This quest is a profound spiritual path requiring transformation. New or adapted directions by their very nature demand change. Collective adjustments are not easy as a group takes competing beliefs, ideas, and concerns and combines them to form a unified path. This dynamic demands both individual and group, letting go to create a shared vision. It is not a comfortable journey and should be assisted by a  contemplative space that is safe and receptive to the many ideas and desires that will develop a unity about the future.

 

This moment in history, with its myriad of transitions, demands that communities create a bold vision. Ilia Delio, in her book, The Emergent Christ, speaks to the value of change.

 

“Life means change, and the rich diversity of life is based on change.

One does not have to be trained in science to realize that change is integral to life.

All of life follows the cycle of birth, maturity, deterioration, and death.”[8]

 

The quote reminds us that openness to change is necessary, that creating a group vision is not a rigid process rather an organic and energetic one to open to the polarity dance of the known and unknown. A profound spiritual process of radical detachment is needed to embrace the hidden invitation of God. We often tend to create a direction based on security rather than aspiration.  The book, Beyond Performance, notes “If the vision feels to incremental, cautious, or overly tailored to existing capabilities, it will fail to create momentum or pressure for an organization to push the limits of what is possible and therefore won’t lead to breakthroughs.” [9]

 

The essential questions a transformative community needs to ask in creating a collective vision are:

Who are we called to serve?

What is our prophetic stance?

What is our desired impact and shared commitment to creating a just society?

 

When developing a vision, it is critical to envision the direction for a decade. It is critical to realize the vision will be implemented based on incremental steps that focus on the long term vision.  One of the great examples of a visionary direction is John Kennedy's vision for our space program. The vision was to land a person on the moon by the end of the decade and return them safely to earth.  The vast information that authors have written on the moon project demonstrates the aspiration was always in front of these pioneers as they took incremental steps.

 

For example, the moon shot was a three-phase space program: Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. Each program focused on essential elements vital to achieving the ultimate goal of landing on the moon. Mercury experimented with all the details needed to send a person in space and return them safely to earth. Gemini explored the critical steps needed to walk in space, rendezvous with another spaceship, and other critical elements.  Finally, Apollo would land the person on the moon and bring them safely home.  The vision took each of these expansive steps to be successful.

 

Habakkuk 2:2 states, “Write down the vision clearly upon the tablets so that one can read it readily.”[10] This wisdom is true for transformative communities about the importance of continually having a vision. 

 

Each transformative community is called by God to express clearly their moonshot vision, one that transforms both the individual and collective members and society. This demand for creating a bold plan of action and congregational alignment that implements the dream. 

 

 

Part III Action Plan and System Alignment

 

There is often a tendency to put tremendous energy and due diligence into setting the visionary course. Energy dissipates, however, as the group moves into establishing the action plan.  If a group wants to have an impact and participate in the shifting societal process, it is crucial to have energy and passion for developing the action plan. The commitment to this phase of the process aligns the visionary aspiration with a committed implementation plan.

 

The creation of an action plan is a spiritual discipline that involves choosing appropriate priority actions to achieve a visionary direction. This spiritual path requires learning how to handle conflict and disappointment.  The process also requires that difficult, sometimes tricky choices be made. It necessitates detachment from one's own will for a larger common good. Our individualistic society creates a real challenge to this type of commitment. At this point in the process, critical aspects are the prayerful reflection and seeking “oneness” of engagement as the congregation moves into the future.

 

The action plan defines the key priorities and initiatives crucial to achieving the visionary direction. The first step in creating a plan is assessing the current community assets needed to accomplish the vision as well as its challenges. It involves establishing initiatives, for example, that strengthen the formation, infrastructure, fiscal viability, and human resources to achieve the vision.

