On May 21 and 22, UUCC held an online Appreciative Inquiry based Group Relations Workshop (GRW), facilitated by Brian Bloch and Will Tansey. The GRW Workshop was well attended, with over 120 participants. THANK YOU for your amazing commitment to the future of UUCC.
The virtual nine-hour workshop followed the four-step Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process of Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny. The AI process helped attendees focus on past positive experiences and successes at UUCC. The next step was for participants to envision “possibility statements” for a truly dynamic future for UUCC.
Following that visioning work, attendees created groups to discuss how to start to implement those possibility statements — to bring them into reality. There were meaningful conversations, and much opportunity for participants to meet and talk with others.
The great effort of all of those who contributed to the outcome of the workshop enabled this successful virtual experience, and despite some brief minor technical glitches, the facilitation team (with incredible support from Graham Getty and Valerie Hsu) created a vibrant virtual community.
At the conclusion of the event, the participants identified these initial 10 enabling actions, to help us move towards the possibility statements.
Enabling Action Groups
- Covenant of Right Relations
- Vision, Mission, Covenant
- How We Build Community Together that Reflects the Diversity of the Geographic Area
- Conflict Management Framework
- Bring Back Monthly Joyful Gatherings (food-based)
- Build a Congregation of Culturally Competent Communicators
- How to Invite People In and Recognize Their Abilities
- Congregational Engagement in Decision Making
- Building and Deepening Multi-Generational Connections
- Increase & Facilitate Honest & Respectful Dialogue
The GRW Workshop was well attended, with 122 registrants (and many more who expressed interest but were unable to attend). The workshop, now completed, involved significant commitment and valuable participation by all.
Next, the GRW will distribute the outputs from the workshop (eg, the enabling teams’ possibility statements and initial actions and the MURAL).
If you were registered for the GRW, please be on the lookout for an evaluation survey in the next few days. The results are important to inform our next steps. We hope that every participant will respond so we have the most comprehensive information possible.
We expect facilitator recommendations in the next two weeks and their final report by the end of June 2022. The GRW will also continue to work with the facilitator team on the development of a Conflict Resolution Framework.
UUCC has now identified a list of Enabling Actions, with volunteer energy to drive them forward. Although there is much work to be done in many areas, the GRW considers the workshop a success, the outcomes of which will support UUCC in moving together as a community of faith.
Now, it is up to us, the members, friends, leadership and staff of UUCC to take action so we can shape and achieve the envisioned results that we have worked together to define.
Thank you, UUCC!
GRW Committee
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Footnote 1: These are only the initial Enabling Action Groups. We expect that they will morph and change, and we welcome congregants to add new ones. Each group has explicitly stated that they welcome and encourage new participants, and although each group had a “convener” during the workshop, most, if not all, would also welcome additional leaders or co-leaders. Additional information on the Enabling Actions and how to participate will be provided soon.
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