Part 2: Introduction to Living System Ministry Living System Ministry Basics Judy Hall – Asst. to the President Doug Hall - President

Part 2:Introduction to

Living System Ministry

Living System Ministry

Basics

Judy Hall – Asst. to the PresidentDoug Hall - President

What does it take to do Living System Ministry?

Leave pliers & screwdriver behind…

We may need a New Brain --

-- To think in terms of LIFE, not MACHINES!

Emmanuel Gospel Center 2011

- so that God’s living Truth can tell

us what to do!

Living System Ministry Has Always Existed In Cat Cultures

& with each other

through relational social dynamics.

CAT cultures learned to survive by ALIGNING with

the living system creation,


4 Things Happened To ChristianityIn Relational Cat Cultures

Major REVIVALS always occur in relational CAT

cultures.

In one generation, it became a WORLD -- not a western --

religion!

It is GROWING in the CAT cultures of the GLOBAL SOUTH.


It became the LARGEST religion in the world.

A New Toaster Culture Has Exploded

From TECHNOLOGICAL

developments begun in the

Industrial Revolution.


& is becoming

increasingly GLOBAL.

It is more IMPERSONAL &

INDIVIDUALISTIC

Its Toaster Activities Produce Counterproductive Returns

1) I see a need.

2) I make a plan to meet the need.

3) I do the plan.

4) I get returns.

5) Unintended negative returns are ignored.

6) I therefore do nothing else to meet the need.


Overcoming The Law of Unintended Negative Returns

Sincere, logical activity yields positive short-term returns, but

Unintended negative returns in the total system over the long term.

But – aligning with the LIVING SYSTEM can yield positive multiple long-term returns!.


This New Toaster Culture Is Empowered But Not Aligned

FEEDING STARVING PEOPLE PRODUCES MORE STARVATION


WEALTHY CHRISTIANITY DECLINES OVER THELONG TERM (Europe…)

THE CRIMINAL vs. THE COUNTER-

PRODUCTIVE DO-GOODER (who’s creating more problems?)

This New Empowered But Unaligned Toaster Culture Has Some Basic Problems

DICHOTOMIZED SCIENCESnot learn from

each other or interact with FAITH

A non-aligned Fortune 500 Company can go OUT OF BUSINESS

KNOWING, NOT DOING


ECOLOGY:Global warming

Joining Its Emerging Cat Aspect Can Help Us Align To Living Systems

SCIENCE & FAITH INTER-

DISCIPLINARY DIALOGUE & LEARNING

PRACTITIONER- SCHOLAR


INSTEAD OF CHRISTIAN DECLINE,FIND ALIGNED

ANSWERS FOR THE WHOLE SYSTEM

RUNNING BUSINESSES WITH LIVING SOCIAL SYSTEMS

ECOLOGY:LIFE IN A

LIVINGCREATION

Then, Our New Toaster Culture Can Also Experience Spiritual Vitality!

Its believers can be part of the LARGEST religion in the world.

It, too, can experience REVIVALS

It can join global Christian believers in a WORLD -- not a

western -- religion!

Christianity can GROW in the new GLOBAL TOASTER culture.


EGC as a Living System

Laboratory

Sam KimDirector – EGC

Consulting

Examples of LSM in action:1. Human Trafficking

2. College Study3. Youth Violence

LSM in Action:1. Human Trafficking

and the Abolitionist

Network

Liza Cagua-KooAssistant Director

Sarah Durfey, Director, Abolitionist Network

Brokensystems and relationshipswar

natural disasters

poverty

abuseabandonment

gang violence

greed

corruption

discrimination

etc.

social acceptance of porn, prostitution,…


Broken systems and relationships

Vulnerableperson

Exploiter

Demand for sex, cheap labor/goods

Force Coercion

Fraud


Broken systems and relationships

Vulnerableperson

Exploiter

Demandfor sex, cheap labor/goods

Force coercion

fraud

Exploitation(Trafficking)


negative systems and relationships

Vulnerableperson

Exploiter


Force coercion

fraud


Intervention

Arrest/ convict

After –care



Vulnerableperson

Exploiter


Force coercion

fraud


Intervention

Arrest/ convict

After -care

Restoration to positive systems and

relationships



Vulnerableperson

Exploiter


Force coercion

fraud


Intervention

Arrest/ convict

After -care



Vulnerableperson

Exploiter


Force coercion

fraud


Intervention

Arrest/ convict

After -care

Restoration to positive systems and

relationships


Are you depressed yet?

wait, there’s hope

The Abolitionist Network aims to join in the work God is doing to end systems of

exploitation and slavery

by understanding these systems, and equipping,

connecting, and refreshing

abolitionists.

