Better Together
About this blog
Better Together provides a space to share experiences with – and strategies for engaging – three critical global issues that PC(USA) global partners are challenging us to address together as the body of Christ. These three issues are 1) addressing root causes of poverty, especially as it impacts women and children; 2) sharing the Good News of God’s love in Jesus Christ; and 3) working for reconciliation in cultures of violence, including our own. The purpose of Better Together is to feed a conversation to shape concrete action strategies at the October 2012 “Dallas II: Better Together” consultation and beyond.
Join the Dallas II: Better Together conversation on Facebook as well!
Recent posts
- Summary of Dallas II
- Presbyterian News Service story on Dallas II
- Unity, Justice, and Witness
- Afternoon Breakout Sessions of Dallas II
- Breaking the bonds of poverty
Categories
- Mission (2)
- Mission Related (2)
- View all categories →
Archives
Dallas II - Part 2: Collective Impact
Why "Better Together"? Simply put, the philosophy behind the Dallas II Mission Consultation - the philosophy behind partnering with others in global mission - is the understanding that the proclamation of the Kingdom of God is more effectively realized when done so in community. Christ ministered in the context of the Twelve Disciples, and when sending them out, did so by sending them in pairs (Mark 6:7ff). We are reminded that where two or three are gathered, there Christ is, also (Matthew 18:20). We understand that, as Christians and disciples, we are called to community - community which nurtures, edifies, and enhances the Gospel work we are about. This work is done better when it is done together. And we, as Christians, are not the only ones to realize this! Working under the theory that greater good is accomplished when there is an overlap and support of related groups and organizations, John Kania & Mark Kramer did study and research to such an end, with education as their focus. Their discoveries and insights can be found by clicking here. And it is from their results that we commend this article to you for consideration as we move toward the Dallas II even in October. We encourage you to read it over, reflect upon it, and then ask yourself, "How might our various organizations and groups make a greater impact for God's Kingdom by following this method?" We're excited to hear your answers, and look forward to the discussion that comes from them. Thank you for participating!
- Posted at 12:56 p.m.
-
- Tweet
Yes! World Mission's structure has changed; soon we expect to have a "catalyst" in place within World Mission for each of the three critical global issues. The work done at Dallas II will help shape the work that they do with partners in the US and around the world.
by Ellen Sherby
August 12, 2012
Thanks for the great thoughts, Sarah. At the Dallas Consultation on the Worldwide Mission of the Church ("Dallas I", January 2008), the participating organizations asked World Mission to create platforms of collaboration and help Presbyterian mission organizations to network better to be more faithful and effective. The Kania and Kramer article does suggest that a core structure is needed to enable a "collective impact" network to function effectively. But it will be up to the many organizations, mission networks, Young Adult Volunteer alums, mission professors and pastors and local leaders to decide how to organize themselves and who should do what.
by Hunter Farrell
July 29, 2012
If I'm understanding the article correctly, the collective impact initiatives they are promoting are more than a network of grassroots groups. They are carefully structured, coordinated, and facilitated efforts that require a backbone of infrastructure outside any of the individual organizations. I haven't explored them thoroughly yet, but this follow-up article (http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/channeling_change_making_collective_impact_work) and this outline of the academic model of the Strive network (http://strivenetwork.org/strive-approach/strive-framework) might be helpful, too.
by Sarah
July 26, 2012
Sarah, Your more recent comment is closer to the reality. Through the Mission Consultation in October, the hope is to have more of grassroots understanding/strategy of doing mission together, starting in local congregations and presbyteries instead of through a staff office. World Mission will help support these efforts from their end, but the hope is to start this work from the ground up. Thanks for joining the conversation!
by Jason
July 26, 2012
Or are we perhaps looking to start a larger movement of mission (and secular/government?) organizations aligning goals and collaborating together?
by Sarah
July 26, 2012
So, is World Mission offering to provide the staff and infrastructure of a collective impact initiative?
by Sarah
July 26, 2012