Using Appreciative Inquiry in Parish Pastoral Planning to Discover More Abundant Life, Strength and Hope Presented by: Rick Krivanka Diocese of Scranton

Using Appreciative Inquiry Using Appreciative Inquiry in Parish Pastoral in Parish Pastoral

Planning to Discover More Planning to Discover More Abundant Abundant

Life, Strength and HopeLife, Strength and Hope

Presented by: Rick Krivanka Diocese of Scranton February 2013

Three Pillars of a Three Pillars of a New MovementNew Movement

A Starting ContextA Starting Context

An essential role of An essential role of leadership: leadership:

Creating the cultureCreating the culture of our communities of our communitiesin our conversationsin our conversations

What kind of culture?What kind of culture?

A culture of life and hopeA culture of life and hope“I came that they might have life“I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” and have it more abundantly.”

-- that sees and reverences the sacredness of that sees and reverences the sacredness of life in everyday life and ministry! life in everyday life and ministry! (people’s gifts, energy, initiative, creativity)(people’s gifts, energy, initiative, creativity)

- that builds hope!that builds hope!

Be mindful of my presence:Be mindful of my presence:How do I leave people in my wake? How do I leave people in my wake?

Pastoral LeadershipPastoral Leadership

• is a relationshipis a relationship - Mission of Jesus is essentially relational- Mission of Jesus is essentially relational

• is a resonant relationshipis a resonant relationship- being in tune and in touch with others- being in tune and in touch with others “the good shepherd…”“the good shepherd…”

• moves, inspires and mobilizes people to:moves, inspires and mobilizes people to: - a more abundant life - a more abundant life

- join together in common mission - join together in common mission - cooperative anticipation of a - cooperative anticipation of a

shared future shared future

Conversation & Hope Conversation & Hope

“To advocate human conversation as the means to restore hope to the

future is as simple as I can get. But I have seen there is no more

powerful way to initiate significant change than to convene a

conversation…It is always like this. Real change begins with the simple

act of people talking about what they care about… There is no power

greater than a community discovering what it cares about. Ask what’s

possible, not what’s wrong. Keep asking.”

--Margaret Wheatley, Leadership and the New Science

Leadership, Conversation, Leadership, Conversation, HopeHope

• Hope is dependent upon the quality of our conversations.Hope is dependent upon the quality of our conversations.

• Conversations build relationships. Relationships build hope. Conversations build relationships. Relationships build hope.

• The key to our future is in tending to our conversations. The key to our future is in tending to our conversations.

• Hope springs from the appreciation of life and goodness Hope springs from the appreciation of life and goodness among us. There is more is going on around us than first among us. There is more is going on around us than first meets the eye. meets the eye.

• Discouragement comes more from the words we exchange Discouragement comes more from the words we exchange than from the realities that confront us. than from the realities that confront us.

• When we have right relationships, we sense that no matter When we have right relationships, we sense that no matter what the future holds, we will be together. what the future holds, we will be together. And hope abounds.And hope abounds.

- Bishop John Hopkins, East Ohio United Methodist Church- Bishop John Hopkins, East Ohio United Methodist Church

ComparisonComparison

• Identify the Problem(“symptoms”)

• Determine the Cause(“diagnosis”)

• Propose a Solution(“prescription”)

• Implement It(“treatment”)

• Identify What Gives Life > Discover the best of “what is”

• Imagine Ways to Enhance Life> Dream “what could be”

• Co-construct the Ideal> Design “what should be”

• Empower Innovation> Do – create “what will be”

“Problem Solving”(medical diagnosis approach)

“Appreciative Inquiry”(life-centered approach)

What is Appreciative Inquiry?What is Appreciative Inquiry?

