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Q & A………. Seattle CDI
This is based on the comments of participants who have been at the
national CDI.
Q - How demanding is the Seattle CDI?
A - CDI is intensive, hard work; the overwhelming majority of
participants report that they mange that well, a few report having a
difficult time integrating learnings. We have a quick start to the work;
not a lot of time with the training staff helping people get connected.
There has generally been strong affirmation from most participants about that approach. A
few had difficulty with it. It is done that way to provide a learning
opportunity for participants around taking responsibility for yourself
and the group's needs.
Q - How well does Seattle CDI help participants develop an
awareness of and intervention skills for complex parish dynamics?
A - The design is effective for most participants in:
- increasing
awareness of and resources for the multiple levels of system activity
(self, group, organizational, etc.)
- increasing an awareness of options for intervention as a leader or consultant
- increasing the practitioners range of behavior for leadership and
consulting
Having said that -- it is still true
that some participants have a tendency to over-rely on "rules",
theories, intuition, or some favorite approach to learning or
intervening. The program moves most people toward a more integrated,
broader, and deeper approach.
Many
participants decide to supplement CDI training with lab training in human
interaction and group development and a mentoring-reflective process with someone
more experienced. This is especially recommended for anyone seeking to become a
consultant.
Q - I was thinking of bringing a laptop to CDI to take notes during
the sessions. Would that make sense?
A - Only if you were in a seminary classroom! And not even then when
you are trying to learn congregational development. Our approach to
congregational development is more integrated and experiential than what
you'll get in D Min programs. To be effective at CD the practitioner
needs to learn how to attend to a number of factors at the same time,
e.g.,
- What is happening in the here & now, in what is going on in
front of me;
- What are the dynamics in the parish system around trust,
communication, task effectiveness, etc;
- What is happening in me, with this group, in this situation? What
am I feeling and thinking? Am I freezing, withdrawing, engaged, etc.
- What skills do I have that might help?
- What are the options for intervention?
- Etc., Etc.
So, we work on tasks in teams, simulations and
role-plays. That allows us to experience many of the same dynamics
present in any participant, leader or consultant situation. We can then
reflect on what happens in the group action -- what seemed helpful, how
do we get ourselves stuck, what are our strengths and blindspots, etc.
That's a long answer to say -- leave the laptop in your room, you
will need to be paying attention to all the complexity that gets set
loose in a developmental effort.
Q - What is the impact if I am coming as part of a parish or diocesan
team?
A - Parish and diocesan teams need to come knowing that the focus is on
the equipping of people as individual CD practitioners. So, there is not
time provided for such teams to meet during sessions. If you are part of
a team the best thing you can do to serve your parish or diocese is to
focus on your own learning process. You can arrange plenty of time with
your team when you go home. You may find it better for your own learning
to build relationships with people from other areas. It is part of
increasing your capacity for "engaged-detachment."
Parish and diocesan teams may decide to develop common CD projects.
The last couple of days of CDI give a lot of attention to this. But even
if the project is a team project -- all the project reports are
individual. Again - you focus on your own learning process.
Q - Is there enough time off to enjoy the city?
A - Most evenings and most of the weekend is free time. If you would
like additional time in Seattle and the northwest you may want to consider coming to the area
before CDI begins or staying after we end.
Q - What if I need to take-off because I'm ill, need a break, or
___??
A - You are expected to arrange things so you are able to be fully
involved in the program. You are expected to participate in all work
sessions, worship and the social activities. We are building a learning
community and your participation is essential to that. Every other year
(07, 09, 11) we attend the Sunday Eucharist at local parishes. This is part of
our work on organizational culture. Participation is required. If you miss sessions due to family emergencies and priorities, your
own illness, etc. You need to make up the
work in a manner approved
by the program leaders. If too many sessions are missed you may need to
drop from the program (and begin over again.) If you drop and start over
there will be an additional fee required.
Here are a few examples that may help you understand the boundaries --
- If you decide to take a few hours off because you are tired or feel
overloaded; or decide to go to dinner with your spouse instead of
attending the group's social evening; or will need to go home on Sunday
to preside at the Eucharist instead of being with the group visiting
local parishes (05, 07 etc.) -- You will be asked to leave the
program; these are indicators that you selected the wrong program.
- If you come down with the flu and are out for a couple of days; if you
are local and someone in the parish dies; something that involves a
limited amount of time -- We will work with you to
reconnect you with the group and provide make up work.
- If something truly awful happens in your life, e.g., a member of your
family, or a core parishioner dies, or gets seriously ill, and you just
have to go home. Something that means you will miss a significant part
of the experience. -- We will work with you as possible,
e.g., you may be able to do make up work at another CDI or attend a
couple of days of training in the work you missed. It is possible that
you will need to drop out and rejoin in another year. Given the
circumstances we are likely to give you credit for part of the conference fee
(but the fee is not refundable).
For more
information on the make-up process
Q - Any suggestions about housing?
A - Making arrangements early gives you more
choice. See the link on housing for some options.
Q - How much of what I learn in my first two
weeks is likely to have some immediate application in the parish?
A. - There are several things to take into
consideration: 1). You will be developing a congregational development project
toward the end of the session. There are three such projects that you will create
during CDI. Learning to design, implement, and learn from interventions is part
of the learning experience. 2). You will be helped to explore the appropriateness
of projects given your skill level, the readiness of the parish, and the
strategic needs of the parish. 3). You will be helped to distinguish the
difference between launching a lot of programs & activities and engaging in
efforts that are truly developmental, i.e., that contribute to the long term
health and faithfulness of the parish. 4). Participants usually find themselves designing
and implementing many more congregational development interventions than just
the three required projects. Hopefully the disciplined process you learn in the
three required projects will help improve your other efforts. 5). A central
concern of CDI is the development of the practitioner -- our assumption is that
the single most important thing you bring into the leadership or consulting
situation is yourself; your awareness of what is happening in the group you are
working with; your awareness of your own filters, feelings and competencies;
etc. Congregational development is not just a series of activities/interventions
targeted at improving the parish. It is also about the existence of trained
people who see things more broadly and deeply and who see a wider range of
possible action.
All of this is to say that most participants see
more that they would like to do and be than is possible. It is important that
you enter the summer program with a relatively open fall and winter parish
schedule related to adult education and formation and exploring new directions
and programs.
Q - What participation is expected in the
maintaining of the learning community?
A. - Here are some examples of what you can do to
contribute to the learning community.
- Be familiar with the material from the
readings. That allows you to really offer something when you are
working in a team with other participants. It also allows you to
focus more on the application of theory and methods.
- Take initiative to help things work, e.g.,
in facilitating a working group, by helping clean up the space at
the end of the day, by saying something when you are unclear about
instructions or theory, etc.
- Fully participate in worship and the social
times. You will be asked to assist in worship and in the daily set-up &
clean up.
Q - What are my options if something happens
that makes it impossible for me to return the second summer?
A - You will be permitted to return when that
cycle comes around again, e.g., if you attend in 06, had planned to
return in 07 but are unable to do that; you can return in 09. You must
register, with additional fees due, for that summer no later than
January 10 of the year in which you are returning. If you do not return
at that point you are dropped from the program. Fees are not refunded.
You will be charged additional registration fees
to return to the program. There will be charge of $650 plus any
increase that has taken place between your original registration and the
year of your returning to the program. CDI staff will work
with you in reconnecting to the program, e.g., reports due, preparation
needed for the coming summer, etc.
Another option is to complete your second year
with a diocesan CDI. Admission into the diocesan programs is a decision
made in that diocese. All arrangement about fees and requirements are
worked out with the diocese.
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