C04 Listening Before Launching: Building Ministry With (Not For) the Community

Too often, churches respond to community needs by launching well-intentioned programs without deeply listening to the people they hope to serve—or to the voices within their own congregation. This workshop explores how Episcopal communities can shift from program only models to community-driven ministry rooted in shared listening, discernment, and leadership across ages. Through two case studies—one programmatic (a parishbased afterschool ministry) and one nonprogrammatic (the Priesthood of All Queer Believers podcast, born from listening to voices within and beyond a local congregation)—participants will explore how different forms of ministry can emerge from the same posture of attentiveness and shared discernment.
 
Key Focus Areas:
- Practices of listening to both congregation and neighborhood.
- How youth and adults bring different (and equally valuable) perspectives to community engagement.
- Moving from “good ideas” to responsive, sustainable ministry.
 
What Participants Will Gain:
- A framework for discerning community needs collaboratively.
- Tools for involving youth and adults together in ministry planning.
- Reflection questions to assess whether current ministries are truly community-driven.
 
Presenters
Tym House, Church of the Redeemer, Cincinnati, OH
Anny Stevens-Gleason, Church of the Redeemer, Cincinnati, OH