As a coach, adviser and consultant, Diana Bender brings a broad range of skills and 20 years of experience to helping non-profits, faith communities and individuals better align their vision and operations, solve organizational and financial challenges, launch new programs, build community, engage in strategic planning and visioning processes, raise more money and reach their full potential. Diana teaches classes on discernment, leads discernment groups and supports individual discernment processes. She facilitates the lay preaching ministry at her church and is a member of the Social Action, Liturgy and Sunday School teams. She is a Level III catechist in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Diana has a BA in Psychology from Reed College and a Master’s in Public Policy (with a focus on organizational change) from Harvard University.
What do you love most about being a congregational consultant?
My favorite thing is to discover where the unique gifts and greatest joy of a person or group can be brought to bear towards the world’s great needs. I am very interested in people: how they think and work, and how together we see the Holy Spirit acting in their lives and communities. While I have deep technical skills, what I most enjoy is using those skills to help strengthen ministry and encourage people to live into their promise.
Where do you feel your strengths are as a consultant?
Joy infuses my work; I am known for my positive energy, creativity and enthusiasm. I like diving into difficult problems, bringing a new perspective, or drawing out a different aspect of a problem that leads everyone to a better outcome. Sometimes it’s the use of my technical skills and background that makes the difference. Sometimes it’s knowing how and when to sit quietly and let God speak to us. I’m a highly skilled facilitator and have led many group processes and retreats to help groups reach a higher level of productivity or functionality, or a greater understanding of their faith and calling.
What gets you excited to work with a particular congregation, or what are you looking for in a consulting job?
I have been a member of healthy and unhealthy congregations over time, and this experience informs my consulting. Church and my pursuit of the spiritual disciplines over the past thirteen years continue to transform me and I want everyone to have that same opportunity. Church can be the most compelling place in the world. I love getting into it and figuring out what is blocking a congregation from being that compelling place. What makes me most excited is openness to change and an interest in hearing the Holy Spirit more closely.