Appreciative Inquiry in the Lutheran Church
Christine Wethman , Wally Arp
2009, Apr 2
Annotation: This is a story of a small Lutheran church that was fractured due to a split in the congregation. It entered into a partnership with a larger church - all starting with an AI conversation. The church is thriving and recently introduced two more AI-style surveys to the residents in the neighborhood. The outcome? The formation of a Neighborhood Watch Group uniting both residents and community business owners. In addition, the average attendance has grown and there is an after-school care program for the neighborhood children 1 day a week. Entitled SOAR (Safe Oasis At Redeemer) the children are fed a snack, do a service project, learn things like how to wrap a package and set a table. Attendance started out around 5 - now averaging 12-15 per week. Children within the community are walking to church alone - without their parents and some are bringing their parents with them. It all started with an AI conversation with about 10 people who said all they wanted to see at their church again was: children.
Resource Files:
AI Case Study_Florida Church (pdf )
|
|
