Global Integrators---25

Summary and Conclusion
Globalntegtration for Global Integrators

Detail from cover
Global Member Care: Crossing Sectors for Serving Humanity

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This is the final entry on Global Integrators. The 25 entries reflect my best conceptual thinking, my clearest directional sense, and my deepest heart-felt yearnings for colleagues around the world to link their skills and values on behalf of the major issues that are devastating humanity. It has definitely been both stretching and enriching. I trust the same is true for you as you review the entries, discuss them with others, and consider ways to apply them and to further develop GI. 

 There are three parts to this entry:

--listing of the 25 current topics on Global Integrators (January-December 2015)
--listing of the 10 initial topics on Global Integration (July-December 2011)
--a summons and seven commitments for Global Integrators (conclusion)

 One guiding question stands out as I have endeavored through these entries to help shape and support the emerging corps of Global Integrators. How can colleagues around the world practically apply the GI framework in various settings-sectors in order to connect relationally and contribute relevantly? In other words, how can GI People link their skills and values as forces for good in order to make a difference in our world?

Part One

Global Integrators
25 Topics, January-December 2015
Click HERE to access all 25 entries

GI-1. Background and Overview--Globalntegtration for Global Integtators

GI-2. Trans-Practitioners—Working in the Trenches, the Towers, and Everything In-Between
GI-3. GI People for the SDGs—Connecting and Contributing for Sustainable Development
GI-4.  Sector Connectors—Personal Reflections on Crossing Sectors
GI-5.  Global Disintegration—The Precarious Exploitation of People-Planet
GI-6. LTPeople—People Loving People with Truth and Peace)
GI-7. Taking the Pulse—Global Reports
GI-8. Global Intercessors—Praying for the World
GI-9.  Charting Your Course in the Missio Dei-Missio Mundi
GI-10. GI Training—Pathways for Preparation
GI-11.  First Love—Values that Guide and Goad GI
GI-12. Transforming the World—A Call for Personal Transformation
GI-13. Staying Updated—Staying Outdated
GI-14. GI Corelitions—Core Group of Colleagues-Coalition of Organizations
GI-15. Global Innovators—Making Important and Sustainable Differences 
GI 16. The Preeminent Pantocrator—Connection vs Contention
GI 17: Global Interns—Common Ground as Learners-Practitioners
GI 18: Global Towers and Global Trenches
GI 19. The Global VaticUN—How Far Should We Go with GI?
GI 20. Globe-Bael and Globe-Babel—New Concepts and Old Cautions for Global Integrators
GI 21. 7Is for GIs—Seven Indicators for Global Integrators
GI 22. Faith-Based Foundations—Christian Worldview
GI 23. GI Partnerships—At the Global Tables and in the Global Trenches
GI 24. Resilience for Global Integrators--Staying the Course
GI 25. Summary and Conclusion--Globalntegtration for Global Integtators

Part Two

Global Integration—10 Topics, July-December 2011

(emphasis on member care and mental health applications)
Click HERE to access all 10 entries (located at the end) 

GI 1. Foundations and Directions
GI 2. Windows and Agendas
GI 3. Tran(s)pan in the GI Commons
GI 4. GI and Psychology International

GI 5. Mapping GI

GI 6. Finding Our GI Voices
GI 7. GI Footprints
GI 8. Climbing or Confining—Three Commitments for GI
GI 9. Writing GI Statements
GI 10. Conclusion: Moral Courage and Global Duty

Part Three

Conclusion
.A Summons and Commitments for Global Integrators
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We encourage colleagues to grow deeply and to go broadly as Global Integrators. One way that we support colleagues to do so is through the materials in the GI Updates, sent every two months to nearly 2000 emails around the world. You can sign up easily HERE. The GI Updates (2015-current) along with the initial “GI paper trail” (2012-2014) are archived on our main MCA websit in the GI section.

 A Global Summons for Global Integrators

The previous 24 entries had identical opening paragraphs (see next paragraph). The difference in the new version below is indicated in yellow highlights. The new version is neither speculative nor tentative. Rather it is a global call to purposefully join together now as Global Integrators on behalf of the needs and opportunities in our wonderful but troubled world. 

We think that the time is coming definitely here for a diversity of colleagues to come together intentionally, visibly, and practically on behalf of global integration (GI). GI put simply is how we skillfully integrate our lives and values on behalf of the issues facing humanity. Likewise we think that the time is coming definitely here for colleagues to carefully reflect and act on what it means to be good global learners-practitioners--to seriously consider what it means to be what we are calling global integrators (GI-People).

Commitments for Global Integrators

The seven commitments below are adapted from The Missional Heart of Member Care (IBMR, April 2015). They reflect many of the values, directions, and commitments that have been highlighted in these 25 entries in 2015 and the previous 10 entries in 2011.

