Implications for Ministry Networks in the 21st Century
Networks exist as platforms for interaction, communication, and best practices to rise to the surface among groups who are moving in the same direction with the same core values and purpose. The establishment of the network serves to facilitate greater effectiveness and innovation among the participants. It expands by empowering all of its members to spread the idea around their own edges, thus inviting others to connect with them. It is not controlled as much as it is influenced by the flow of information, vision, and ideas as directed by the influential gatekeepers or switchers of the network. These gatekeepers are the hubs of relationships within the network, around which participants seem to gather.
Practical Keys to Establish and Lead a Ministry Network:
1. Lead through ideas, words, and vision.
2. Create interactive experiences where network participants are able to share their story and shape the future of the network.
3. Instead of one to many communication, create many to many conversational environments where best practices are discussed and adopted.
4. Use the internet through interactive web sites that create community and participation, such as blogs.
5. Use regional conferences/get togethers for the purpose of sharing information, building relationships, and learning about what others are doing that is successful.
6. Create a community of like-minded travelers that is reciprocal. Once interdependence is created, the bonds within the network are strong enough to provide for greater innovation and growth.
7. Connect people relationally and spiritually through prayer, communication, and ministry partnering. Much of this globally can be done through the web site if it is interactive and constantly renewing itself through the creation of feedback loops.
8. Ideally, you want to enable each participant to become an expert who is fully empowered and equipped to take the concept of the network to another likeminded person or organization. In a sense, the network is not controlled from the center, but rather it is moving among the edges by the push and flow of ideas, energy, and relationships. It morphs and changes and is constantly innovating as new participants take it further than before as they bring their own experiences to bear. Remember, it is about movement, not management.
9. Embodiment of the idea: the network stays true to it’s original DNA because the idea that brought people together in the first place is embodied in the relationships that are formed. What are we about? Why are we in relationship? The mission stays central and thus drives innovation and experimentation. The network exists to facilitate this process through coaching, encouragement, relationship building, and through creating learning and sharing environments where people can come together and grow. A good example of this is The Intersection Conference that was sponsored by Global Spectrum in April-May 2004, http://www.globalspectrum.org/intersection/. This conference featured a myriad of presenters who met with small groups of participants and engaged in discussions, presentations, and conversations on the issues at hand. It was extremely participatory and allowed for the creation of new ideas, strategies, and practices to emerge as experts come together. I participated in their conference in October of 2005 in Seattle and had the same experience. Excellent.
10. Create contributors instead of consumers. We often want people to consume our idea or talent, so they have to continue to come to us. This validates and perpetuates our importance and role. Instead, we should help people connect with God’s plan for their life and ministry in the context of relationship with others. Each participant has a role to play and has something to offer the movement. When each participant is communicating, giving, and taking based on their relationships in desire to see the network succeed, then the network functions correctly.
In conclusion, Network Leadership is about facilitating relationships and the flow of ideas in order to benefit all involved and to spread the movement quickly and with great range.
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