Ridder Church Renewal
Frequently Asked Questions
How can we learn more about Ridder Church Renewal?
Some basic information about Ridder Church Renewal and some helpful videos can be found at this
location: http://www.westernsem.edu/journey/ridder/
The best way to learn about Ridder Church Renewal and to discern whether it is the right process at the
right time for your congregation is to attend an Introductory Event. At a Ridder Church Renewal
Introductory Event you will receive more than content. You will experience the Ridder Church Renewal
process: presentation of information; time for personal reflection; and engagement in small and large
group interaction. The Introductory Event is a “taste and see” experience.
The Introductory Event for your region is scheduled for May 15-16, 2015 at Hunter Mountain Resort, 7740
Main Street Hunter, NY 12442. The event schedule is 9:30am to 8:00pm on Friday, and 8:30am to 4:00pm
on Saturday.
Through the generosity of the various partners and donors, your only cost for the Introductory Event is
your travel, meals as you travel to the event, and lodging expenses. All other fees/costs for Presenters,
materials, meeting spaces, and meals during the Introductory Event are provided for you.
You will receive an invitation to the Introductory Event and online Registration:
https://my.westernsem.edu/2015-rcr-introductory-event-new-york-albany
What is included in the Ridder Church Renewal process and how is it designed and delivered?
There are two “Learning Modules” in the Ridder Church Renewal process. A congregation commits to
one module at a time. It is also our conviction that a congregation gains the most benefits and achieves
the greatest mastery when it engages both modules.
Learning Module One introduces the One End Game: Missional Living; two Core Values: Integrity and
Authenticity; and three Skill Sets: Mental Model of Discipleship, Living Systems, and a model of change
by Generating and Sustaining Creative Tension.
Learning Module Two retains the focus on the One End Game of Missional Living, as well as, the two
Core Values and the three Skill Sets already introduced. In addition, learning Module Two adds two more
Core Values: Courage and Love; and two more Skill Sets: High Performance Teams and The
Congregation as a System.
Each module has the same flow:

Event # 1 is a Faithwalking experience for the pastor(s) in Houston, Texas. This is done with
pastors from your region and one other region in North America. These events will occur in
September, October and November, 2015.

Events # 2, #3 and #4 include a time for the pastors, beginning on a Thursday morning into
Friday afternoon; the Leadership Teams from the congregations join the pastors from Friday
afternoon into Saturday afternoon.

Pastors and Leadership Teams take on homework assignments and further learning, equipping
and work in their local congregations between events.

Event # 5 is an Integrative Retreat for the pastor(s)

Each of these events is approximately 6 months apart—so the first Leadership Teams event will
be in the winter/spring of 2016.
Each congregation will form a congregational transformation Leadership Team of four to six members
plus the pastor(s) of the congregation. This Leadership Team does some preparatory work; attends
events #2, #3, and #4; and brings the Ridder Church Renewal process into the life of the congregation.
What is Faithwalking and how does it fit into Ridder Church Renewal?
Faithwalking is the personal transformation component of Ridder Church Renewal. The prayed-for
outcome of Faithwalking is deep personal transformation leading to Missional Living.
Event # 1 for pastors in Houston, Texas is a Faithwalking experience (Faithwalking 101), followed by a six
month additional transformational engagement through Faithwalking 201 (done through Google Hangouts, coaching and assignments).
Many Ridder Church Renewal congregations begin to implement the Faithwalking experience in their
own congregations and in partnership with other nearby Ridder congregations. Faithwalking in the
local church helps cultivate transformation in Christ among members; and it helps introduce some key
Ridder Church Renewal concepts into the life of the church.
The Ridder Church Renewal team will assist congregations that want to introduce Faithwalking for their
members.
What does Ridder Church Renewal cost?
The actual cost of the Ridder Church Renewal process is approximately $5,000 per year per
congregation. Most of this cost is offset by the denominational partners (denominationally and
regionally), as well as through a grant from the Lilly Endowment and the generosity of other donors.
Each congregation pays $1,500 per year for three years for Learning Module One ($4,500 total) and
$1,500 per year for Learning Module Two ($4,500 total). This annual contribution includes:

The pastor’s participation in Faithwalking in event #1 in Houston: meals, three nights of lodging,
presenters, etc.

Pastor and Team participation in events #2,, #3 and #4 which includes all costs for lodging,
meals, speakers, etc.

The pastor’s participation in event #5—the retreat, including meals, lodging etc.

The only additional costs for a congregation are travel for the pastor(s) to Houston and the
other four events, and the travel costs for the Leadership Team members to the events.

All other costs are included for a Leadership Team of four to six people, plus the pastor(s).