ENGAGING IN A JOURNEY OF DISCERNMENT: Learning How to Utilize Experiments to Behave Our Way into New Thinking TS 820 The Practice of Ministry Houston Graduate School of Theology Presented by Craig Van Gelder Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Section I Understanding the Process Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

in a great unravelling we need to ask different questions Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Need to Ask the “God” Questions in Midst of Disruption and Dislocation What is God up to out ahead of us in our neighborhoods? What is God up to out ahead of us in our neighborhoods? How do we participate more fully in what God is up to in our neighborhoods and communities? How do we participate more fully in what God is up to in our neighborhoods and communities? Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Process for Engaging the God Questions Journey Discernment Discernment Experimenting Experimenting Reflecting Reflecting Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

The Action Learning Cycle Planning Planning Action Action Reflection Reflection Learning Learning Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Repeating the Action Learning Cycle Based on What Learn Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Experiencing Liminality in Midst of Trying New Behaviors Disruption Disruption Disorientation Disorientation Dislocation Dislocation Discomfort Discomfort Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Letting Go Present—Stepping into the Future Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Section II Examples of Experiments Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

An Experiment: Capturing God Sightings Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

An Experiment: Hosting a Neighborhood Chili Supper Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

An Experiment: Blue Sunday Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

An Experiment: Affirming One’s Faith Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

An Experiment: Riding the Bus to the Casino and Back Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Meeting the Neighbors at Halloween Trick or Treat Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Experiment: Shopping at Different Grocery Store Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

An Experiment: Meeting the Neighbors Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Section III The Diffusion of Innovation From: Everett Rogers Diffusion of Innovation (1962, 1995, 2003) Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

WHAT IS DIFFUSION? DIFFUSION IS THE PROCESS BY WHICH AN INNOVATION IS COMMUNICATED THROUGH CERTAIN CHANNELS AND ACCEPTED OVER TIME AMONG THE MEMBERS OF A ORGANIZATION. Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

Diffusion of Innovation Theory Action: More than training and knowledge is required to change a system’s behavior Action: More than training and knowledge is required to change a system’s behavior Focus: The proposed change is clearly defined Focus: The proposed change is clearly defined Management: Is supportive with resources being made available Management: Is supportive with resources being made available Communication: Need expanding communications network Communication: Need expanding communications network Champions: Critical to have some key influence leaders provide support Champions: Critical to have some key influence leaders provide support Alignment: Need to begin to align policy, practices, and job descriptions with change at tipping point Alignment: Need to begin to align policy, practices, and job descriptions with change at tipping point Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

DIFFUSION OF INNOVATION THEORY Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

WHEN PEOPLE JOIN AN INNOVATION Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY New Narrative: Stories of success that create an alternative narrative New Narrative: Stories of success that create an alternative narrative Social Networks: Utilizing existing social interactions to spread the idea Social Networks: Utilizing existing social interactions to spread the idea Key Champions: Opinion leaders who support the idea and share it Key Champions: Opinion leaders who support the idea and share it Overcoming Resistance: Offering further evidence to support the idea Overcoming Resistance: Offering further evidence to support the idea Reward Success: Public validation for those who are successful Reward Success: Public validation for those who are successful Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

UNDERSTANDING TIPPING POINT Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

THE CHASM—MOVING THROUGH THE TIPPING POINT Maloney’s 16% Rule Once you have reached 16% adoption of any innovation, you must change your messaging and media strategy from one based on creativity (trying something new), to one based on social proof (show me) in order to accelerate through the chasm to the tipping point. Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016

DISCUSSION

Worksheet #3: Designing a Possible Experiment List the adaptive challenge: ___________________________ List the adaptive challenge: ___________________________ ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Identify new behavior to try in order to address the challenge Identify new behavior to try in order to address the challenge ___________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________ Plan the experiment Plan the experiment Who Who Where Where How How When When Copyright Craig Van Gelder 2016