model seminar, contact Rev. Dr. Gary Simmons: gary@unity.org or 816-524-7414.

Download the PowerPoint presentation.

Gary Simmons, Th.D., is the assistant vice president of Integral Operations for the Association of Unity Churches International. He is author of Unity's best-seller The I of the Storm: Embracing Conflict, Creating Peace now in its 10th printing and contributing author to Sacred Secrets, published by Unity House®. Dr. Simmons is also a licensed Holacracy facilitator and an adjunct faculty member of Unity and Holmes Institutes.