Abolitionist Network &Living System Ministry

Don’t just do something! Stand there!

Start with system questions. Hug a system! The power of pictures. Pursue deeper

understanding, with others.

LSM in Action:2. Metro-Boston

Collegiate Ministry Project

Brian CorcoranProject Director – Applied

Research

Metro Boston Collegiate Ministry Project



LSM in Action:3. Youth Violence Systems Project

Sam KimProject Director

Youth Violence Systems Project (YVSP)

Purpose:Reduce Youth Violence in the city of Boston

Process:Work with the community to create a virtual laboratory to model youth violence prevention and intervention strategies

Outcomes:Better dialogueBetter prevention and intervention strategies

YVSP UsageCommunity Agency Policy

MakerAcademic

CommunityGang

Members

PositioningEmpowerment

ToolEvaluation Tool Policy Design Tool

Research ToolTeaching Tool

Engagement Tool

Usage Develop and analyze intervention strategies

Focused discussions around “what works” and “why”

Evaluate agency interventions

Evaluate policies Communicate

program effectiveness

Laboratory for policy analysis and evaluation

Focal point for policy development

Analyze “classic” case studies

Analyze prospective interventions

Develop curriculum

Evaluate how changes in behavior impact the system

Potential Outcomes

Richer discussions

Better-reasoned advocacy

Engagement and ownership of initiatives

Improved agency interventions

Improved agency communication

Improved policies

Systemic intervention strategies

Improved understanding

Improved intervention strategies

Enriched curriculum

Increased involvement of gang members in intervention development

Community members involved

in Project Research, Design and Development

Learn

YVSP Neighborhood Briefing Documents6 Neighborhood Briefing Documents have been written: Uphams Corner,

Grove Hall, Bowdoin/Geneva, South End/Lower Roxbury, Greater Dudley & Morton/Norfolk. These documents can be downloaded from: http://egc.org/research_programs/neighborhood.html .

Early Framework

Family

Gang Violence

Culture of Violence

Social Institutions Public Institutions

Community Context

Framework

Family

Personal Predisposition

Gang Violence

Youth Violence

Culture of Violence

Social Institutions Public Institutions

Trauma

OtherViolence

Peers

Community Context

Community Members Work with Model

Connect

YVSP COMPUTER MODEL

YVSP COMPUTER MODEL

YVSP COMPUTER MODEL

YVSP COMPUTER MODEL

YVSP COMPUTER MODEL

YVSP COMPUTER MODEL

Equip

Goal is to gain insight into root causes and come to agreement on what strategies are needed.

To that end it is critical that we grow the user community around the model.

“..most of the time, everyone is so busy just doing things that

it’s rare to have the time and the means to understand and see why and how things like (our

specific programs) are important to addressing youth

violence.”

Boston Youth Worker

Youth Violence Systems Project

Learn:Learn from and with our communities on how youth violence occurs systemically.

Connect:Connect all of the learnings, data, assumptions and roles of stakeholders into a common framework and model.

Equip:Equip communities and all their stakeholders for more deep and collaborative dialogue and strategic decisions using the framework and model to restore peace…

“Blessed are the peacemakers”

www.gettingtotheroots.org

Youth Violence Systems Project

Metrics and Other Thoughts

Jeff BassExecutive Director

EGC Current Metrics Counting Churches

Indicator of growth Way to connect (Applied Research)

Lay of the Land (in various sectors) Who is out there? What are they doing?

Relational and missional approach: find vitality and nurture it!

EGC Emerging Metrics

Learn, connect and equip Work in system leverage points Measure change in systems and

subsystems: Youth violence; human trafficking; education; church planting; homelessness; Haitian community, etc.

Demonstrate church’s role: multiple causes

Key to Quiet Revival becoming louder

3 comments The system does the work!

Surfing/swimming Sailing/motor boat language should reflect cooperating

with God vs. making our own plans LSM goal

Not just a framework Practical tools and entry points to

engage systems for real Gospel change

Discussion Around Tables

Sam KimDirector of Consulting

Discussion Questions

Do you see the culture of your city as more of a “cat” culture (one large organic system), or more of a “toaster” culture (with many parts, mechanistically operated)? Can the two exist together? What are the implications for ministry in either case?

How is Living System Ministry different than approaches in your city? What elements of Living System Ministry seem most useful?

What is your main takeaway from the discussion of Boston, the Quiet Revival, and Living System Ministry? Are there concepts, ideas, or questions that will be helpful to you in your city or your work?