Church Resources
As an ECO Church, you are part of a growing movement of churches and have access to many resources that are designed to help your church refocus its energy, health, and vitality. As an ECO Pastor, you have more information and direct access to these resources at a discounted rate. Please access the church portal to view.
Take Your Next Flourishing Step as a Church
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Alpha
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions exploring the basics of the Christian faith. These sessions create a space, online or in person, where people are excited to bring their friends for a conversation about faith, life, and God. To learn more visit alpha.com or access on the ECO Church Portal.
Axis
Together, ECO and Axis are seeking to close the gap between the generations by fostering deeper connections through a variety of online seminars & guides for pastors & parents. Resources help teens navigate culture & create meaningful conversations. To learn more, go to AXIS.org or access on the ECO Church Portal.
Becoming A Flourish Church Course
Help your church refocus its energy, health & vitality now that you’re part of the growing movement of ECO churches. BAFC will encourage discipleship growth and spiritual maturity as a team and as an individual. Access here.
Best Practices For Mission Teams Course
Best Practices for Mission Teams – This video-based small group study is designed to help your church’s mission team explore best practices for leading your church in mission and how you can support mission efforts. Access here.
Church Governance Course
The Synod staff and SEC have used this model of governance since ECO was established in 2012. It includes video presentations, PowerPoints, book recommendations, guiding principles, and more to assist churches in adopting this model of church governance. Click here to access.
Church Health Assessment
The Church Health Assessment is designed to help congregations uncover their church’s health using six overarching fundamentals of what it means to be a flourishing church. Discover your church’s greatest strengths and areas of growth. Access here.
Church Transformation
This process is an instrumental tool in retraining pastors, refocusing leadership & bringing renewed vitality to your congregations. Access here.
Churches In Transitional Agreement (CITA)
We want to equip pastoral leaders in helping churches navigate change through a pastoral transition. We want your church to be healthy & prepared to take its Flourishing Next Step. Email ctpinfo@eco-pres.orgor go to ecotransitionalpastors.org for more info
ECO Theology
One of ECO’s values is “A Livable Theology”. The strength of our faith is how we live out our Reformed beliefs in a relentlessly contextual way. Access Theology information here.
Flourishing Disciples Course
This resource involves videos training, book discussion and on-site retreat for key leaders in the church to work on enhancing their own discipleship & ability to disciple others. Access here.
Flourishing Leaders Course
A resource built to help your church recalibrate your leadership teams with the help of individual growth exercises, communal experiences & practical teaching grounded in theology. Access here.
Flourishing Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution
Our mission is to train and equip the local church, regional governing bodies, and national governing and staff bodies to practice Flourishing Peacemaking and Conflict Resolution. View flyer here.
Global Engagement
ECO’s priority in global engagement is to support ECO congregations with their participation in global missions. Our approach emphasizes the role of the local church in making disciples of all nations. To maintain a lean national staff structure, we are cultivating collaboration within ECO and drawing from the expertise of partner organizations for global engagement. Learn more about ECO Global Engagement.
Intro to ECO Core Competencies Course
This course is designed for leaders in the church to learn how to become more effective in their roles or to be trained for a position they have yet to step into. This includes 10 videos of classes taught by experts in each of the competencies. Access here.
Mission Insite
Mission Invite is a cloud-based technology platform is designed specifically for church, faith-based and nonprofit leaders. It bridges the gap between data and actionable information by answering the “where” and “what about” questions about your organization and community. ECO Churches have access to this resource for free. If you need access, please request access from within the ECO Church Portal.
Pastoral Search and Transition Guide
This guide offers a path for churches, leading them from succession to the onboarding of their new pastor. In order for a transition to be successful, a church must consider the overall health of the congregation, its leadership & its effects on the upcoming season of transition. To learn more, access more details in the ECO Church Portal, or email info@flourishmovement.org.
ProScan Services (Team Development)
The Proscan tool helps pastors determine current areas of stress & satisfaction in their lives & ministries. It enables pastors & staff members to take proactive steps in their lives to find greater satisfaction in their calls. Access here.
Racial Reconciliation
Thank you for your interest on the topic of racial reconciliation. Here are two organizations you may find helpful as you seek to learn more for yourself and/or your church. View those organizations here.
Succession Planning
A resource that works to prepare & equip churches for pastoral leadership transitions. This process helps churches to implement fundamental principles and strategies that make transitions successful. Access here.
Vision Frame Process
This process is used to help congregations discern & develop their unique identity & calling for future mission through a series of coaching calls, training materials & videos. Access here.
Take Your Next Flourishing Step as a Leader
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360 Discipleship Assessment
Learn more about your own discipleship and how to go deeper with Jesus. This assessment measures discipleship health in 22 characteristics & 8 core qualities relating to the health of an individual follower of Jesus. Access here.
