wfn.org | ABCUSA: 'Seek It,' an Appreciative Inquiry Process, Is Launched

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

"Seek It: Finding God's Way for a New Day," a denomination-wide
"Appreciative Inquiry" process that will gather input from across American
Baptist Churches USA over the next nine months, has been launched.  The
endeavor, announced in June by General Secretary the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley,
is seeking to hear "the voice of God among the people of God" in an attempt
to define "the flavor of who we are and what God calls us to be."  

The process is in part a response to findings of a capital campaign
feasibility study that, while noting a high level of denominational loyalty
and support for leadership, identified a variety of factors affecting
denominational life. Among those were the need for a more clearly defined
"sense of vision and purpose," the need for a strategic fundraising plan and
a restructuring of World Mission Support to focus on increased giving, and a
greater emphasis on identifying major prospective donors.  

"Seek It" will provide American Baptists across the U.S. and Puerto Rico a
special opportunity to shape the future of the denomination through their
input and responses.  Among resources under development are surveys that
will be posted on the American Baptist Churches USA Web site
(www.abc-usa.org) and on other denominational Web sites, and printed in
American Baptists In Mission.  

Created by American Baptist national leadership in dialog with regional
leaders, the effort got under way Sept. 11-12 when the "Seek It" task force,
appointed by Medley, held its initial meeting.	Members of the task force,
representative of the diverse American Baptist family, have committed
themselves to making the "Seek It" effort the most highly-participatory
listening process in which the denomination has ever engaged.  

In utilizing the Appreciative Inquiry approach to organizational
transformation, the process will  "seek the mind of Christ for American
Baptist life through conversations that discover the ways God is currently
giving life to American Baptists and their congregations, as well as tap
into the dreams that God has placed in their hearts for what those churches
can become," according to Dr. Stanley D. Slade of International Ministries,
who is helping staff the effort.  Slade previously helped guide the
Appreciative Inquiry process for International Ministries, which
successfully utilized that tool to develop its "Go Global" strategic plan
for 2000-2010.

American Baptist regions will deepen their involvement in the "Seek It"
process in early November, as they send representatives to be trained.	The
first half of 2004 will be a time of intensive listening as the "Seek It"
process attempts to hear "what the Spirit is saying to the churches,"
according to Slade.  

Further information on the "Seek It" effort will be appearing in upcoming
issues of American Baptists In Mission and on the American Baptist Churches
USA Web site-www.abc-usa.org.  Additional information is available from the
Office of the General Secretary, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851.

K/2003ABNS/03ABN121

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org