Hello Hege,
The design for the program that Brendan does here in Perth is different to the
one I have been doing with church leaders in Brisbane. For my part, I've made
quite a long reply to you, Hege, about what I've been doing in Brisbane. The
group is comprised of both clergy and laity, which I think is always a good
combination (i.e. trusting that whoever comes are the right people).
I'd be interested in hearing more about your question on Open Space and story
telling. If you mean, could you use Open Space to enable people to share
stories, then why not? I think the same principles would apply. If it's you who
are interested in hearing the stories, then you are the 'sponsor'. Develop an
invitation outlining the theme of the story telling sessions and invite whoever
wants to come to be there - to either tell stories or listen to them. Sounds
like fun.
Here's the outline of the Brisbane program with Anglican Church folks:
On Day one, start with a 'check in' talking circle. Brainstorm some ideas about
'crucial questions I'd like to sponsor conversations about in my church'. Get
people to red-dot-vote on questions that most engage them. Come up with an
overarching 'question' for an real-play OST meeting. Ask one of the group to be
in the role of Sponsor. We then run a short OST meeting (3 x 30 min
conversations and a short action planning sessin). All of this takes us through
to mid afternoon on Day 1.
After they have experienced a 'real' OST meeting, I invite them to get into
groups of 3-4 for about 20 min to reflect on two questions ('what did you
notice about the process' and 'what questions are emerging'). I ask them to
write one question per piece of A4 paper with marker pens. Then we come back
into the main circle and throw the questions on the floor. As a group we
constellate the questions into themes. Generally the themes tend to naturally
fall into about three main areas (i) preparation work with the sponsor (ii) set
up and facilitation on the day (iii) convergence and post open space. The
constellated themes then form the 'agenda' for the next full day day. I also
keep a little 'check list' up my sleeve to ensure we cover most important
things for a faciliator to know, and I encourage them to buy Harrison's book,
'OST - a user's guide'. Interestingly we just about always end up covering all
the areas on my check-list from the question which people put on the floor
at the end of Day 1.
On Day 2 we work through all the practical questions mentioned above.
On the third day we take a look at the underlying themes of self organising
systems rather than just the 'mechanics' of OST process. Some of the diagrams
from Peggy Holman's book 'Engaging Emergence' are very helpful , along with the
eight principles from Harrison's book 'Waverider'. Day three includes some self
organised conversations on how to be a Waverider in every day parish life i.e.
how would people use Wavering principles in pastoral care, governance,
education, worship, mission, outreach ete etc.
Because this is a Chrsitian group we also spend a couple of hours, on the third
day, reflecting on the question, 'Was Jesus a Waverider?' This has been a
really important and deepening part of the learning process. I have an article
on this theme on my web site which I am happy to develop and add to and receive
feedback on. In fact Chris Corrigan just shared another great thought on the
story of Jesus walking on water (symbolic in Jewish thought of 'chaos'. So
what does it mean for us to walk, in faith, through chaos?)
On the last afternoon it's back into a short OST on the question, 'Waveriding
in the Sunshine State - where to from here'. This is to provide space for
people to think about what they are actually going to do back in their parishes
or agencies to apply OST and Waveriding principles.
We finish with a closing circle, send poeple on their way, and then meet again
after three months. At that follow up day we have a look at one case study in
depth (something that someone in the group has tried) and then the rest of the
day in OST on the question, 'what have we been learning and where to from
here'. So this is basically giving the group a pattern for an ongoing community
of practice. I think this follow up day has been really crucial in keeping
monentum going - without which people simply get absorbed back into the
'business as usual' culture of command and control.
Lisa Heft has a very good 'Open Space Ideas Book' which I understand she is
happy for people to use with appropriate acknowledgement to Lisa (I make an
honorarium donation to Lisa when I use this resource).
Michael Wood
www.michaeljohnwood.com
A warm sunny day in Perth, Western Australia
Ph. 0435 065326
Date: Sat, 23 Nov 2013 17:05:46 +0100
From: Hege Steinsland <[email protected]>
To: World wide Open Space Technology email list
<[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [OSList] Wave Riding in OZ
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"
Wow. I just love this story. And I?m so glad every time I hear about open space
and self organization used in the church. I?m trying to make this possibility
known in the church of Norway as an approach that can make people less stressed
out, more happy and more concerned with the really important things in church
and life :-) I love this Dean, that have made the wisdom in the principles and
the law a way to live and work.
I`m looking for more shared experience with story-telling. How to invite, who
to invite, do you still need an sponsor and how do you frame it? I wold love to
learn from others experience here.
I would also love her more about Michael and Brendans program. Is it an
training program in Open space for clergy?
All the best fro
a cold and windy night in Norway.
Hege
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