Certified Transitional Pastor Training (CTP)
Equipping pastors to navigate change through a pastoral transition and keeping the church healthy & prepared to take its Flourishing Next Step. Please visit ecotransitionalpastors.org for more details, or email ctpinfo@eco-pres.org if you have any questions.
Coach Training
This training will help you to develop and deploy your coaching as a leader in all areas of your life, both personally and professionally, whether you are a pastor, elder, or church leader. View more information here.
Commissioned Lay Pastor Training (CLP1)
This certification is a 10-month process undertaken with a non-geographical cohort, a facilitator, homework assignments and a mentor from your local church. CLP 1’s are lay leaders who are serving their church by leading micro- expressions of church (small groups, youth groups, missional communities, etc.) and who wish to have a deeper level of training in the 10 Core Competencies. Access here.
Church Planting
We seek to be a church planting denomination during a time when the landscape of church planting is changing drastically. Leaders within church planting networks across the country are radically rethinking and readjusting church planting strategies in their denominations and networks. To learn more, visit our webpage here or email us at churchplanting@eco-pres.org.
ECO Polity Course
The goal of this course is to give pastors, church leaders, and students a practical and working knowledge of the polity of ECO. We will present the polity in the larger context of the ethos and culture that ECO has been founded upon and seeks to enhance. Access here.
ECO Theology Course
This course was developed by Rev. Dr. Mark Patterson, Ph.D., President of the Flourish Institute of Theology. The five video lectures explore:
- The Foundations of Theology
- Knowing God
- Encountering God
- Loving God
- Enjoying God
First Call Coaching
We want to support our first call pastors, seminary students, CLPs, and/or ECO ordination candidates called as a Pastor Head of Staff. Email us here for more information on how to connect to a with Pastor Learning Community, First Call Pastor Cohort or in some cases a one-on-one coaching.
Flourishing Resources Informational Training
This training helps you to assess and understand ECO’s ministry goals, shares popular church resources and how to apply this knowledge to your current or upcoming ministry call. Access here.
Introduction to ECO Core Competencies Course
This course is designed for leaders in the church to learn how to become more effective in their roles or to be trained for a position they have yet to step into. This includes 10 videos of classes taught by experts in each of the competencies. Access here.
Job Board
In an effort to help our churches find qualified candidates, we have developed a space for our churches to list their employment opportunities. Visit the job board webpage here for more information.
Leadership Circle Profile
This assessment is designed to assist annual pastor performance reviews & accelerate leadership effectiveness beyond the traditional competency-based approaches. Learn more here.
MAGs and PCGs
Every ECO church and pastor is asked to join with 3-4 other churches and pastors to connect, care for, and provide accountability for one another. These groups are organized around similar ministry contexts (such as geography, demographics, or future ministry goals). If you are an ECO Church wanting to join a MAG or PCG, please contact your presbytery moderator.
Mentored Ministry
We are committed to the apprenticeship of all emerging pastors in churches through life-on-life discipleship, alongside learning and practical ministry experiences. Mentored Ministry internships involve theological reflection in order to deploy fully equipped & healthy pastors into the kingdom who are ready to lead people, churches or organizations into flourishing places. To learn more about becoming a mentor or a mentoring church or if you are looking for an internship contact mentoredministry@flourishinstitute.online.
One On One Coaching & Spiritual Direction
One on One Coaching: A one-on-one coaching relationship can help you to develop and deploy you as a leader in all areas of your life, both personally and professionally, whether you are a pastor, elder, or church leader. View more information here.
Spiritual Direction: Spiritual Direction offers an opportunity for prayerful conversation and guided reflection in order to discern the presence and leading of the Holy Spirit in your life. View more information here.
Onboard Coaching
The successes or failures experienced in the first 90 days will have a defining impact on the tenure of a leader. Because of this, we have provided coaching options for churches during the onboarding process of their new pastor. Our hope is to ignite a successful start to the ministry relationship. Access here.
Ordination
ECO has designed an ordination process that equips women and men with the best of our Reformed, Evangelical and Egalitarian tradition in order to prepare them for the ever-changing world and dynamics of ministry. We come alongside those who embark on this journey by helping them to make it meaningful, educational, and transformational. View more information here.
ProScan Services (Individual)
The Proscan tool helps pastors determine current areas of stress & satisfaction in their lives & ministries. It enables pastors & staff members to take proactive steps in their lives to find greater satisfaction in their calls. Access here.
Seminary Training
At the Flourish Institute of Theology we’ve redesigned seminary. We believe everyone should have access to practical ministry and theological training. Get the tools, experience, and confidence needed for life long ministry. Visit flourishinstitute.online for more information.