Congregational Clustering
by Dr. R. Daniel Reeves

What is Congregational Clustering?

Congregational Clustering is a cost effective way for small and midsize churches and their pastors to receive customized and individualized congregational analysis, strategic development and personal mentoring. In groups of 5-10 churches, usually within the same district or church affiliation, pastors and congregations work with Dan Reeves in a resource network for a period of 2-5 years.

Dan has been a pioneer in cluster strategies and has worked with over 200 churches in clusters. His first high commitment cluster group for retooling small and midsize congregations was launched in Southern California in 1989. Each subsequent year has seen a refined version as the service has been adapted to virtually every denominational and geographical setting. The cluster is not a seminar or workshop, but a unique process that provides, in a group setting, highly customized solutions and personal coaching to individual pastors and churches.

Check here for references and testimonies from cluster participants

A Congregational Cluster provides:

• A resource network for 5-10 churches over a two-five year period
• A high impact approach for helping each pastor and congregation to reach
• maximum potential
• A systemic framework for enhancing health and growth
• A means to identify and address the particular core issues in each congregation
• A strategy for empowering teams in congregational mission

 

Benefits of Congregational Clustering

• Is the most cost-effective means for increasing congregational health
• Provides an onsite visit and customized congregational to each participating church
• Creates and models a team approach to ministry
• Enables congregations to get unstuck and focused on effective missional strategies
• A customized approach that is sensitive to the needs of each participating congregation
• Focuses on managing and communicating change
• Establishes long term pastoral relationships and peer mentoring
• Develops customized solutions and direction for the individual church and pastor
• Coaches pastors in how to initiate positive changes and develop strong, effective ministry teams.
• Enables leaders to identify and address their particular core issues
• Provides case studies in order to create powerful team based solutions.
• Builds accountability for results into each monthly peer learning session for pastors

 

Topics include:

• Team building
• Pastoral development
• Corporate intercession
• Spiritual disciplines
• Lay mobilization
• Mentoring
• People flow
• Lifestyle evangelism
• Future direction
• Communicating and managing change
• Organizational streamlining

 

How does a cluster form?

Clusters form with 6- 10 churches who commit to meet for 10 monthly sessions and participate with their leadership in the development of a revitalization plan for their church. Usually, the churches are from the same denominational structure and geographical area and are formed with the encouragement of national or district leadership.

 

What does a church receive for its participation?

An on site visit and consultation with Dan Reeves A monthly day long cluster process session with Dan Reeves Interaction over specific church and personal core issues Materials and development assignments Phone, fax and Internet access to Dan Reeves Consultant Training Dan, also, offers a certified consulting track in the cluster strategy for internal denominational coaches who want maximum, mentoring-style learning of practical consultant skill sets through an accelerated, hands-on transfer of expertise.