Flourishing in Ministry
Reimagining Church: A Toolkit
Even as religious affiliation declines in the United States, some faith groups across religious traditions continue to thrive. But what does it mean to thrive? How can congregations grow more vital as they provide meaning, community and identity to their members?
This toolkit guide faith leaders on their journey of reimagining how religion can be lived out communally.
It builds upon research and program conducted by CRCC on religious creativity and innovation, as well as on the Reimagining Church cohort.
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Ten Characteristics of Thriving Communities of Faith
Even as religious affiliation continues to decline, CRCC’s research on religious creativity and innovation has found groups that are thriving across religious traditions.
Flourishing in Ministry Program Offers Coaching to SoCal Pastors
The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture is pleased to be partnering with the Rosemead School of Psychology’s Mental Health and the Church Initiative to provide coaching to 100 pastors through theFlourishing in Ministry program.
Conflict and Congregations: How Churches Respond to Politics and the Pandemic
As the 2022 midterm elections approach, little can be predicted—except, perhaps, that they will further cement the deep divides in our country.
Those divides often extend into religious congregations.
Reimagining (Again): Key Lessons on Ministry Sustainability in a Post-Pandemic World
The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC) recently held its first in-person event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019. More than 70 clergy and faith-inspired community leaders met in an airy space at the Hotel Maya in Long Beach for a half-day conference to discuss the challenges and lessons of the pandemic–and simply to gather, mindful of public health precautions, to share stories and fellowship after a long period of isolation.
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CRCC has hosted speakers and conversations on various aspects of faith leadership and congregational life.
Self-Care for Faith Leaders
Dr. Thema Bryant Pepperdine UniversityTo flourish means to recognize our wounds and know that trauma affects us, but it does not define us. In the midst of the storm, God is present.
Leading Outside the Confines of Culture
Mark Labberton Fuller SeminaryWe are products of a culture that has mesmerizingly told us what to say and do and how to be.
Social Justice and Congregations
Rabbi Sharon Brous, Pastor Stephen “Cue” Jn-Marie, Robert Chao Romero Panel on Social JusticeWe have to be both pastor and prophet. We have to tend to the wounds of the hearts of our community members who are in incredible anguish and pain right now, and we have to look systemically.
About the Initiative
The Center for Religion and Civic Culture’s research on innovative religious and spiritual communities in Southern California and Seoul, South Korea gave rise to our conception of reimagined communities or thriving congregations.
CRCC developed programing to help others think about how they could reimagine their ministries, starting with a series of virtual conversations in 2020 and 2021, the “Reimagine (Again)” conference in 2022, and the Reimagining Church cohort program in 2023. CRCC also hosted a series of events open to all leaders through Thriving Congregations: A Series on Leadership, designed to provide leadership and congregational development training.
These efforts continue through our research to understand the relationship between leaders’ wellbeing and the health of their congregations, in partnership with the Rosemead School of Psychology.
The Thriving Congregations Initiative has been supported by the Lilly Endowment and the John Templeton Foundation.
The Jazz of Leadership
Ronald McCurdy, professor of music at the USC Thornton School of Music, and Ken Perlman, adjunct professor of management and organization at the USC Marshall School of Business, offered a workshop on leadership lessons from the world of music.
Reimagining (Again) Conference
Faith leaders in Southern California gathered in-person to discuss impacts of pandemic on ministries and a path forward.
Reimagining Church Cohort Retreat
CRCC gathered leaders of churches throughout Southern California for a retreat to discuss how they were leading their congregations into the future.
Physical Health
Dr. Kimiko Yamada, a USC professor of physical therapy, discussed personal and communal wellness with faith leaders in an interactive workshop.
Community Engagement
Participants in the Reimagining Church program received practical advice from other leaders with expertise in community engagement efforts.
Pandemic Conversations
CRCC gathered faith leaders on Zoom during the pandemic to learn from experts.
