Casting the Vision
Congregations and institutions that make a real difference in the world first articulate, in conversation with the congregation, the "nested bowls" of:
Congregations and institutions that make a real difference in the world first articulate, in conversation with the congregation, the "nested bowls" of:
- Values
- Mission
- Ends
Related Services
Congregational Conversation Workshop
Boards need to inform their work to discern and articulate answers to the nested bowls of values, mission and ends, through congregational conversation. The challenge: have a conversation that's authentic and inspiring, that reflects the real yearnings of the congregation for the future. Our Appreciative-Inquiry-based workshop, customized for your congregation around a relevant topic and a Powerful Question, gives you just the experience and the data you need. We can either lead one or two sessions of the workshop for you, or train your facilitators to lead several sessions over the course of a few weeks.
Nested Bowls Board Retreat
Once you've gathered the information you need through congregational conversation, we help you analyze the data to discern and articulate the answers to the nested bowls questions. Friday night/all day Saturday retreat.
PG101 Board Retreat
Once you know your values, mission, and ends, the next question is what governance system will liberate and empower leadership throughout the congregation for its mission. We take you through nine board commitments that structure a system for the congregation to align its work with its mission and stay accountable for its outcomes. We consider how these commitments could clarify and enhance decision-making and relationships in the congregation. If you determine that you want to restructure your governance according to these commitments, we map out a transition plan to accomplish the work. Friday night/all day Saturday onsite retreat.
Boards need to inform their work to discern and articulate answers to the nested bowls of values, mission and ends, through congregational conversation. The challenge: have a conversation that's authentic and inspiring, that reflects the real yearnings of the congregation for the future. Our Appreciative-Inquiry-based workshop, customized for your congregation around a relevant topic and a Powerful Question, gives you just the experience and the data you need. We can either lead one or two sessions of the workshop for you, or train your facilitators to lead several sessions over the course of a few weeks.
Nested Bowls Board Retreat
Once you've gathered the information you need through congregational conversation, we help you analyze the data to discern and articulate the answers to the nested bowls questions. Friday night/all day Saturday retreat.
PG101 Board Retreat
Once you know your values, mission, and ends, the next question is what governance system will liberate and empower leadership throughout the congregation for its mission. We take you through nine board commitments that structure a system for the congregation to align its work with its mission and stay accountable for its outcomes. We consider how these commitments could clarify and enhance decision-making and relationships in the congregation. If you determine that you want to restructure your governance according to these commitments, we map out a transition plan to accomplish the work. Friday night/all day Saturday onsite retreat.
Related Resources on Our Website
On Our Nested Bowls page:
- More information about the Nested Bowl metaphor.
- Information about our book, The Nested Bowls: The Promise and Practice of Good Governance.
- Slides from a 2011 workshop about the Appreciative Inquiry-based process to fill the nested bowls.
- A link to a video of The Experience of the Holy exercise, which we use for values discernment in congregations.
- A link to a video about The Nested Bowls metaphor.
- A link to a video introducing policy-based governance and a video about the governance transition.
