Adaptive Stewardship

Confessions of a technical fixer

Adaptive Stewardship

What is an Adaptive Challenge?

An “Adaptive Challenge” occurs:1. When the environment changes

2. The Current system(s) fail3. Become overly dependant on authority

The Status Quo is enough, minor changes are all that are needed.

The system is complex, but current know-how is enough.

Current authority can make the necessary changes for vitality.

Current structures and procedures are effective.

Major changes in thinking and doing need to occur.

The old ways don’t work, new learning is needed to be effective.

New stakeholders are required for continuing vitality.

New structures and procedures are needed to remain relevant.

Technical View Adaptive Challenge

Technical vs. Adaptive

Addressing Adaptive Challenges

Observe (WHAT?)

Interpret (SO

WHAT?)

Intervene (NOW WHAT?)

Oregon

Responsibility for the future of the organization is shared

Leadership capacity is developedReflection and learning are

institutionalizeElephants in the room are namedNew stakeholders are found

Characteristics of an Adaptive Organization

Most merciful God,We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot

free ourselves. 1We have sinned against you in thought, word,

and deed, by what we have done and what we have left undone. 2

We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. 3

For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. 4

The Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness

In Adaptive leadership this means that we feel we have the tools necessary to fix the current issues we face.

Confession #1 We confess that we are captive

to sin and cannot free ourselves.

Here’s one elephant in the room…

We recognize that an increasingly significant portion of our giving comes from retirement income. This is a major shift from previous circumstances and means that previous technical fixes will not work.

We are still bound up in the “Theology of Glory,” believing that we can fix our stewardship issues.

We acknowledge that sin happens at all levels, from the national level to the congregational level.

We have not partnered with new stakeholders and are unable to trust that God is acting through them.

Confession #2 We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed,

by what we have done and what we have left undone

We attempted to partner with a young man who was a growing leader within the Occupy movement. Unfortunately we lost the relationship because we feared our language was too “churchy.” So basically we said we didn’t want to see the doctor because we were too sick…

Occupy Portland was a significant movement within Portland for several months.

How can we see other organizations as partners with us in service and not as competitors?

How can we include communities that have been left out in the past?

Confession #3 We have not loved you with our whole heart; we

have not loved our neighbors as ourselves

The LGBTQ CommunityHaving marginalized

a significant population, we are now opening the doors to new relationships.

“Freedom to Marry” is one organization that congregations and members are partnering with.

Confession #4. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ,

have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the

glory of your holy name. Amen

Experimenting with New Mission StartsSt. Matthew’s in

Central Point, Oregon

Third Space in Gresham, Oregon

New Rivers Clackamas County, OregonStewardship is a process in which we trust that

God is still at work in the world today. Therefore, we become vulnerable to new

relationships and new stakeholders as we seek to move through the adaptive challenges

facing everyone in the church today.

“This life therefore is not righteousness, but growth in righteousness, not health, but healing, not being but becoming, not rest but exercise. We are not yet what we shall be, but we are growing toward it, the process is not yet finished, but it is going on, this is not the end, but it is the road. All does not yet gleam in glory, but all is being purified.”

― Martin Luther

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www.soulcafe.orgGroup name: Macedonia 2013