This document summarizes Lisa Colton's presentation on connected congregations. It defines a connected congregation as one that prioritizes relationships and shared values to build a strong, engaged Jewish community. It discusses the importance of transparency and empowering community members to contribute their ideas. It also provides a case study of Beth Haverim Shir Shalom's family school program and its evolution through an open process involving parents, educators, and the board.

1. Connected Congregational
Education, Part 3
Lisa Colton
President, Darim Online
Chief Learning Officer, See3 Communications
lisa@see3.com @lisacolton #connectcongs
This presentation is adapted from materials developed through
Connected Congregations: A UJA-Federation of New York Initiative with Darim Online

2. A Little
About Me

3. TODAY…
Think Connected.
And Empathy.
And Transparent.
And Empowered.

4. The Game Plan
1. Review: What is a Connected Congregation?
2. Process of Change: Transparency & Empowerment
3. Case study from Rebecca Bernstein McVeigh, Beth
Haverim Shir Shalom, Mahwah, NJ

5. I ndividual Relationships
Small Group I dentity
Community
Congregation
Synagogue
SYNAGOGUE STRENGTH & SUSTAI NABI LI TY
To strengthen the synagogue, we must invest in individual relationships, support
collective identity and responsibility, grounded in Jewish values and action.
The foundation of this is designing for social engagement with each other.
Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego
Lisa Colton, August 2014
We need to matter to each other, and the collective.
Our Connected Hypothesis

6. What is a Connected Congregation?
A connected congregation is one that deeply understands the
meaning of community, and works explicitly to build a strong,
meaningful and engaged Jewish community.
Connected congregations prioritize relationships and shared
values, and align all aspects of institutional management in
service of the community.
Those within connected congregations feel a sense of shared
ownership and responsibility for each other and the
collective, and are empowered to contribute their ideas,
energy and resources.

7. THE PROCESS OF ALIGNING THE
INSTITUTION FOR COMMUNITY
Connected congregations prioritize relationships
and shared values, and align all aspects of
institutional management in service of the
community.

8. TRANSPARENCY
Foundation of trust in any relationship

9. WHAT IS IT?
Transparency… implies openness,
communication, and accountability…
Transparency is operating in such a way that it is
easy for others to see what actions are
performed. It has been defined simply as
"the perceived quality of
intentionally shared information.”
-Schnackenberg, A., Tomlinson, E., 2014. Organizational Transparency: A New Perspective on Managing Trust
in Organization-Stakeholder Relationships. Journal of Management DOI: 10.1177/0149206314525202.

10. WHY?
“Like authenticity, transparency is not defined by
you as a leaders, but by the people you want to
trust you and your organization. How much
information do they need in order to follow you,
trust you with their money or business?”
- Charlene Li
Open Leadership (pg. 193)
How does this relate to the culture and function of your
congregation, school and leaders today and in the past?
What does it mean for a connected congregation?

12. “Our surveys of 20,000 synagogue members have shown that the key
driver of synagogue membership is the perceived value for the dollar
of membership. What most strongly correlates to perceived value for
the dollar?
Budget transparency.
When leadership doesn’t share the true cost of programs, and uses
funds to subsidize programs as it sees fit, not only do recipients
undervalue the program, but they also feel a disconnect with the
synagogue that ultimately causes them to the congregation. Including
members in the conversation about budget priorities and explaining
the rationale behind expenses is a great step to retaining members
and ensuring financial sustainability.”
-Sacha Litman, Measuring Success
“Show Them What You’re Working with: How Transparency Leads to
Sustainability”
Financial Transparency

13. Personal Transparency: Rabbis

14. Empowered Community
Those within connected congregations feel a
sense of shared ownership and responsibility for
each other and the collective, and are
empowered to contribute their ideas, energy
and resources

15. How Do You Let People Ante In?

16. Community Collaboration
Skin in the Game

17. Case Study: The Process of Change
CHALUTZIM: FAMILY SCHOOL
Rebecca Bernstein
McVeigh, Educator
Beth Haverim Shir
Shalom, Mahwah, NJ

18. FAMILY SCHOOL OVERVIEW
• “Dedicated to the never-ending process of
Jewish learning.”
• Alternative to the traditional religious school
(running in parallel)
• Encourage every family to do at least 1 year
• Social time over bagels
• Parent/Child work

19. B’RESHIT
• What we heard from the ground up
• How we responded
• Process with the board
• How we thought about taking risks
• Who opts in?

20. How It Has Evolved
• Family School parents – relationships,
leadership, feeling part of something
• Should we make it mandatory?
• Transparency: Sample class, try it out
• Encouraging new families – get connected!

21. Case Study: The Process of Change
CHALUTZIM: FAMILY SCHOOL
Rebecca Bernstein
McVeigh, Educator
Beth Haverim Shir
Shalom, Mahwah, NJ

22. Q&A

23. I ndividual Relationships
Small Group I dentity
Community
Congregation
Synagogue
SYNAGOGUE STRENGTH & SUSTAI NABI LI TY
To strengthen the synagogue, we must invest in individual relationships, support
collective identity and responsibility, grounded in Jewish values and action.
The foundation of this is designing for social engagement with each other.
Congregation Beth Israel, San Diego
Lisa Colton, August 2014
We need to matter to each other, and the collective.
Our Connected Hypothesis

24. • Lisa Colton lisa@see3.com @lisacolton
• http://connectedcongregations.org/
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/connectedcongrega
tions/
• Recording, slides and links will come via email shortly.