The Sheepfold |
About the Sheepfold -
WHAT IS THE SHEEPFOLD?
HOW DID THE SHEEPFOLD FORM?
Church Communities in the region who offered CGS would periodically offer local CGS courses, beginning in the late 90s. The connections formed at those courses lead to periodically offering some regional gatherings. These events led to further collaborations, the most significant being a project in which CGS was aligned with the Seattle Archdiocese Curriculum (between 2009 and 2011), and a visit from the Director of the National Association in 2013. The networks of relationship and support that were fostered in these early regional efforts are the roots out of which the Sheepfold Consortium grew. Some of the local parishes formed a consortium, The Sheepfold, to make training “more local, affordable and sustainable” in 2014.
Since the Formation of the Sheepfold a yearly Level 1 Formation Course has been offered, as well as periodic Level 2 courses. During the Summers of 2017 and 2018 the Sheepfold supported the National L2 and L3 Courses that were held in Federal Way, WA. In addition our collaboration has allowed us to offer Practicum days, book studies and material making opportunities.
HOW DOES THE SHEEPFOLD OPERATE?
We are a consortium, which means that we pool our resources in order to engage in a common task, in our case the offering of CGS Formation Courses. One member community with the approval of their Pastor/Rector agrees to serve as the Treasurer. All dues that are collected are held in a custodial account within that community, and distributed by that community for formation costs.
The size of our organization has increased dramatically in recent years. This has meant that we had both more funds to offer courses as well as more demand for courses. In the beginning the administrative tasks were done by one person with the assistance of a guiding group. The increased membership has necessitated a shift in how we operate. We have recently implemented the use of Sociocracy as a governance system that will allow us to more easily delegate work and foster transparency and clear communication.
WHO LEADS SHEEPFOLD COURSES?
The consortium includes local catechists who have been trained as formation leaders to train others locally. Currently there are 6 recognized Formation leaders that serve in the Sheepfold.
When local formation leaders are unable to meet the formation needs, or are in need of collaboration from outside of the region, the Sheepfold will contract with Formation Leaders from outside the area. This decision is made carefully as it does incur travel, room and board expenses.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR THE PARISH TO JOIN THE SHEEPFOLD?
Each member community pays annual dues of $1000 to form catechists. Our fiscal year runs July 1 through June 31. Dues are due on July 1st of each year. This spreads the cost of formation over many parishes and is a bargain for communities since forming just one catechist in a level can cost $1000 or more. Member communities commit to the vision of sustainable catechist formation and pay annual dues regardless of whether they send catechists or not. The idea is to sustain the vision that formation is calendared (not an annual surprise as to what’s offered), local (no airplanes and hotel stays for catechists) and affordable (the catechist pays little, the community supporting them does.)
Dues are not formation fees. Dues to The Sheepfold cover the cost of formation by pooling our resources. It can cost a community between $5 -7,000 to host a course. This price is unaffordable for most parishes and the cause of much anxiety for the hosting community. Holy Family Catholic Church in Kirkland has hosted formation four times, and never once did registration fees cover the cost of formation. This scenario was played out in other parishes who risked hosting on their own. The necessity for The Sheepfold came from the recognition that together we could provide easy access to formation, thereby supporting and growing the gift of CGS in our region.
HOW OFTEN IS FORMATION OFFERED?
We make decisions of what courses to offer based on the number of member communities we have and their input. In general L1 one is offered every year in a year round and summer intensive format, and L2 and L3 are offered every 2 years.
For 2023 the Sheepfold anticipates offering:
WHY JOIN THE SHEEPFOLD?
Since our founding in 2014, we have formed over 100 catechists, which really sustains CGS in the region.
In addition to offering CGS formation, our close collaboration has fostered relationships and connections among our member communities that enhance and nurture the CGS efforts in the individual communities. Sheepfold strives to offer Formation Courses led by a team of Formation Formation leaders, and have the added benefit of having the participants from a wide range of communities. There is a direct relationship between the ease with which our individual communities can offer CGS to their children and the support and connection between our individual communities. So, when you join The Sheepfold, you are investing in the long-term future of CGS in our region, receiving the benefit of local access to CGS formation in order to support the CGS ministry in your community.
Below is the latest Sheepfold Governance Document. We collaborate together so we can offer courses in our region. We use Sociocracy as our governance model.
- The Sheepfold is a Pacific Northwest regional consortium of communities that support, host, or would like to host Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.
- Member communities pay yearly dues of $1000, that allow us to offer CGS formation courses.
- Member communities also offer their gifts and resources to support CGS Formation in our area.
- Membership allows communities to send people to Sheepfold sponsored CGS formation courses - every member community is guaranteed at least one spot in any formation course.
