A possible project

So what do you think about the following project? Could you see this working in your diocese?

I'm working on a proposal to work with 3 dioceses on a pilot project. One of these dioceses did a Ministry Fair this spring, and at least 13 of their 30 workshops would make great teleclasses. (The others were panel discussions or involved visual or active components that would be hard to do via the teleclass format.) I don't yet know how many people in the diocese were able to attend on that one day, but the cost was $25 for 3 workshops and lunch, plus gas, plus some people stayed over the night before.

My proposal is that I would work with those leaders to turn their workshops into classes. They've already done most of the hard work to create a one-hour workshop -- so it feels like a no-brainer to say "wouldn't you like your work to have impact beyond the people who were able to attend that one session on that one day?" The project would offer these classes 2-3 times each over a 5 month period beginning in September, plus I would try to develop additional class offerings from the other two participating dioceses -- and we would offer the classes to the 3 dioceses at a slightly reduced rate, as well as to the wider Church.

A project like this would be so helpful -- it would enable these dioceses to offer something concrete, from their experienced ministry leaders, to help and support people throughout the Church as well as their own members. I am just convinced that way too often in our Church we work only within our diocesan borders -- each diocese putting on its own workshops for its own people. We have GOT to spread the wealth! There's no reason why a lot of what is presented can't be made available to benefit people far beyond the local diocese, who might never otherwise have the chance to get access to such a workshop or presentation....

From eMinistry's viewpoint, the project would show that the eMinistry model can work, that people will (I hope!) participate and benefit from it, and would be a microcosm of what eMinistry could eventually offer. It would enable us to increase our class offerings (a terrific thing) and would be a key piece in getting things going enough to justify applying for a larger grant. I would LOVE to work with these leaders -- their workshops look wonderful, and absolutely geared to the needs and concerns of lay people. So that's what I'm working on today. I would have to apply for a grant from a local foundation to make it work financially, as I'd be asking only 2 of the 3 dioceses to contribute a very moderate amount of funding. But if the 3 bishops will get behind this, that will help immensely as I seek a grant elsewhere....

hopefully,

Elizabeth