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Holistic Systems Thinking in Congregations: Embracing Change for Flourishing Communities

This resource from the Bass School of the Laity explores systems thinking as a holistic approach to congregational life. It urges church leaders to move beyond quick fixes and traditional methods, advocating for a deeper understanding of congregations as dynamic ecosystems. By viewing churches as interconnected systems filled with resources, leaders can better navigate change and encourage vibrant community life. The material highlights the importance of discernment, the roles of order, and the boundaries within subsystems, ultimately guiding congregations toward holistic flourishing.

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Holistic Systems Thinking in Congregations: Embracing Change for Flourishing Communities

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  1. Systems thinking Looking at Congregations holistically Bass School of the Laity 2011

  2. < pre> The Challenge to the Quick Fix • The disciples wanted to rely on their usual methods. • Jesus challenged them: • Look at the faith community as a whole and its resources • Be prepared for the surprises of change! Feeding the 5000

  3. A Theo-Ecological Perspective • Thinking spiritually, with discernment instead of “problem solving.” • Seeing things whole, get the overall pattern of how “all things work together…” interconnectedness. • Recognizing the roles of change and identity in flourishing churches

  4. Thinking HolisticallyGarden-Brain

  5. Garden Brain versus Machine Brain Do you think of church as a garden? Or a machine?

  6. Using Garden Thinking to Attend to Congregational Culture • This is a major element in “reading the context” • Attend—bracket usual ways of seeing things. • See things whole—from a “God” perspective, get the overall pattern of how “all things work together…” holistic approach • Instead of taking things apart—analysis, diagnosis, medical model. • No single problem or quick fix. • THIS WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE AS A MINISTER!

  7. To fully understand a system, look for:

  8. The need for Order to cope with CHANGE • Every Church is an eco-system with balance and instability • Needing to be organized—balanced with chaos. • Avoiding top-down, control/command • Seeking decency and good order • Structure as “immune system”

  9. # 1. Healthy Order: How the system has organized itself

  10. Systems and Subsystems

  11. BOUNDARIES • Invisible, emotional borders to sub-systems • More or less permeable • Limit access to • Relationships • Information • Decision-Making

  12. Roles, Rules and Rituals • Subsystems are established by roles, rules & rituals • Formal and Informal • Explicit or Tacit

  13. Responsibility Patterns • Overfunctioning: assuming responsibility for others… — “savior” • Underfunctioning: refraining from own responsibility… -- “victim” • Complementarity:‘ • the basket cases and basket carriers of the world will find each other.”– Celia Hahn “I Heart Basket Cases”

  14. MAPPING (Plotting)(see p. 47)

  15. Plotting a congregation • See definitions on pp. 44-45 • See mapping symbols, p. 47 • See maps on 48, 116. • Take a case that you know about. • Draw a map of its structural patterns • What did you learn from this exercise?

  16. Thinking Systems atKirksdale • High visibility in growing neighborhood • Rob • Wendy • Robin • Brendan • Re-development?

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