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Champions Fax ArchiveWhat Really Happens at a Church
Champions Workshop? Perhaps you've seen the brochure or read the latest newsletter that detailed an upcoming Church Champions workshop. Maybe you've even considered the possibility of attending a workshop but wondered if the investment of your time and budget dollars would be worth the trade-off. Practically speaking, would this kind of learning experience add value to your contribution as you serve in your role as a Church Champion? Recently, the Church Champions Network hosted the Diffusion of Innovations led by Dr. Everett Rogers, author of the book, Diffusion of Innovations. Some observations about the workshop and comments from participants that attended the workshop may help clarify what you could expect to gain from participating in this kind of learning experience. First on the list to consider was the excellent content of the workshop presented by Dr. Rogers. For those of you not familiar with his book, Dr. Rogers has conducted extensive research and written on the principles involved in how innovations are diffused throughout networks. During the workshop, Dr. Rogers engaged the participants in Q&A, small group discussions, and training exercises designed to lead participants through the practical applications involved in diffusing innovations. The training exercises were conducted in small groups of 4 or 5 people. Each participant within the small group was asked to share an innovation that they would like to diffuse throughout their network. Although the innovations themselves were diverse, the underlying principles involved in the diffusion process were the same. Participants commented that the diffusion process that they had now learned would be a new tool that they could utilize when introducing new innovations within their networks. Other participants commented that they had a basic understanding of the diffusion process before attending the workshop but would now be much more effective in their application of these principles within their context. Others remarked that this workshop served as an affirmation of the diffusion process that they were currently using within their network. Of equal importance to consider when attending a workshop experience are the networking opportunities. Participants have the opportunity to meet others that are outside of their usual network connections. Typically, the impromptu discussions among participants will prove to be as valuable to them as the workshop content that originally brought them to the learning experience. Several workshop participants commented that the new relationships they establish at these kinds of learning experiences are a key reason for attending. One final opportunity to attend a Church Champions workshop will be offered in 1999. The Forum Process Training Workshop will be held July 26-28 in San Bernadino, California. Participants will learn the concepts and principles involved in the forum process that Leadership Network employs in its peer learning forums. Registration is open to all interested participants. For more details about the workshop or to inquire about registration, please call our Customer Service Team at 800.765.5323. Linda Stanley is Associate in the Church Interventionist Networks for Leadership Network in Dallas, Texas. She can be reached at Linda.Stanley@leadnet.org.
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