Appreciative Inquiry and Theology

Appreciative Inquiry can be considered an incarnational and resurrection oriented philosophy and process. AI is incarnational in that it relies on a participative process in which the change agent becomes part of that which is being changed. Jesus the Redeemer did not stand as an expert to the side or above humanity rather he embraced humanity and became one of us. Likewise in AI we do not seek to apply some external wisdom to a system but to work from within the system to discover the system's wisdom and life giving properties.

Appreciative inquiry can also be considered resurrection oriented in that it seeks that which is life giving even in the midst of death. The Judeo-Christian experience is one of redemption. Of God bringing freedom out of slavery, of life out of death. From the social construction perspective that human experience is arbitrarily punctuated, appreciative inquiry can be used to place a comma rather than a period at the end of tragedy so that those involved can experience new life. It is interesting to note that crucifixion does not bring people together, rather it ultimately causes people to scatter and hide. Resurrection and its accompanying hope, on the other hand, brings people together and gives them a life giving purpose.

The scriptures are full of the exhortation to "behold", for example "Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us." Appreciative inquiry makes use of this type of beholding, or "right seeing" as the contemplative traditions teach. We are encouraged in scriptures to not only behold the goodness of God in its current expressions but also to behold a future, in which there will be no more death, or mourning, wailing or pain for the old order will pass away. It is from the vantage point of this future that we perceive our world and the world in which we live. And it is from the image of this future that we are inspired to freely follow Christ. Likewise in the life of congregations positive images of the things God has done in their life inspire positive images of what God can do in their future and how parishioners can share in the unfold of God's grace.

Similarly St. Paul tells us: "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these tings. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard. Then the God of peace will be with you."
Philippians 4:8-9

For a more detailed theological reflection on appreciative inquiry the reader is directed to: A Spiritual Path to Organizational Renewal, by Gregorio Banaga Jr. in Lessons from the Field edited by Sue Hammond and Cathy Royal, Ph.D.

For other brief appreciative theological reflections please see:

>>  The Appreciative Way

>>  Go beyond positive to Life-Giving this Easter

>>  Thinking about Lent, Sin, and Grace

>>  Easter is about New Life, it is not about having less death.