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Partnership Processes (to be edited, go to the manual to open a word doc version)

Forming A Partnership

An individual needs to be found with a vision for reaching the city who is willing to set aside 3-5 years to the process. This person - the facilitator - must have patience and quiet determination and be prepared to await the right moment before taking the next step.

Stage 1: Exploration

Before all else there must be groundwork done so the facilitator has knowledge of the city/cities and the Christian organizations within them.

w Enlarge the facilitator's database of knowledge and information about the historical, cultural and religious background and condition of the people.

w Identify relevant resources, leaders and ministries that already have some interest or involvement in the people group.

w Hold private meetings with the Leadership of various agencies showing interest, to determine things like:
the history of the agency, the history of, or plans for involvement with the people group, the agency's perception of itself, its perception of and history with the other agencies related to the city/cities , what it sees as the priorities and impediments in reaching the people group.

w Through biblical and historical research plus the more detailed contact with agency Leadership, identify key issues and problems in the city, current Christian activity (if it exists), and relationships in the region.

w Seek to identify points of consensus which interested parties identified as key problems, impediments or opportunities that could potentially be dealt with through some form of cooperation.

w Determine consensus or willingness by Leadership to attend at least one meeting to explore these areas of common concern and potential cooperative solutions.

w A few "rules" to remember

w At this stage it is particularly imperative to identify points that ministries have in common rather than concentrating on their differences!

w Maintaining complete confidentiality from one agency to another is critical to your credibility. Share only what has been approved by the person who told you and only if it moves the ministry to private consensus.

w Your reputation for personal integrity, impartiality, and absolute commitment

w to the people of the city are the three greatest assets you will have.

Stage 2: Formation

This stage is absolutely critical in the life of a partnership. It cannot be underscored too heavily that by calling a formation meeting for a partnership too soon you may destroy the real possibilities for long-range cooperation. Patience, mutual awareness and quiet consensus-building is the key.

Once the facilitator feels the exploration stage is nearing an end, the highest priority should be to develop a sense of the various agency leaders' interest in meeting together. Do they think there is any value in meeting, at least once, to share vision, concerns, and information about ministry in the area? There may be a natural reticence to agreeing to such a meeting as they may -

w have had bad or disappointing experiences in similar efforts at cooperation or inter-agency communication before.

w be concerned that the person calling the meeting may, in fact, have some hidden agenda they are not divulging.

w a fear that they may compromise their own agency's vision or distinctives.

So the partnership facilitator must be completely transparent. "It's true, the reason I've come to talk with you is that I believe there may be great value for the Kingdom if ministries in the area could find ways to collaborate, coordinate and communicate more fully. However, this meeting is genuinely exploratory. There is no hidden agenda. Our sole purpose will be to review the current situation in this area; look at present ministries and challenges that face us; and, explore whether there are priority items that might benefit from collaboration.

If there is any decision to go forward in any kind of cooperative 'next steps', the participants themselves will make it. My role is simply to facilitate the process and to encourage the most effective communication between the various ministries." By taking such a position, the facilitator must of course be genuinely prepared for the first meeting to fail. There must be no manipulation of the process. If there is, any outcomes will have short-term value, and the facilitator will be seen to lack integrity - hardly a way to build trust - the most critical element in partnership development!

Pre-Meeting Checklist

w Has the facilitator identified most of the key resources related to ministry in the region of people group - individuals, agencies (Western and Non-Western) etc.?

w Does the facilitator know, personally, most of the key agencies concerned with ministry in the region or people group, along with their Leadership?

w Do you know each agency's history, traditions, vision, agenda, primary experience, attitude to cooperation, and the history of their relationship with other ministries?

w To what extent have the main leaders all agreed on at least a basic motivation or objective for such an exploratory meeting? For example, is there consensus in advance on some particular need in the region that they might address more effectively together rather than separately? Or, have they agreed that it is worth talking together, at least once, to see if there is something of high priority they might consider together?

w Have realistic, limited expectations been established in everyone's mind about the first meeting so that the chances of realizing these objectives are good?

w What level of trust do you sense between the agencies and their leaders and, if there are problems, what are the causes or histories - and to what extent do these issues have to be resolved before an effective meeting can ever occur?

This sort of pre-meeting process minimizes the 'surprises' for a facilitator, increases his/her understanding, enhances their relationship and credibility with the main players, and goes a long way toward establishing at least a modest level of consensus before the meeting ever starts.

The Meeting

After much prayer, preparation and anticipation, the first meeting of partner agencies is ready to begin.

w Have clear objectives. Know the outcomes you desire. But in the spirit of a servant, allow important issues and decisions to rise up out of the group. Make sure they have a high sense of ownership of any outcomes.

w Circulate the draft agenda well in advance of the meeting. Let everyone know it is a draft based on pre-meeting input and that it will be reviewed once again at the start of the meeting. Once the meeting gets under way be prepared to modify the agenda to meet changing circumstances.

w Make sure the meeting covers the following - history and status of Christian work in the region, current socio-economic conditions, what the primary impediments to evangelism and establishing the church .

w Let the participants identify, "If we could deal with one problem, what would it be?" in an open brainstorming session (possibly in small groups to start - but later in session with the full group).

w Make sure the participants prioritize the main issues that need to be dealt with - allowing a consensus about these to emerge from the group.

w Keep feedback to the group high - recap where you are in the agenda, the overall meeting schedule, so far and where you are headed in the meetings. Make sure to ask if they understand and agree with these mini-status reports as you go along. Peoples confidence will rise if they are being consulted, know what is happening and know what to expect.

w Consider establishing a small, "listening group" or a temporary, "advisory group" of senior leaders who can provide input during the meeting - helping you monitor what is really being heard and said.

w Make sure the objectives set are limited and achievable. The group needs to have a sense of success and fulfillment in the meeting itself and in the months ahead as coordinated work moves forward.

w Make action steps, timetables, responsibilities and future decision making steps very clear. Frequently the larger group may want to assign these details to a smaller working group selected from those present.

w Make sure there is time for prayer and worship together (including, if at all possible, communion). Ensure that you have people specifically praying for clarity, openness, understanding, trust.

w Finally, clearly identify who will report and provide any written follow-up or summaries of the meeting - and, who should receive these reports and through which channel.



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