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Partnership Processes (to be edited,
go to the manual to open a word doc version)
Forming A Partnership
An individual needs to be found with a vision for
reaching the city who is willing to set aside 3-5 years to the process. This
person - the facilitator - must have patience and quiet determination and be
prepared to await the right moment before taking the next step.
Stage 1: Exploration
Before all else there must be groundwork done so the
facilitator has knowledge of the city/cities and the Christian organizations
within them.
w
Enlarge the facilitator's database of
knowledge and information about the historical, cultural and religious
background and condition of the people.
w Identify relevant resources, leaders and
ministries that already have some interest or involvement in the people
group.
w Hold private meetings with the
Leadership of various agencies showing interest, to determine things like:
the history of the agency, the history of, or plans for involvement with
the people group, the agency's perception of itself, its perception of and
history with the other agencies related to the city/cities , what it sees
as the priorities and impediments in reaching the people group.
w Through biblical and historical research
plus the more detailed contact with agency Leadership, identify key issues
and problems in the city, current Christian activity (if it exists), and
relationships in the region.
w Seek to identify points of consensus
which interested parties identified as key problems, impediments or
opportunities that could potentially be dealt with through some form of
cooperation.
w Determine consensus or willingness by
Leadership to attend at least one meeting to explore these areas of common
concern and potential cooperative solutions.
w A few "rules" to remember
w At this stage it is particularly
imperative to identify points that ministries have in common rather than
concentrating on their differences!
w Maintaining complete confidentiality
from one agency to another is critical to your credibility. Share only
what has been approved by the person who told you and only if it moves the
ministry to private consensus.
w Your reputation for personal integrity,
impartiality, and absolute commitment
w to the people of the city are the three
greatest assets you will have.
Stage 2: Formation
This stage is absolutely critical in the life of a
partnership. It cannot be underscored too heavily that by calling a
formation meeting for a partnership too soon you may destroy the real
possibilities for long-range cooperation. Patience, mutual awareness
and quiet consensus-building is the key.
Once the facilitator feels the exploration stage is
nearing an end, the highest priority should be to develop a sense of the
various agency leaders' interest in meeting together. Do they think there is
any value in meeting, at least once, to share vision, concerns, and
information about ministry in the area? There may be a natural reticence to
agreeing to such a meeting as they may -
w have had bad or disappointing
experiences in similar efforts at cooperation or inter-agency
communication before.
w be concerned that the person calling the
meeting may, in fact, have some hidden agenda they are not divulging.
w a fear that they may compromise their
own agency's vision or distinctives.
So the partnership facilitator must be completely
transparent. "It's true, the reason I've come to talk with you is that I
believe there may be great value for the Kingdom if ministries in the area
could find ways to collaborate, coordinate and communicate more fully.
However, this meeting is genuinely exploratory. There is no hidden agenda.
Our sole purpose will be to review the current situation in this area; look
at present ministries and challenges that face us; and, explore whether
there are priority items that might benefit from collaboration.
If there is any decision to go forward in any kind of
cooperative 'next steps', the participants themselves will make it. My role
is simply to facilitate the process and to encourage the most effective
communication between the various ministries." By taking such a position,
the facilitator must of course be genuinely prepared for the first meeting
to fail. There must be no manipulation of the process. If there is, any
outcomes will have short-term value, and the facilitator will be seen to
lack integrity - hardly a way to build trust - the most critical element in
partnership development!
Pre-Meeting Checklist
w Has the facilitator identified most of
the key resources related to ministry in the region of people group -
individuals, agencies (Western and Non-Western) etc.?
w Does the facilitator know, personally,
most of the key agencies concerned with ministry in the region or people
group, along with their Leadership?
w Do you know each agency's history,
traditions, vision, agenda, primary experience, attitude to cooperation,
and the history of their relationship with other ministries?
w To what extent have the main leaders all
agreed on at least a basic motivation or objective for such an exploratory
meeting? For example, is there consensus in advance on some particular
need in the region that they might address more effectively together
rather than separately? Or, have they agreed that it is worth talking
together, at least once, to see if there is something of high priority
they might consider together?
w Have realistic, limited expectations
been established in everyone's mind about the first meeting so that the
chances of realizing these objectives are good?
w What level of trust do you sense between
the agencies and their leaders and, if there are problems, what are the
causes or histories - and to what extent do these issues have to be
resolved before an effective meeting can ever occur?
This sort of pre-meeting process minimizes the
'surprises' for a facilitator, increases his/her understanding, enhances
their relationship and credibility with the main players, and goes a long
way toward establishing at least a modest level of consensus before the
meeting ever starts.
The Meeting
After much prayer, preparation and anticipation, the
first meeting of partner agencies is ready to begin.
w Have clear objectives. Know the outcomes
you desire. But in the spirit of a servant, allow important issues and
decisions to rise up out of the group. Make sure they have a high sense of
ownership of any outcomes.
w Circulate the draft agenda well
in advance of the meeting. Let everyone know it is a draft based on
pre-meeting input and that it will be reviewed once again at the start of
the meeting. Once the meeting gets under way be prepared to modify the
agenda to meet changing circumstances.
w Make sure the meeting covers the
following - history and status of Christian work in the region, current
socio-economic conditions, what the primary impediments to evangelism and
establishing the church .
w Let the participants identify, "If we
could deal with one problem, what would it be?" in an open brainstorming
session (possibly in small groups to start - but later in session with the
full group).
w Make sure the participants prioritize
the main issues that need to be dealt with - allowing a consensus
about these to emerge from the group.
w Keep feedback to the group high - recap
where you are in the agenda, the overall meeting schedule, so far and
where you are headed in the meetings. Make sure to ask if they understand
and agree with these mini-status reports as you go along. Peoples
confidence will rise if they are being consulted, know what is happening
and know what to expect.
w Consider establishing a small,
"listening group" or a temporary, "advisory group" of senior leaders who
can provide input during the meeting - helping you monitor what is
really being heard and said.
w Make sure the objectives set are limited
and achievable. The group needs to have a sense of success and fulfillment
in the meeting itself and in the months ahead as coordinated work moves
forward.
w Make action steps, timetables,
responsibilities and future decision making steps very clear. Frequently
the larger group may want to assign these details to a smaller working
group selected from those present.
w Make sure there is time for prayer and
worship together (including, if at all possible, communion). Ensure that
you have people specifically praying for clarity, openness, understanding,
trust.
w Finally, clearly identify who will
report and provide any written follow-up or summaries of the meeting -
and, who should receive these reports and through which channel.
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