Synagogues as

Connected Congregations:

Leading and Engaging

in a Networked Age

Lisa Colton

Chief Learning Officer,

See3 Communications / Darim Online

lisa@see3.com

@lisacolton @darimonline

#connectcongs

What is “Community”?

What is “Community”?

People who are bound together primarily by a shared sense of mutual responsibility toward one another (as an intrinsic value) - not because they have to, not only during transitory liminal moments in their life, and not based primarily on a transactional relationship.

A personal story

Fortress: Insiders in, Outsiders out

Sponge: Constant flow in and out

Synagogues as Networked Nonprofits

• Dynamic networks• Intentional network weaving• Symbiosis• Transparency• Nimbleness• Facile with organizing tools

Traditional Mindset: Hub & Spokes

Network Mindset

“connect and collaborate” rather than “command and control”

http://ccc.georgkolb.com/

Mapping Networks

Mapping can

illuminate key opportunities

for action and investment

know the net -- see the map of

how things really work

knit the net -- adjust the network

for improvements

Be a Platform forSocializingTemple BethAbraham in Tarrytown, NY

Listen & EngageYou have to BE

IN the conversation.

Rabbi Danny Burkeman

on Twitter

(@Rabbi_Danny) shares

his professional

activities, reflections,

thought leadership,

hobbies and more in

conversation with his

local community and

beyond.

Make Connections

Network Weaver RolesConnector Catalyst

Connects people.

Gets network building started.

Build social culture.

Network Facilitator

Helps convene people to set up a

more explicit and focused network.

Self-Organized

Project Coordinator

Helps coordinate

self-organized projects.

Network Guardian

Helps put in place systems for

networks: communications, training,

support, etc.

Job Descriptions

Program Directors

Social Media

Managers

Community Managers

Network Weavers

MAKE IT EASY FOR ME!

Use the Right Tools!

Micro-Planning

Communal need

or interest

Empower individuals to micro-

plan, experiment and evaluate.

(Remember, you don’t have to

do it for them)

Provide support (staff,

space, experience,

systems) as needed and

helpful

Listen to interests and

needs of the community

members

Try it out! Focus on short,

strategic bursts that can be

adjusted based on

feedback

Reflect on how these

’intrapreneurs’ went about

this task

The age of the ‘permanent

beta’

Millennials:

Transparency

Fast paced/efficient

Collaboration/teams

Divvy tasks based on skill

Meaning & impact

WE NEED

TO THINK

DIFFERENTLY

ABOUT RISK

SHIFTS & RISK• Staffing Structure & Job Descriptions• Leadership Styles• Institutional Identity and Boundaries• Financial Considerations• Culture Change

Program Governance Finance

Data, Metrics, Measurement

Communication Tools and Strategy

Staffing Structure, Skills, Allocation

Community Values and Culture

Connected Congregations

Additional ResourcesFacebook group discussion:

http://bit.ly/networkweaving

Follow June Holley’s Work

on Network Weaving

Darim’s Networked Nonprofit

Book Club: http://bit.ly/netnonbookclub

Darim’s Connected Congregation blog series:

http://darimonline.org/blog

#connectcongs on Twitter