The Church Development Institute-Seattle

1. Linking theory and practice

2. Active adult participation of all involved

3. CDI trainers serving as managers, coaches, facilitators, and presenters in the learning process

4. Shared responsibility for the learning process

5. Feedback as part of the learning process, including critique of the Congregational Development Project Reports by other participants and trainers, assessments of the program, feedback on participant skills, etc.

6. Creating a learning community of congregational development practitioners

7. Maintaining CDI standards

8. A focus on organizational and system issues. While intra-personal, interpersonal, group, spiritual life issues are important elements in effective congregational development, and participants will bring a range of skills in those areas, the program is not focused on them. Participants may want to consider additional work in those areas. Note: the Seattle-CDI does work at more integration of these areas in a more experiential approach to CDI, but still operates on the assumption that more training in those areas is desirable.

9. Participants are asked to try to use the knowledge and skills provided, "as given". This is to give ideas and methods that may be new to the participant a "fair chance" before evaluating and modifying them when back home.

10. Participants are asked to "resource" themselves as needed -- mentors, spiritual direction, therapy, etc.

The participant agrees:

1. I have looked at the program description on web site or "The Church Development Institute: The CDI Trainer’s Core Comprehensive Program in Congregational Development". If I am attending the Seattle - CDI have read all the material provided on the web site at Seattle CDI's -home  and  Information on the Program 

 2. I am willing to fully cooperate with the learning approach offered by CDI

3. The program appears to address my current learning objectives.

4. I will make the program a priority for my continuing education.

5. I am making a commitment to fully participate in the program, including participating in all sessions (about 110 hours), most of the community’s worship, completing the required readings, participating in a "back-home" Learning-Application Team, engaging in designing and implementing congregational development projects, and completing two Congregational Development Project Reports, and in the Seattle CDI participating in the social events.

6. If I miss sessions due to family emergencies and priorities, illness, etc. I will make up the sessions in a manner approved by the program leaders. I understand that if too many sessions are missed I may need to drop from the program (and begin over again.)

7. I will work in a collaborative manner with other leaders in my organization as I apply what I am learning in CDI.

This is to be turned in on the first day of the program.