 

In Daniel Christian Wahl’s book, Designing Regenerative Culture, he affirms the critical importance of establishing an action plan when he states, “ by exploring the potential feedback loops, limits, dynamics and key relationships within the system we can move to a deeper questioning in searching of organizing principles and policies  that structure the system and drive its behavior.”[11] 

 

The creation of a bold vision leads to asking four vital questions in the development of an effective action plan.

 

• What are aspects of our culture that need affirmation and change to achieve the visionary direction?

• What are the key activities, structures, and current initiatives that no longer serve the larger purpose?

• What are the current strengths and capacities within the system that are important to continue nurturing and developing to implement the direction?

• What are new initiatives, structures, collaborative relationships that are vital to implementing the vision?

 

System alignment

The final step is aligning the entire system to the direction and implementation.  It is critical to define the vital role of each area and staff member in achieving the visionary course. The alignment of the system builds ownership, investment, and creative imagination in the implementation process.

 

The alignment of the structure focuses on all aspects of the structures like ongoing formation, advancement, finances, human resources, etc. so that all understand their role concerning the community key priorities.

 

Defining the human, financial, and needed the capacity to implement the vision is essential. The following are some important questions to reflect upon in the system alignment stage.

 

• What capacities no longer serve our purpose, and what new skills or capabilities do we need to develop within our leadership and staff?

• How do we deepen the collaboration and relationships among our departments and partners to achieve the vision?

• Do we need to establish new partners if so with whom and for what?   

• How is our current structure supportive of the vision, and what aspects need to be adapted to strengthen the achievement of the visionary direction?

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System alignment often overlooked, yet it is a vital segment of the planning process. There is a tendency to believe the current structure and capabilities are sufficient for the new plan. Imperative for achieving a bold direction, the current system often needs fresh ideas and adaptation.

 

Summary:

Carl Jung stated, “Your vision will become clear only when you can look into your heart. Who looks outside, dreams, who looks inside awakens.”[12] The transformative community walks a sacred path when it enters into its collective heart space to awaken its visionary aspiration. As a group walks the spiritual journey reflecting on the trends, developing a visionary direction, planning for action, and establishing alignment, they become like gold tested in fire. They create as Acts of the Apostles describes, “The community of believers were of one heart and mind…”[13] The commitment to this process deepens the bonds of relationship and connectivity for achieving the desired future grounded in mutual trust, working through differences, and unfolding spirit within the individuals and groups. As Amelia Earhart stated, “The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity. “[14]

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Citations
 

[1] Gittins, Anthony J. A Presence That Disturbs: a Call to Radical Discipleship. WIPF & STOCK, 2018. Print. xvii

[2] Fares, Diego. Heart of Pope Francis: How a New Culture of Encounter Is Changing the Church and the World. Crossroad, 2015. Print. 45

[3] Gittins, Anthony J. Courage and Conviction: Unpretentious Christianity. Liturgical Press, 2018. Print. 143

[4] Sanford, Carol. The Regenerative Business: Redesign Work, Cultivate Human Potential, and Achieve Extraordinary Outcomes. Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2017. Print. 14

[5] Wahl, Daniel Christian. Designing Regenerative Cultures. Triarchy Press, 2017. Print. 36

[6] Sanford.  72

[7] MEV Proverbs 29:18

[8] Delio, Ilia. The Emergent Christ: Exploring the Meaning of Catholic in an Evolutionary Universe. Orbis Books, 2013. Print. 34

[9] Keller, Scott, and Bill Schaninger. Beyond Performance 2.0: a Proven Approach to Leading Large-Scale Change. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2019. Print. 66

[10] NAB Saint Joseph Edition

[11] Wahl. 88

[12] Storm, Laura Hutchins Giles. REGENERATIVE LEADERSHIP: the Dna of Life-Affirming 21st Century Organizations. Wordzworth Publishing, 2019. Print. 118

[13] NAB, Acts 4:32

[14] Brinkley, Douglas. American Moonshot: John F. Kennedy and the Great Space Race. HarperCollins Canada, Limited, 2019. Preface