Karen’s view around the Mid Maine District

As I write, I continued to be awed by the adaptive leadership of our Bishop, pastors, leading laity, and parishioners engaged in ministry. For the past 20 years we’ve been hearing about accelerated rates of change. (Do you remember “Who Moved My Cheese”?)  Now the pedal is floored!
 
In a letter to clergy late last week, I listed some of the resources that have been preparing us for just such a time as this. Today I want to briefly look at one resource with you.
 
Asset mapping has been a Resource day topic and a Ministry Day exercise.  It’s helpful for both problem- solving and adaptive leadership.  These are two very difference contexts.  Problem solving is addressing a specific known problem.  Adaptive leadership forges a way into the unknown.
 
The first step in this type of asset mapping is to name the problem you are trying to solve or the need you are trying to address.  The more specifically focused the better.  For example:

• How can we provide pastoral care to members during stay at home orders?
• How can we make adapted worship a sustainable practice for reaching new people?
• How can our feeding ministry sustain increased demand under present circumstances?

The next step is to explore what God is providing.  It’s important to allow much imaginative think time for this step.  Don’t rule out anything that comes to mind, just brainstorm. Don’t try to shift things into categories.  Let things “sit together” that may seem unlikely neighbors at first.
 
Here are two exercises that can now help your group address the ministry question you’ve identified. Plan for about an hour together to identify what God is providing and begin to work with those assets.

1. Mission Possible is a design thinking exercise developed by the Board of Discipleship. You can download the template here.Follow the arrows on the template
2. A more general approach that can adapted to a specific inquiry is available at https://alban.org/uploadedFiles/Alban/Bookstore/pdf/resources/Asset_Mapping/resource2.pdf

We know that God, who has created the earth and all that is in it, is not done creating or providing for God’s creatures including us. May your eyes and hands be open to God’s provision as we adapt.

These all look to you to give them their food in due season;
When you give to them, they gather it up;
When you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
-Psalm 104: 27-28

 In God’s Grace, Karen

For More on Asset Mapping, “The Power of Asset Mapping:  How your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts” by Luther K. Snow.

Watch for a special Many Waters E-News edition soon!

Please watch for a special Many Waters District E-News coming soon. It will be emailed to the clergy and laity of the new Many Waters District.