What’s an ‘SOV’ Session?
A Shape Our Vision Session! They are a series of 3 congregation-wide meetings where you have the opportunity to hear about where we are in the strategic planning process and to give your feedback on the ‘provocative proposals’ the planning team has developed. This is your final opportunity to get your voice heard and your opinions reflected in UCS’ five-year strategic plan.
What is Appreciative Inquiry (AI)?
AI is the basis of our strategic planning process. The AI approach explores what is working in organizations and builds on strengths and assets, rather than focusing on problems. It builds on the holistic history of positive stories and successes, and engages people to link the positives of the past with the organization’s current capabilities to consciously construct a better future.
What is a Provocative Proposal?
A provocative proposition is a statement that bridges the best of “what is” with our community’s own intuition of “what might be”. It is provocative to the extent to which it stretches the realm of the status quo, challenges common assumptions or routines, and helps suggest real possibilities for the organization and its people.1 Provocative proposals are stated in the affirmative; as if they are already happening.
What are our Provocative Proposals?
Our six proposals are:
- Strengthening our Intergenerational Community
- Stepping into Leadership
- Supporting a Family Friendly Congregation
- Embracing Technology
- Growing into our Future
- Expanding Diversity
How did you come up with these?
We listened to the over 150 people who participated in our Discovery Meetings in the Fall, and we worked as a team to translate the facets of UCS life that members value or wish to foster into achievable aspirations. These proposals are meant to stretch or challenge us. They illustrate the real possibility we have, over the next five years, to go deeper together as a community while influencing the larger world. Each proposal should transverse almost every aspect of church life from worship and spiritual education to programming and administration. We want to hear what excites you, members of the congregation, about these proposals. Please feel welcomed to offer your own proposals and ideas as well.
What are the dates and times?
Our first Vision Session kicks off Sunday, April 15th at 12pm with a delicious lunch catered by long-time member and chef extraordinaire, Adrienne Cymbala. The meeting lasts until 2:30pm. Childcare is available. The second opportunity will be Sunday, April 22nd from 12pm-2:30pm. This Session will also feature lunch by Adrienne, but it will have the added attraction of enhanced childcare for those who require it. The last opportunity to make your voice heard will be Sunday, April 29th from 6:30pm-8:30pm. We will have light refreshments on hand and there will be no childcare.
At each meeting, you choose two proposals for which to give feedback. If you want to contribute to more proposals, please feel free to attend more than one Session. 1. http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/practice/toolsPropositionsDetail.cfm?coid=1170
About Carolyn Lockwood