1. A collaborative and rigorous search to identify and understand the individual’s/group’s/organization’s (parishes) strengths, in order to…

2. Imagine our highest hopes and greatest possibilities, to stimulate…

3. Co-construction of the ideal future, and…

4. Launch self-directed change and innovation

Dr. Ron Fry, Case Western Reserve UniversityDr. Ron Fry, Case Western Reserve University

9

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y HistoryHistory

David Cooperrider, Ph. D.

Case Western Reserve University, 1986 Doctoral Dissertation:

Appreciative Inquiry: Toward a Methodology for Understanding and Enhancing Organizational Innovation

Used internationally in all kinds of organizational and cultural settings - local, global, religious, corporate, government, NGO’s, inter-generational…

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SpiritualitySpiritualityScripture

“I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

John 10:10

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“Finally, brothers and sisters,whatever is true, whatever is honorable,whatever is just, whatever is pure,whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,if there is any excellence andif there is anything worthy of praise,think about these things.

Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.”

SpiritualitySpiritualityScripture – St. Paul

Philippians 4: 8-9

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“To see anything for what it is, is to see the goodness of it,the love of God for it,God’s grace.

The challenge is to see things as they are,as God sees them,and as God says about creation:‘It is good. It is very good.’

That which is always and everywhere,God’s grace,must be noticed,accepted and celebrated.”

SpiritualitySpiritualityTheology

Fr. Michael HimesCleveland, April 18, 1999

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y Leading withLeading with an Open Heart an Open Heart

We diminish ourselves – we squeeze the juice out of our souls, we close our hearts when we fall into…

• ‘Cynicism’ dressed up as ‘realism’: ‘I’m not cynical. I’m realistic.’

• ‘Arrogance’ dressed up as ‘authoritative knowledge’.

• ‘Callousness’ dressed up as ‘a thick skin of wisdom’. ‘I know how it is – and this is all there is.’

Ronald HeifetzFounding Director, Center for Public Leadership

Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government

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y Leading withLeading withan Open Heartan Open Heart

To stay alive in our spirit, in our hearts, requires the courage to keep our hearts open… we need to give witness to…

• ‘Innocence’ that maintains hope even when things seem hopeless – a naïve perspective realizing that naïve has the same root as ‘genius, ingenuity, Renaissance’ – a child-like quality

• ‘Curiosity’ to be genuinely interested, to want to learn more than we already know

• ‘Compassion’ to respect and appreciate the pains and changes people are going through

Ronald Heifetz

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1.1. Constructionist PrincipleConstructionist Principleour words create our worlds our words create our worlds

2. Poetic Principleorganizations are like poems, or like Scripture, open to infinite interpretation

3. Principle of Simultaneity change begins the moment you ask the first question

Basic PrinciplesBasic Principles

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4. Anticipatory Principledeep change = change in our images of the future

5. Positive Principlepositive questions positive image positive emotion

positive energy positive relationships

positive change

6. Narrative Principlesharing stories unites people across boundaries and generations and creates lasting bonds

Basic PrinciplesBasic Principles

Conversation & EmotionsConversation & Emotionsin Parish Life in Parish Life

Growing an Engaged Church – Al Winesman

Gallup Research: Belonging leads to believing

Engagement describes the degree of belonging to church.

Emotions matter – the emotional connection is key to people’s engagement and the life of growing churches.

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y ApplicationApplicationThe “4-D” Cycle The “4-D” Cycle

AFFIRMATIVETOPIC

CHOICE

DiscoveryWhat gives life?

DreamEnvisioning ways to

enhance life.

DesignCo-constructing

what should be.

DestinySustain. Empower.

Improvise.

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y ExerciseExerciseThe Five Basic Appreciative Questions

• What attracted you to our parish / ministry setting? • What were your initial excitements and impressions when you began there?

1. Beginnings

• Recall a time when you felt most alive, most proud, most committed or most enthused about our parish / ministry? What made it such a “fulfilling” experience?

2. Most Life-Giving Experience

• What do you value most about yourself?• The nature of your involvement in our parish / ministry?• Our parish / ministry and what it has contributed to your life?

