THE CONGREGATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - DATA-BASED CONSULTATION WITH CHURCHES AND SYNAGOGUES

The potential for successful consultation between psychological and religious communities is illustrated through one forum, the Congregation Development Program (CDP). A data-based consultation program, the CDP is designed to help churches and synagogues define their strengths and weaknesses and plan for their futures. Congregation life is assessed through participant observation, interviews with clergy and leaders, and a battery of survey instruments designed specifically for congregations. This information is interpreted in collaboration with clergy and leaders in a consultative feedback meeting. The authors describe the phases of the consultation process, from entry and assessment to intervention and evaluation/termination. Illustrations are drawn from work with over 50 diverse congregations. The CDP points to churches and synagogues as sites of challenging opportunity for professional psychology.