Robert's Ramblings

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY: Moving to the Next Step

      The Appreciative Inquiry team took on a massive responsibility last summer, asking our members and friends to tell their faith stories and then writing those stories in the third person to remove personal references and to insure anonymity.  Most people who agreed to be interviewed I have told their stories.  Some few remain because of difficulties in scheduling.  I don't think any of us realized what a large, time-consuming labor of love this would be.  Team members have given countless hours to listening, gathering and writing our stories.  They are busy people with families, jobs, outside lives and other responsibilities in the church.  Yet they have persisted because they recognize the importance of what they do for the future of this church.  They have my profound admiration and very deep appreciation.

      To those of you who have not had the opportunity to share your story, patience please.  Stories will continue to be gathered.  In truth, sharing our faith experiences should be a never-ending process. Each story tells something important about the person and the church.

      Enough stories have been gathered to begin the next stage of the process.  The team has now begun to study them, group them according to type and draw from them a list of "provocative propositions"-to use the language of Appreciative Inquiry.

      "Provocative propositions" are just what the term suggests, statements intended to elicit or provoke thoughts of our future ministries.  Here's where the genius of Appreciative Inquiry really comes into play.  In this congregation, as in every organization, certain experiences stand out and certain things work; therefore, they are recognized and honored.  Through storytelling we learn what they are.  Then thoughtful, informed conclusions can be reached about what we can most effectively do in the future.

      After the provocative propositions have been identified, they will be shared with the congregation and tested for their practicality and ability to inspire.  Then, to move prematurely to the step beyond in the process, we will develop future ministry action plans, based upon what we learn of what we value and how we can use these values to continue to strengthen our witness as the people of God in LHPC.

      And it all began because you were willing to share your faith story.  Thanks!

-- Robert E Shelton