Asset Based Community Development for Church Communities

-Its Potential in Assisting Congregations Fulfil God’s Plan for the Human Community

One day workshops in Kalamunda (WA) & East Bentleigh (Vic)

with Mary Nelson - President and CEO Emeritus of Bethel New Life,

Chicago (USA)

Asset based community development (ABCD) begins with the assumption that successful community building depends on rediscovering and mobilizing resources, gifts and talents already present in any community. These include skills, passions and resources of individuals, the power of voluntary organisations, the array of local institutions, physical infrastructure, local economy and local stories and heritage. Churches and local congregations are in a unique position to identify and mobilize these resources and assets.

This interactive Workshop will provide an opportunity to:

appreciate the benefits of focusing on assets, capabilities and resources as opposed to traditional community building efforts that often highlight deficiencies and limitations;
discover and examine biblical illustrations that demonstrate the importance of the ABCD approach;
explore the unique resources of local church congregations as both faith communities and place communities; and
learn about tools and resources to apply an ABCD approach to building healthy and connected local communities and congregations.

When & Where:

Friday 8th December 2006:

Coatesville Uniting Church - Cnr North & Mackie Roads, East Bentleigh (Vic)

Monday 11th December 2006:

Kalamunda Church of Christ, Cnr Fletcher & Canning Roads, Kalamunda (WA)

Cost:

$66.00 - includes notes, lunch, morning and afternoon tea

Registration:

Please register directly with the venue you wish to attend.

Click here to download a registration form for Coatesville Uniting Church, East Bentleigh (Vic) Workshop.

Click here to download a registration form for Kalamunda Church of Christ (WA) Workshop.

Enquiries:

Coatesville Uniting Church: Rev. Steve Terrell - email revsteve@clergy.net Ph: (03) 9570 6632

Kalamunda Church of Christ: Pastor Steve Hall - email shall@kalamundacoc.org.au Ph: (08) 9291 7813

8.00am	Coffee, registration and introductions
10.00am	Workshop overview God's vision for community and church congregations the needs and charity approach to community development limitations an ABCD approach (the 'five loaves and two fishes' approach) assets of individuals asets of associations and institutions assets of place and economy assets of the stories of the community assets of faith
12.00am	Lunch
12.45am	Application of the ABCD approach - looking at your church congregation and community through eyes of God's abundance
2.15pm	Coffee Break
2.35pm	Understanding the tools and gifts we have to bring to action. ABCD resources and connections
4.00pm	Workshop closure

Note: Workshop program subject to change without notice.

Workshop Facilitator

Mary Nelson has spent the last 40 years working in church-based community development on the west side of Chicago, seeking to carry out the asset based community development principles in concrete ways through her leadership of the church organisation, Bethel New Life, Inc. Mary earned a MAT from Brown University and a PhD from Union Graduate School and has six honorary degrees.

Mary’s focus has been community based planning and development, and Bethel New Life, under her leadership, grew from an all-volunteer church organization to a community development corporation with pioneering efforts in creating jobs in community, in adaptive reuse of a former hospital campus into a major complex of services, jobs and cultural arts, and in developing over 1,000 units of affordable housing in a sustainable community context. Bethel has pioneered initiatives in energy efficient housing, sustainable community development, environmental justice (turning liabilities into opportunities), comprehensive community based continuum of care for elderly, and community building for violence reduction, welcoming formerly incarcerated back into the community, greening of the community and neighborhood associations. Bethel is highlighted internationally as an example of best practice in community and economic development.

Mary actively participates in city-wide, national and policy advocacy efforts. She is former chair of Mid American Leadership Foundation, Woodstock Institute and National Congress for Community Economic Development. She is on the faculty of the Asset Based Community Development Institute, North Park University and the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education. She is on the Boards of Call to Renewal and Christian Community Development Association and Good City. She has also had a number of government appointments.

Mary’s experience, rooted in the asset based community development approach, can help church congregations through inspiration, planning and development, and training in ABCD techniques and processes and through making connections with the hidden assets of their congregations and communities.