Renewing ICT.docx

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August 2016

Renewing International Coordination Team (ICT) Situation, August 2016 Next Forum (February 2017) Servants will appoint two new members of the leadership team. Servants is currently served by an interim leadership team of three (ICT): Cathy, Daniel and David. David is due to step down in February 2017, and Daniel in April 2017. Cathy has committed to continue in this team for another two years. The new members are to replace David and Daniel. Our movement has experienced about five years of instability in leadership (primarily brought about by external challenges) and we are seeking leaders attentive to the particular needs of our current season of fragility. Ideally the team will reside at the proposed “Resource Hub” in Manila, though this should not be a barrier to appointing the right people – even one or two at the Hub will be a good step in this direction.

A brief description of ICT ICT (International Coordination Team) is set apart for leadership of our movement by ILC (International Leadership Council, representatives across all immersion and linking teams). ICT is ultimately accountable to ILC. However as a small community spread across the globe, we want to foster a culture of trust, ensuring we offer grace and support for our leaders, allowing them to operate without feeling hamstrung by an unclear mandate. More detailed guidelines for the ICT/ILC relationship have been developed, particularly at recent ILC gatherings in 2013 and 2015, and are offered in this spirit of releasing good servant leadership among us. ICT carries leadership responsibility in the following general areas. Specific roles are divided among the team according to the gifts and passions of the team members, or delegated to others where appropriate.  

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Identifying strategic agenda for overall leadership, in continuity with the vision and history of Servants, and in coordination with ILC. Ensuring the health of Immersion Teams (eg through coordinating leadership development and training, team vision and mission, team mentors, member care practices, debriefing, training and formation, pastoral care, and fostering a culture of healthy team-building). Ensuring the health of Linking Teams (eg such as through coordinating leadership development and training, team vision and mission, team mentors, collaboration / crosspollination across teams, and developing strategies for linking, networking and recruitment). Supporting and guiding the Resource Hub team, as they provide formation, training, pastoral support and other resources for the whole of Servants. Holding and sharing Servants prophetic narrative (eg through strategies for sharing stories within and beyond the movement, online presence, promotional material, engagement at conferences/events/festivals for missions and development).

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August 2016

Coordinating the administration of the movement (eg Forum and ILC gatherings, orientation events, maintaining policy documents, legal compliance, managing Vision Fund finances, and other administrative functions).

Moving ICT forward: The Crow’s Nest? The Dream and Scheme Meeting (August 2016) has confirmed the “Re-birthing Servants” proposal as the way forward. The new leadership team will oversee the implementation of this proposal. In the spirit of “re-birth” (and due to the confusing similarity between acronyms ICT and ILC), the new leadership team will decide on a new name. The Crow’s Nest: an image of a few of the crew taking a stance of ‘seeing more’ from up a ship’s mast. They are released from other tasks to see and make connections. From here they might say, “Those crew are doing the same sorts of things, they should talk to each other.” “Why is that person pulling that heavy rope alone?” “There’s a ship over there going in the same direction, we should send somebody to talk with them”. “Let’s watch out for that black cloud”. “Oh-yarr, Heave-to! ye pirates of justice!” Cheesy, maybe, but a metaphor may stick better than a technical term. Other suggestions: Leadership Team (but same acronym as Linking Team), International Catalysts, Global Focus Team, Global Focus Leaders, Overseers, Watchtower (rejected), Management Team, Executive...

Who can do this? Ideally people from within our movement, but realistically in our current season we need to call on those outside our movement who understand who we are. A leader will have (borrowing from Urban Vision’s “Five C’s”)     

Call – they and their community have discerned their role, and are obedient to the One who called them. Character – they are committed to developing their character to be as mature and Christcentred as possible (they are not perfect, but at least they know what to work on and how!) Charism – Acknowledging their particular giftedness, eg leadership style (Rom 12, 1 Cor 12, Eph 4) well-matched to the role required and needs faced. Commitment – they are committed to a life-style of servant leadership, to allow the individuals, the group, and the mission to flourish. Capacity – they will create space in their lives to function well, including in times of crisis, to have energy and time to love well.

Leaders are responsible for raising their own support. At least one person with a pastoral care focus should be available to travel (Servants Funds can cover airfares, etc.). We are looking for a 3 to 5 year commitment to serving in this role, acknowledging that it might take a year or two to “grow into” the role. Our vision is to see the urban poor and their communities transformed by the power of Christ. ILC is excited to commission and support a leadership team that can help us all to move towards this goal.

Renewing ICT.docx

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Nominations and Appointment Action Plan 

Invite Nominations (to all Servants people): beginning of September.

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Nominations close: end of October Initial skype / meetings with candidates: November ICT and Elder input make proposal to ILC: beginning of December ILC approve or disapprove (traffic lights): end of December

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Commission new ICT / “Crow’s Nest”: Forum February Transition period from old to new team: February to April

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New team in place: May 2017

August 2016