We’ve been away in Devon for two weeks house sitting (or rather – chicken and dog sitting). It’s been a great couple of weeks and we’ve really enjoyed it. It’s time to get back to work though…
The past two weeks have given me time to think through my plans. I’ve been thinking about how I might actually do my job differently.
Going back to basics, I suspect that my core job objectives are actually impossible – paying full share costs, getting a sustainable deployment and renegotiating ecumenucal agreements – at least if I have to do it within two and a half years by which time my job will be up for review…
I’m dealing with three conflicting sets of expectations: a) the diocese – focusing on money, deployment and ecumenical relationships, b) the deanery – which is generally hoping that the pressure will ease off so that clergy can get back to business as usual, and c) myself – with my desire to build new collaborative models of church. In between these three sets of expectations are conflicts in strategy, style and vision – leading to an overall crisis…
Once I recognised that my job is impossible – as many people have been telling me, the next step is to redefine my objectives. Since my post is an experimental one, it seems to me that the first task is to discover how the job can be done – in keeping with the general purpose of an Area Dean. Here’s my first take on this:
Outcome: I will discover how I can serve as Area Dean in Milton Keynes – achieving the core ongoing objectives of unity, mutual support and wholistic mission.
The core concept that I think I need to focus on is collaboration. Brainstorming on this raises themes of relationships, networks, links, conversation, social media, teams, facilitation, training, triadic relationships and so on…
So this suggests a new range of action plans. Here are some possibilities:
Back to blogging – it was a very effective tool
Church visits – get round the churches systematically and do some listening…
Lunches and coffees – try to see someone every day – preferably in threes…
Identify new chapter clerk and ecumenical officer – who need to be ‘culture captains’ who model collaborative behaviour (level four culture)
Book Group – start a theological book group focussing on collaborative ministry
Pod casting – lots of possibilities here…
Facebook at Cornerstone, training, LSM, etc…
Lots to do… But could be fun if I cut myself free from the fear of failure ascociated with an impossible job…
