Ward Consultation Chicago

April 11-12, 2008

 God at Work in His Church Today: A Continuing Story

Friday, April 11  

Welcome:  Rodine Building Lobby

If you need a receipt for your registration fee, please ask at the Welcome Table.

Email can be accessed from the computers in the lobby.  More computers are available around the campus.

The Gathering in Hinkson Hall:  9:15 a.m.

Audio Clip by Ted Ward on the purpose and design of the Ward Consultation          

Learning How Stories are Used in Different Cultures   

1. Majority world participants share illustrations about the importance and role of the story in their respective cultures.   GUIDE A as a prompt for listening.

2. Audience read the 3-4 stories from the majority world panel.

3. Majority world participants seek to discern patterns, trends, themes in their stories.  GUIDE B used as a prompt for dialogue.  

REFRESHMENT BREAK

Searching for Meaning in Small Groups

(Rooms 125 and 129 are available for small groups. If the building is calm, feel free to use the couch areas in the lobby. )

Each small cluster of participants repeats the process the majority world group has modeled. First, read the stories of the members of your group. Then, identify patterns, themes, trends, insights, questions and record them on flip chart paper. Weave in insights from the readings where relevant.  GUIDE B used as a prompt for dialogue.

LUNCH:  12 noon

Take the opportunity during the lunch break to network with leaders whose work you want to know more about, or who you just want to get to know. Weather permitting, walk anywhere around campus; or, go west across campus to Lakeside Drive (frontage road to the Tollway) and walk south to pond etc.

GATHER in Hinkson Hall for Afternoon Experiences:  2:00 p.m.

Ted Ward on “Stories: Sharing Truth in Word-Pictures”

Orientation to World Café (Linda Cannell and Joe Cookston, facilitators)

REFRESHMENT BREAK

World Café

            Round One:  Each table appoints a host. In this round, the group members share perspectives on the themes that have emerged from the morning.  Keep in mind the rationale for Consultation:  The church is growing rapidly in the majority world; but leaders report that there are not enough people prepared to lead these congregations or help them move to a more mature faith. We local initiatives are emerging to meet these needs, and what can be learned from them? What have we discerned from our stories about what God seems to be doing in furthering the maturity of the people of God.

            Round Two: The host stays at the table while all others travel to other tables.  The host explains what went on at his or her table, and the new people are given opportunity to add any relevant perspectives. The task here is to broaden and deepen. What are the themes and questions related to the “new” stories that are being written in light of the rapidly growing church in the majority world? If it works, extend the story metaphor: “What have we discerned about plot, direction, characters (e.g., the role of outsiders and insiders), setting, language, main headings, main ideas, and even a table of contents”) GUIDE C used as a prompt for dialogue.           

            Round Three:  Participants return to their original tables to report their findings and to share how the conversations have evolved. Each table group prepares 1-3 questions that they believe are significant.  Questions are written on flip chart paper and posted.

            Plenary:  Distill patterns, themes, trends, and significant questions. “In what ways are our observations relevant to the real life or real work of people in church and society?” “To what extent are our questions genuine questions—i.e., we don’t have an answer as yet?” “Do our observations have the potential to generate hope, imagination, engagement, new thinking, and creative action?”  

SUPPER: 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

9:00 a.m.   Saturday Morning

Introduction of Ted Ward Video Documentary Project

REFRESHMENT BREAK

Saturday Morning at the Improv

(Peter Cha, Miriam Charter, Linda Cannell facilitators)

Moving to Action (Move to Room 125. Note: Room 129 is not available today.)

(Laurie Bailey facilitator)

Participants determine, clarify, and select specific areas for future writing and work/action initiatives that are relevant tot and extend their ongoing work and interest.  

LUNCH: 12 noon

Take the opportunity during the lunch break to network with leaders whose work you want to know more about, or who you just want to get to know. Weather permitting, walk anywhere around campus; or, go west across campus to Lakeside Drive (frontage road to the Tollway) and walk south to pond etc.

GATHER in Hinkson Hall for Afternoon Experiences: 2:00 p.m.

Part II of Moving to Action:  Design a Global Listening Project 

REFRESHMENT BREAK

Video Documentary:  Ted Ward on Nonformal Learning

Saying Goodbye:  4:30 p.m.

The questions and insights of this Consultation, should inform the dialogue at Ward Consultations now in the planning process from 2009-2011 (Costa Rica, Norway, Nigeria, Philippines, Switzerland, Croatia, Brazil). Planners of Lausanne III (Cape Town 2010) also want to incorporate questions and insights from the Ward Consultations. For example: What are we learning from the global church? In what ways are majority world and western leaders together engaging common and uncommon tasks and opportunities? What are we learning about how God seems to be working to develop the people of God and how we can help?