3. Things Most Valued

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y ExerciseExerciseThe Five Basic Appreciative Questions

• As you think about the overall parish / ministry, what is the core image or factor that reflects what most gives life and represents its most essential, life-giving quality?

4. Core Image

• If you could enhance or transform our parish / ministry in any way you wished, what three things would you do to

enhance its life and vitality?

5. Images of Future

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y ApplicationApplicationAppreciative TopicsAppreciative Topics

Select 3 to 5 Key Topics – A Fateful Choice

• based on responses to initial five AI questions• affirmatively stated - value what is• compelling• invite stories• sometimes ambiguous – room to ‘swim around’ • evoke essential values, aspirations, inspirations• deepen hope and capacity for creating a desired future

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y ApplicationApplicationBasic Process Steps Basic Process Steps

1. Preparation - Planning to Plan• Preliminary discussion with leaders• Form an AI planning team• Finalize steps and schedule (Summit option).

2. Discovery and Initial Dream Phase • Conduct Phase 1 interviews at meeting of leaders / representatives using the 5 basic AI questions• Develop Appreciative Topics and Phase 2 Interviews • Train interviewers • Identify potential interviewees (random, sub-groups, friends, interviewees become interviewers...)• Conduct interviews• Interpret and share meanings (themes/quotes) from interviews

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y ApplicationApplicationBasic Process StepsBasic Process Steps

3. Dream Phase

We build the future by carrying forward and building upon the bestof our past and the inspiring discoveries from our interviews. We create shared images of what our parish would look life if our exceptional moments and life-giving properties became the norm.

Dream reflection and small group sharing:

Imagine 10 years into the future - it is the year 2021. Visualize our community… as you really want it to be – living the fullness of life to which God calls us, and doing remarkable things…

What do you experience, see, hear….?How is the world different? What images stand out to you?

Sharing with the assembly in creative ways.

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4. Design / Destiny Phase

Creative Initiatives for Actiona guiding vision and set of practical actions – little things, big things, a pilot project, a prototype, an experiment, bold steps, a generative conversation, something to try – that have the

potential to move people toward realizing the vision and hope expressed for a given area of life

These statements bridge “the best of what gives life” with a collective aspiration of “the best of what might be.” They are grounded in the common themes generated from our best experiences and dreams.

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5. Further Dream & Design outcomes Mission Statement, Core Values Statements of “what most gives life” &

“ways to enhance life” Creative Initiatives for Action

– Strategy / Action commitments

• Engage as many people as possible in these events

6. Proclamation - Publish and Celebrate the Results

7. Destiny Phase• Sustaining, Empowering, Learning, Improvising, Innovating

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1. “A Community of Many Different People: God invites all people here, that we may be one”

2. “A Beacon of Service and Hope”

3. “Liturgy and Prayer for All People”

4. “Call to Involvement”

5. “Nurturing Our Young People”

CASE STUDYCASE STUDYSt. BernardSt. BernardAkron, OhioAkron, Ohio

1. “A Community of Many Different People: “A Community of Many Different People: God invites all people here, that we may be one” God invites all people here, that we may be one”

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A Community of Many Different People: God invites all people here, that we may be one

We are blessed as a community of different people with unique gifts to share. New people are always welcome here and continue to bring new life to our parish. As a community of wounded healers, we accept the challenge to be there for all people, and strive to offer openness and acceptance to them.

ApplicationApplicationAppreciative Topic,Appreciative Topic,

Paragraph & QuestionsParagraph & Questions


a) Recall a time at St. Bernard Parish where you experienced an inspiring moment of welcoming or being welcomed. What did people say or do that created this moment?

b) Imagine St. Bernard Parish in 5 years. What do you see happening that best expresses unity and cooperation amidst our diversity?

