Congregations who wish to undergo revitalization must have a clear understanding of their present circumstances as well as a clear vision of where they will need to go. A consultation brings in an objective eye for assessment as well as an experienced coach who can help the congregation identify and adopt specific goals and strategies which will bring new people into the Kingdom of God and new people into the congregation's ministry. Part of the revitalization process, then, includes a congregational consultation. A weekend with an outside consultant, however, is just the beginning. How well a congregation is able to make the agreed upon changes and become more effective in outreach will be supported by the other components of the revitalization process described below. The Transforming Congregations Network, in cooperation with LCMS World Mission has developed and instituted a process to train consultants who will be certified to lead this phase of congregational transformation.
Congregations that have undergone a consultation will have received some prescriptions aimed at creating behaviors consistant with outreach and renewal in the church culture. In order follow up on these prescriptions, the consultation team will arrange monthly coaching appointments with the pastor and quarterly meetings with the leaders of the congregation. Specific exercises in intervention and accountability are outlined in a coaching manual.
In order for small outreach to be effectively promoted and supported in the local congregation, and in order for the fruit of outreach to be effectively assimilated by the local congregation, pastors and congregational leaders need to be equipped and supported as they lead the charge of turning the focus of their ministries outward toward unreached people. Pastors and significant leaders of congregations in the Transforming Congregations Network are gathered into regional learning communities which meet monthly under the auspices of the district. The purpose of the learning communities is threefold: to provide a support and a safe place for pastors and leaders to share their aspirations and concerns about congregational transformation, to assist the leaders in their own spiritual life with Jesus, and to provide opportunities for learning and skill-building relative to the revitalization process. In addition to support, the Learning Communities provide a system of accountability to encourage and measure progress toward agreed-upon goals. Each pastor in the Learning Community covenants to participate in the accountability structure as well as to initiate a learning community among his leaders in his own congregation.