What is a flourishing congregation?
From interviews with congregation and denomination leaders across Catholic, mainline, and conservative Protestant settings between Vancouver and Halifax, here are a series of variables that stand out to us – things leaders tell us contribute to, are evidence of, or are aspirations of what they associate with a flourishing congregation. A more detailed article summarizing these findings can be found here.
As our research progresses, especially when we survey and talk with congregants, our conception of what constitutes a flourishing congregation may evolve as well.
Explore the construct using the navigation arrows
Flourishing Congregations construct
The Stories We Tell
Hear from researchers from across Canada as they share some of their case study findings on Canadian churches
Congregational Storytelling and Culture Building: Navigating Transitions in One Catholic Parish
Dr. Joel Thiessen
Ambrose University
Cultivating Repertoirs of Resilience: The Power of Stories
Dr. Katie Steeves and Dr. Jason Burtt
Trinity Western University
Explosively Alive: Stories of Catholic Renewal
Dr. Catherine Holtmann, University of New Brunswick &
Dr. Sam Reimer, Crandall University
Resonant Relationships: Contemplative Spiritual Disciplines
as a Congregational Focus
Dr. Mark Chapman, Lead Researcher,
Tyndale Intercultural Ministries Centre
Want to access more free content? Watch clips on topics such as:
Small Churches in Canada
The ART of Hope: Healing the Wounded City
Flourishing Congregations in Secular Québec
Culture Building
Bi-vocational Pastoral Leadership
Spiritual Formation and Discipleship
Clergy Well-being and Resilience
Recruiting, Training, and Retaining Volunteers
Our aim
To gather, curate, and share Canadian Church data, theological reflection, and practical application for the Canadian Church. We collaborate with scholars and practitioners from diverse disciplinary and theological traditions and institutions, across Canadian regions.
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