- The Sheepfold is a consortium that aims to make formation in CGS local, calendared, and affordable. In the past Formation has generally required air travel, and great expense, usually borne by the catechist. The vision of the consortium is that members are investing in the long-term health and availability of formation in the Pacific Northwest region, whether or not they have catechists attending any offered formation course.
HOW DID THE SHEEPFOLD FORM?
Church Communities in the region who offered CGS would periodically offer local CGS courses, beginning in the late 90s. The connections formed at those courses lead to periodically offering some regional gatherings. These events led to further collaborations, the most significant being a project in which CGS was aligned with the Seattle Archdiocese Curriculum (between 2009 and 2011), and a visit from the Director of the National Association in 2013. The networks of relationship and support that were fostered in these early regional efforts are the roots out of which the Sheepfold Consortium grew. Some of the local parishes formed a consortium, The Sheepfold, to make training “more local, affordable and sustainable” in 2014.
Since the Formation of the Sheepfold a yearly Level 1 Formation Course has been offered, as well as periodic Level 2 courses. During the Summers of 2017 and 2018 the Sheepfold supported the National L2 and L3 Courses that were held in Federal Way, WA. In addition our collaboration has allowed us to offer Practicum days, book studies and material making opportunities.
HOW DOES THE SHEEPFOLD OPERATE?
We are a consortium, which means that we pool our resources in order to engage in a common task, in our case the offering of CGS Formation Courses. One member community with the approval of their Pastor/Rector agrees to serve as the Treasurer. All dues that are collected are held in a custodial account within that community, and distributed by that community for formation costs.
The size of our organization has increased dramatically in recent years. This has meant that we had both more funds to offer courses as well as more demand for courses. In the beginning the administrative tasks were done by one person with the assistance of a guiding group. The increased membership has necessitated a shift in how we operate. We have recently implemented the use of Sociocracy as a governance system that will allow us to more easily delegate work and foster transparency and clear communication.
WHO LEADS SHEEPFOLD COURSES?
The consortium includes local catechists who have been trained as formation leaders to train others locally. Currently there are 6 recognized Formation leaders that serve in the Sheepfold.
- Joann Terranova: Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 (in progress)
- Kim Ward: Level 1
- Lynne Shioyama: Level 1, Level 2
- Maria Muscado: Level 1
- Mary Trotter: Level 1
- Trinka Hamel: Level 1
When local formation leaders are unable to meet the formation needs, or are in need of collaboration from outside of the region, the Sheepfold will contract with Formation Leaders from outside the area. This decision is made carefully as it does incur travel, room and board expenses.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST FOR THE PARISH TO JOIN THE SHEEPFOLD?
Each member community pays annual dues of $1000 to form catechists. Our fiscal year runs July 1 through June 31. Dues are due on July 1st of each year. This spreads the cost of formation over many parishes and is a bargain for communities since forming just one catechist in a level can cost $1000 or more. Member communities commit to the vision of sustainable catechist formation and pay annual dues regardless of whether they send catechists or not. The idea is to sustain the vision that formation is calendared (not an annual surprise as to what’s offered), local (no airplanes and hotel stays for catechists) and affordable (the catechist pays little, the community supporting them does.)
Dues are not formation fees. Dues to The Sheepfold cover the cost of formation by pooling our resources. It can cost a community between $5 -7,000 to host a course. This price is unaffordable for most parishes and the cause of much anxiety for the hosting community. Holy Family Catholic Church in Kirkland has hosted formation four times, and never once did registration fees cover the cost of formation. This scenario was played out in other parishes who risked hosting on their own. The necessity for The Sheepfold came from the recognition that together we could provide easy access to formation, thereby supporting and growing the gift of CGS in our region.
HOW OFTEN IS FORMATION OFFERED?
We make decisions of what courses to offer based on the number of member communities we have and their input. In general L1 one is offered every year in a year round and summer intensive format, and L2 and L3 are offered every 2 years.
For 2023 the Sheepfold anticipates offering:
- Level 1 Course, January through November.
- Level 1 Part 1 Summer Intensive
- Level 3 Part 2, February & July
WHY JOIN THE SHEEPFOLD?
Since our founding in 2014, we have formed over 100 catechists, which really sustains CGS in the region.
In addition to offering CGS formation, our close collaboration has fostered relationships and connections among our member communities that enhance and nurture the CGS efforts in the individual communities. Sheepfold strives to offer Formation Courses led by a team of Formation Formation leaders, and have the added benefit of having the participants from a wide range of communities. There is a direct relationship between the ease with which our individual communities can offer CGS to their children and the support and connection between our individual communities. So, when you join The Sheepfold, you are investing in the long-term future of CGS in our region, receiving the benefit of local access to CGS formation in order to support the CGS ministry in your community.
Below is the latest Sheepfold Governance Document. We collaborate together so we can offer courses in our region. We use Sociocracy as our governance model.
Click to set custom HTML
|
|