1. Responding to the Call: Discerning God’s Direction for a Third Century of Mission 2-Hour Meeting

2. The Purpose of Responding to the Call
The purpose of the Responding to the Call process is to discern and articulate a fresh vision of how IM will serve the mission of Jesus Christ, together with the values, priorities and goals that will guide the work of IM for

3. Highly Consultative Process
Leaders of AB regional and national mission bodies
Pastors, mission leaders and mission supporters in local congregations throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico
Leaders of partner conventions, agencies and ministries all around the world
The Directors of IM
All those who dedicate their lives and energies to the work God does through IM

4. Responding to the Call
Today we are participating in a 2-Hour Small-Group Meeting We will be using an Appreciative Inquiry process to get your input and hear your perspective.

5. Appreciative Inquiry (AI)
“…is the systematic study of what works – what gives life, health, and vitality to organizations when they are at their best in relationship to their entire community of stakeholders.”

6. AI Basic Assumption…
Human systems – people, teams, communities, and organizations – move in the direction of what they persistently ask questions about.
So what do you want more of in your organization?

7. Appreciative Inquiry “4-D Model”
Discovery
“What gives life?”
(The best of what is)
Appreciating
Change Agenda
Strategic
focus
Destiny
“How to learn, empower, execute, and improvise?”
Sustaining
Dream
“Envisioning what
could be?”
Innovating
Positive Core
Design
“What should be—the
ideal organization?”
Co-constructing

8. What to Expect From This Meeting
Role of Facilitators
Set the structure and time frames
Highlight themes that emerge
Manage the overall meeting flow
Your Role
Contribute your best ideas
Listen to and engage with others
Lead with your energy and optimism
Self-manage own group
Focus on the future of what you want to create

9. Ground Rules Everyone participates All ideas are valid
Everything is written on flip charts
Observe time frames
Move to action

10. Leadership roles can, and should, be rotated.
Self-Managed Roles
Each small group manages its own discussion, data, time, and reports. Here are useful roles for self-managing this work. Divide up the work as you wish:
DISCUSSION LEADER
TIMEKEEPER
RECORDER 
REPORTER
Leadership roles can, and should, be rotated.

11. Activity 1: Discovery IM at its Best: Past, Present, Future (dialogue in pairs)
Select an interview partner - someone who is most different from you…
Interview each other…15 minutes each way
Spirit of discovery – “eye of the child”
Take good notes
At the end.. summary & thanks

12. Activity #2: Discovery Identifying IM’s Positive Core of Strengths & Images of the Future
Round One – Introduce your interview partner in 30 seconds or less.
Round Two – Share highlights from your partner’s interview question #1.
– As a group identify the core factors that give life, health, and vitality to IM when it’s at its best. List factors on a flip chart page.
Round Three - Share highlights from your partner’s interview questions #2 and #3. - As a group, identify the most important hopes, dreams, and wishes for IM’s future. List on a new flip chart page.
Round Four – Identify the following. Then prepare to present it to the group in 3 minutes or less.
One of the stories that powerfully illustrates IM at its best
3-5 core factors that give life, health, and vitality to IM when it’s at its best
3-5 elements of the group’s collective dream for the future of IM

13. Activity 4: Presentations
IM at Its Best
What Gives Life, Health, and Vitality
Dreams for the Future

14. THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING! Responding to the Call