A NEXT Church Workshop Series – Spring 2026
CHANGING THE CULTURE OF ASSESSMENT
The traditional metrics of budgets, membership, and attendance are no longer adequate to evaluate success in ministry. Instead of searching for new ways of measuring, we revert to what we know, perpetuating a status quo.
But, if what we are doing matters in our lives and in the world, we must develop meaningful ways to measure effectiveness. We need to change the entire culture of assessment.
This 3-session workshop series will unpack the concepts of Cultivated Ministry while offering practical ways to begin shifting the culture of assessment in your own context. Each session will be 90 minutes in length and will build on the concepts over the 3 weeks. The workshops will be held over Zoom and will include concept presentation, conversation, and application examples from practitioners already using this resource. Because the workshop is designed for active participation, recordings will only be available for the week following each session in the event a participant must miss a session.
The workshops are designed for all church leaders – church members, pastors, educators, elders, and church professionals.
A workshop series designed to learn practices that create the conditions for faithful intentions to be discerned, evaluted, and thrive.
Time
Thursdays
1:00-2:30pm ET
(10:00-11:30am PT)
Dates
WORKSHOP
Cost
$99 reduced cost
ABOUT THE SESSIONS
Uncovering the Why
April 30
In the first session, we will consider the need for new ways of assessment counter to the traditional metrics. By grounding ourselves in a collective why, communities gain clarity around why they develop programs, invest in different missions, and create spaces of hospitality and worship.
Moving to Impact
May 7
If we aren’t using the traditional metrics, what can we measure instead? In this second session, we will unpack four categories that can be assessed and how connecting your why to these categories leads to impact.
From Assumptions to Assessment
May 14
When we don’t critically assess our work, we become complacent in acts that feel good, but aren’t doing good. In this final session, we will explore three ways to shift from assumptions about our impact to honest assessment.
REGISTRATION
FULL COST – $149
This the actual cost it takes to cover the expense for the workshop. Any individual with access to professional, church, presbytery, or personal funds should select this tier.
REDUCED COST – $99
Because NEXT Church is an incredibly lean organization, we request you check with potential sponsoring bodies before selecting this tier. Individuals without access to professional, church, presbytery, or personal funds are invited to select this tier.
LEADERSHIP
Jen James
resource writer and workshop leader
Jen James (she/her) is on staff for NEXT Church as the Director of Programs and Operations. She is a facilitator, trained coach, and educator who loves working with congregations to help church leaders assess, realign, and strategically transform ministries. Jen holds a Master of Divinity from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington. DC and will gladly tell you she went to seminary because she loves learning, not to be a pastor like everyone else! When she’s not working in the church world, Jen is offering unsolicited political commentary, cheering on her twin boys at the pool or baseball/soccer fields, and conjuring up a new house project with her husband who is a finance entrepreneur and Methodist pastor.
Jen was on the original writing team for Cultivated Ministry and was a co-writer for the Updated Edition. She has led workshops across the country on Cultivated Ministry since its release in 2018.
WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
Cultivated Ministry has transformed how I process children/youth committee meetings and the needs of the church and our families. I can’t wait to work with this framework more and continue to transform the work of the children/youth committee.
I wasn’t sure how helpful this workshop would be and whether it would be worth the time, but was pleasantly surprised by how teachable and actionable this method is. I’m excited to contemplate how to use this in our ministry context at all levels.
I’m so glad I attended this workshop. Lots of good information. I liked the fact that it appeared to be half ministers and half ruling elders. I hope you will repeat this workshop in the future for your wide audience.
Questions
For questions about the workshop, email us.
