How do you transform a group of individual, committed parishioners into a vital team?

This is a challenge that congregational leaders face each time they assemble new vestries, bishop’s committees, or create a taskforce or committee. How do you get people to work well together? What sort of practices will help them make strategic decision rather than get lost in the weeds? How can vestry and bishop’s committee meetings be productive and lively rather than much-dreaded monthly events that go on and on?

The health and vitality of every congregation depends on the effectiveness and efficiency of its vestry and leadership teams. This Vital Teams training focuses on four critical aspects of strong teamwork:

1) clarity around purpose

2) strong relationships among team members

3) improved meeting processes and

4) a focus on results.

It is designed to provide participants with the training and tools to become vital teams. Led by Sandra Montes and Kjerstin Besser from the Episcopal Church Foundation. Scroll down for their biographies.

Agenda

About the Presenters

Sandra Montes is Episcopal Church Foundation’s Spanish language resource consultant. Born in Perú, Sandra grew up in Guatemala and settled in Texas as soon as she could. Her passions are God, family (especially her son), music, education, and writing. She has been developing original bilingual resources for her church, school, and others for years. Sandra has been volunteering and working in the Episcopal Church since she was welcomed into Her in 1986. She serves as musician, translator, speaker, consultant, and writer. She is a full-time teacher and doctoral student.

Sandra T. Montes nació en Perú, se crió en Guatemala y se instaló en Tejas lo antes que le fue posible. Sus pasiones son Dios, familia (especialmente su hijo), música, educación y escribir, y ha estado esperando y orando por este puesto por años. Sandra ha estado elaborando recursos bilingües originales para su iglesia, escuela y otros por años. Sandra ha estado trabajando como voluntaria y en la Iglesia Episcopal desde que le dieron la bienvenida a Ella en 1986. Se desempeña como música, traductora, oradora, asesora y redactora. Es docente a tiempo completa y está estudiando para obtener su doctorado.

Kjerstin Besser is the assistant program director for Leadership Resources and Communications at the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF).

She supports the leadership resources and communications team by assisting with the production of the online publication ECF Vital Practices and ECF’s educational events and resources. Prior to working for ECF, Kjerstin was the information and referral specialist at the National Down Syndrome Society. She has earned a BA in international relations from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Kjerstin Besser es Asistente del Director del Programa de Recursos de Liderazgo y Comunicaciones en la Fundación de la Iglesia Episcopal (ECF).

Ella apoya al equipo de Comunicaciones y Recursos de Liderazgo asistiendo con la producción de la publicación en línea ECF Vital Practices y los eventos y recursos educativos de ECF. Antes de trabajar para ECF, Kjerstin fue el Especialista de Información y Referencia en la Sociedad Nacional de Síndrome de Down. Obtuvo un BA en Relaciones Internacionales de Lake Forest College en Lake Forest, Illinois.