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1. “A Community of Many Different People: God invites all people here, that we may be one”

2. “A Beacon of Service and Hope”

3. “Liturgy and Prayer for All People”

4. “Call to Involvement”

5. “Nurturing Our Young People”


““A Beacon of Service and Hope”A Beacon of Service and Hope”

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“A Beacon of Service and Hope”

We are a community that is there for people when they need us. We treat people with great care and dignity in each of our ministries. We reach out in response to real human needs by helping people to serve and help one another, and to use their gifts in ways that go far beyond what could be seen or imagined.

a) Recall 1 or 2 of the best experiences of seeing St. Bernard Parish as a beacon? What do people do that most expresses this kind of service and outreach?

b) What is one thing that St. Bernard might do to better listen to and serve the needs of people in our community? How might we become more aware of and in touch with voices not readily heard, including the elderly and homebound ?


ApplicationApplicationAppreciative Topic,Appreciative Topic,

Paragraph & QuestionsParagraph & Questions

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St. Bernard Parish Mission Statement

Established in 1861, we are a people of diverse cultures and backgrounds who choose to come together as a spiritual family to give glory to God by:

• celebrating the Eucharist,

• learning and living our Catholic faith,

• serving the spiritual and human needs of the surrounding community.

ApplicationApplication““Design Phase” ProductDesign Phase” Product


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St. Bernard Parish Core ValuesWe are committed to live by these values to fulfill our mission

ACCEPTANCE We welcome and accept all people, greeting them and inviting them to participate within our community.

A BEACON OF SERVICE & HOPE We are committed to work for justice and serve the spiritual and human needs of all people throughout the world, including the poor, homeless, homebound and each other - treating each person with dignity and giving them support and encouragement.

EMPOWERMENT We call upon every member of our parish to be involved in our prayer, worship, service and community life.

FLEXIBILITY We grow and change to meet a variety of needs in our worship, service and activities.



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St. Bernard Parish Directional Statement – Part 1“A Community of Many Different People:

God invites all people here, that we may be one”In listening to our people we discovered these further reflections on the life of St. Bernard in their words:

- For people from both near and far away, St. Bernard’s is a beautiful place that is like a home away from home.

- We are a parish with no barriers, open to all. Our people love worshiping with people from different backgrounds - racial, economic, nationality. - We admit and celebrate our cultural differences. All cultures can express themselves here in different ways.

- Members of our Spanish community have indicated that the Spanish Mass ‘makes me feel like I am in my country with my people.’ I feel deep inside my heart a great excitement.

- The Mass here is full of life, love and unity.



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St. Bernard Parish Directional Statement – Part 2

“A Community of Many Different People:God invites all people here, that we may be one”

We are committed to sustain and build upon these gifts and experiences in the future. We also will:

1) Sustain a vibrant Hispanic worshiping community that evokes ‘my country, my people’ while working to integrate people and activities as fully as possible into the overall life of the parish.

• Discern a Spanish speaking deacon.• Enhance the education in our faith for Hispanic people.• Continue to invite and reach out to Hispanic people who do not come to church.

2) Reach out to people of other cultures to assist them in forming cohesive faith communities.

3) Provide more opportunities to mix cultures in parish activities.



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y• Ask: What is the AI question in this moment? • Sustain life, inquiry and innovation!• Live on the Appreciative Edge:

Whatever has happened or is happening, every act or utterance, has affirmative potential. Attend closely!

All is gift,all is blessing.

• Say “yes” to the mess!• Embrace errors as a source of learning and discovery!

Living AppreciativelyLiving Appreciatively

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yPope John XXIII:

Consult not your fears, but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential.

Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.

Thank you! - Further QuestionsRick Krivanka

[email protected] 216-536-4991

Living AppreciativelyLiving Appreciatively

mailto:[email protected]

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Using Appreciative Inquiry in Parish Pastoral Planning to Discover More Abundant Life, Strength and Hope Presented by: Rick Krivanka Diocese of Scranton