Customer Reviews

Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change

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I think this work was well written and interesting. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is an alternative to problem-based planning. It makes sense for a church to pay attention to its strength(s) and move forward along that dimension. I think AI also makes sense because it is a more optimistic planning method, aligned with Christian hope.

I thought Branson was detailed enough in his explanation to cover areas of possible confusion. Our Long Range Planning Team is modeling our next 5-year plan after Branson's model -- it makes sense.

Branson demonstrates in this book the process and effectiveness of Appreciative Inquiry (AI). The case study focuses on Branson's work in a particular church; however, it is applicable to any organization. Branson provides clear instructions for leading AI. He provides the background of AI and how it differs from other leadership processes. He elaborates on his work with the church by giving the specific examples as he describes the process of AI and how it works. In this book, he also shows the Biblical basis for doing AI.

This book provides an excellent overall illustration of AI. I think that it offers all one needs in order to start and finish an AI process. I used it along with an AI textbook, but this book was all I really needed. It is well written and the examples and illustrations are clear and easy to follow.

A beautiful book to help a church remember the things positive they have done that gave them joy, hope and the result is peace. Useful for a congregation with some troubles. By remembering people, places and things that moved us to know joy and find an appreciation for all the people who went before us and continue here and now. The 3 wishes of hope for the future are most revealing to knowing the secret heart's desires for your church that sits in the pews and is often not asked what is your dream for your church. I found it healing when I just did a few interviews with key people of our congregation who may be waiting for change but have not felt empowered to ask. In one word I found a peace just by reading and doing the work. The result in the people I interviewed was joy. Thankful for Appreciative inquiry story in the book. Very helpful.

Sometimes because I know an author, I want to buy their book(s). Based on what I observe in the person I know whatever they write will be credible, substantive, and worthwhile. Once in a long while I buy a book and because of what I observe in the book, I want to meet the author. The latter was the case with "Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change" by Mark Lau Branson. As I read the book I wanted to meet the man.

Thankfully, many months after reading "Memories..." I had the privilege of meeting Mark. What I encountered was a confident, gracious person; an authentic academic who was remarkably practical. Without question Branson has complete command of applicable theories and yet demonstrates strong bias for practical applications; I heard this as he and I spoke - I had seen it previously in his book.

My field is `change', specifically improving change praxes in Christian contexts. I know change is a complex subject - for many reasons. Former U.S. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes once said, `I wouldn't give a fig for the simplicity on this side of complexity, but would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.' Holmes would have loved this book; he would also have loved how brilliantly Branson applied the very practices he proposed in the book's content to his writing of the book. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) - the methodology covered in this book - is a strength-based, narrative approach to organizational development and change methodology. Sounds a bit technical, doesn't it? Yet Branson distilled relevant theories to easy-to-follow tables and conveyed helpful examples through a story of how one church engaged needed changes in simple, steady ways. In classic AI fashion, this book prepares readers to apply AI while illustrating the subject matter through a splendid story.

I recommend "Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change" to any Christian leader or group who is even thinking about change. If you care about change, get this book.