OffBoarding

Our Episcopal OffBoarding initiative focuses around a simple yet powerful goal: to empower congregations and dioceses which are in a leadership transition. Recognizing the potential for growth and understanding that a transition period presents, we developed a process rooted in proven organization development theories and practices, tailored to our unique faith context. Our aim is to provide a supportive and informative experience that propels everyone forward on the healthiest possible journey. And, be assured, we will be praying for you.

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    Nurturing You
    A turning point has been reached; your faith community and your departing leader have emotional work to do. You need the opportunity to name hopes and concerns, and to celebrate shared achievements. Why? To prepare you to uncover “who we are now”, and be ready to welcome a new leader.

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    Who Is Included?
    Our OffBoarding process is customizable to your needs. The departing leader and elected governance body members are always included. Sometimes staff and other ministry leaders participate. Don't worry! We will ask you all the right questions to make sure the people you need are in the room and have a voice.

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    Care Filled
    You will NOT be asked to ‘rate’ your departing leader. You will help to foster a brave space for open information exchange. You will participate in a facilitated, highly boundaried conversation and answer carefully crafted questions. All this to set the stage for the healthiest possible leave-taking and to lay a solid foundation for next steps.

Downloadable OffBoarding Flyer

How Does it Work?

You will be led by a trained and certified Church Re-Imagined facilitator into a brave space for sharing your truth in community. The departing leader is the primary client and will receive coaching throughout the process. You choose the schedule that works best for your setting: a highly-focussed single day or separate conversations over a more extended period of time.

Part 1  

Interviews one-to-one with departing rector and Sr. Warden

Part 2  

Construct and agree a leaving covenant between the rector and wardens

Part 3 

Facilitated in-person conversation with departing priest and vestry

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • Leaving is a time that is fraught for both the departing leader and the people in the organization they are leaving. The whole point of OffBoarding is to ensure that the leader leaves in as healthy a way as possible and the people being left are part of that healthy leaving process.

  • OffBoarding facilitators are specifically trained and certified to help you do just that. We invite stories that help you celebrate what has been in such a way that appreciation and learning can take place for everyone. We also provoke conversations about what the hopes and dreams are going forward both for the people and the departing leader. As part of the process we also work with key leaders to create a ‘Leaving Covenant’ which makes expectations very clear and eliminates unnecessary misunderstandings and conflict at such a sensitive time.

  • OffBoarding is about doing the emotional work that is typically left undone when a leader departs. We in the church don’t do a particularly good job with hellos and goodbyes, yet these impressionable times can make a world of difference in how effective a new leader can be. No survey or profile truly prompts this important work, nor do they address the deeper feelings that left ignored make the transition harder.

  • There is too much at stake emotionally for people who are part of the ‘system’. It would be like asking a family member to moderate an honest, emotional, high-stakes conversation. You can do it, we just don’t recommend it! Having an experienced, trained, unbiased and caring professional facilitate the conversation is the best way to go.

  • Call, email, or text us, or use the contact form on our website to get started!