Copies may be purchased through the Covenant Bookstore for $10 plus shipping and handling. The DVD is accompanied by a participant’s workbook.
“Veritas: Telling the Truth about Congregational Vitality” is a one-day workshop designed for pastors, chairpersons, and other key leaders in the church. Participants develop an understanding of the marks of a healthy missional church and the four types of established churches in the Covenant. Afterward, each church discusses the next steps in its future.
The workshop has been presented roughly 30 times to clusters of churches that gathered in one location. “Veritas has been very helpful and effective for local churches,” says John Wenrich, director of church vitality for the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism (CGE). “We’ve had an overwhelming positive response. Veritas is a God-thing and I am surprised by how much he has blessed this effort.”
CGE developed the new resource because participants had been asking for a way to share their experience with the rest of their congregation. As well, some churches have been unable to attend the workshops.
Veritas means “truth” in Latin, says Wenrich, who has made John 8:32 the cornerstone of the workshop: “You shall know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
“When I think about Veritas, I think about warning and hope,” Wenrich adds. “Warning and hope are the two elements found in the seven letters to the seven churches in the book of Revelation.”
Wenrich emphasizes that the workshop is not just for congregations that are struggling. “Even healthy people should see a doctor once a year to hear the truth about their health.”
Wenrich developed the workshop after receiving many requests from congregations to meet with their leaders. Although the video is now available, the live workshops also will continue to be presented.
Visit the Veritas website for more information. Wenrich also maintains a regular blog where he discusses issues related to church vitalization.