1. We commit to diligently pursue our own journeys of personal and professional growth—to grow deeply as we go broadly.

 2. We commit to integrate the inseparable areas of our character (resilient virtue) and competency (relevant skills) with compassion (resonant love).

3. We commit to go into new areas of learning and work: crossing sectors, cultures, disciplines, and comfort zones.

4. We commit to embrace our duty to work in difficult settings, including those permeated by conflict, calamity, corruption, and poverty as those in great need are often in places of great risk.

5. We commit to have clear ethical commitments and standards that guide our work in global integration, respecting the dignity and worth of all people.

6. We commit to working with others to promote wellbeing and sustainable development, building the future we want and being the people we need.

7. Add your core values-commitments here, in relation to global integration.  For example: integrity (consistent moral wholeness), agape (sacrificial love for people), Pantocrator (Jesus Christ), and ad majorem Dei gloriam (God’s glory).

Global Integrators--1

Background and Overview 

Globalntegration for Global Integtators

Hi from Kelly and Michele

We think that the time is coming for a diversity of colleagues to come together intentionally, visibly, and practically on behalf of global integration (GI). GI put simply is how we skillfully integrate our lives and values on behalf of the issues facing humanity. Likewise we think that the time is coming for colleagues to carefully reflect and act on what it means to be good global learners-practitioners--to seriously consider what it means to be what we are calling global integrators (GI-People).

A Bit of Background

In the early 1990s we sent out some serious calls for colleagues in the member care-mission community (via conferences, consultations, articles, books, and personal emails) to develop a "macro" model for member care, which included a proposed agenda for greater coordinated, international involvement with an emphasis on supporting  personnel/organizations focusing on unreached people groups. The results from these and many other efforts over  the years have been significant, as people from many countries, disciplines, and backgrounds have come together to further provide and develop member care resources within our maturing, growing field. 

In our 2013 edited book on global member care (volume 2--Crossing  Sectors for Serving Humanity) we encouraged colleagues to grow deeply and to go broadly into new sectors on behalf of both the mission/aid community and humanity in general. The practice of crossing sectors was presented as being the next crucial developmental process-phase for the  member care field. This series of entries on global integrators takes the "crossing sectors for serving humanity" emphasis further by calling us to engage with a strategic framework that is highly relevant for global practice in member care and beyond--global integration. It is a pre-summons, yet nonetheless part of the historic flow of summons and strategic developmental shifts in member care that we have been privileged to help shape and support along with many others.

Three ways to further clarify what we have envisioned for global integrators is first, to have a look at our expanded purpose statement for  Member Care Associates (see below). A second way is through the visionary statement for global integration that we use at the end of our recent power point presentations (see below). A third way is to review the core information on global integration on our website, much of which is still in its early stages of conceptualization and which includes a link to several power points and previous weblog entries on global integration (www.membercareassociates.org). 

 Member Care Associates and Global Integration

Global Integration (GI) is a framework, embedded within the missio Dei,  for actively integrating our lives (connecting and contributing) with global realities (addressing the major issues facing humanity and promoting wellbeing) in light of our core values (e.g., ethical imperatives, commitment to humanity, God’s glory). As part of our commitment to  GI, our main work continues to be providing and developing supportive resources for workers and sending groups within the mission community as well as the overlapping humanitarian and development sectors.  GI is especially important in view of the major global efforts to develop and implement the United Nation’s Post 2015 Development Agenda. Some of the main emphases and resources we offer to support GI are via global member care (e.g., the Member Care Associates website and the recent book Crossing Sectors for Serving Humanity) and global mental health (e.g., the GMH-Map website and the recent article on GMH: Strategies for Staying Updated in Psychology International). Our international work as psychologists is based in Geneva. It includes regular interactions with personnel/events in the United Nations, World Health Organization, and international NGOs—and hence materials, perspectives, and cutting edge news that we can share with colleagues. We think that one of the greatest opportunities currently for further developing GI is organizing a new coalition(s) of colleagues committed to/involved in GI (global integrators).

Staying the Course in GI--Encouragement for Global Integrators

(including a medley of quotes that we really like)

"Persevere as you pursue areas that you are passionate about and stretch yourself into new areas of interest as part of life-long learning.  As in most human enterprises, there can be political agendas, power dynamics, territoriality, and dysfunctional behaviors to navigate” (O’Donnell, 2012, p. 201).  Keep in the forefront the opportunities for “selfless moral struggle” in partnering with others (Patel et al. 2011, p. 90) and the “duty and choice to risk your own rights and well-being” on behalf of fellow humans (O’Donnell, 2011, p. 187). “Embrace lifestyles that reflect commitments to equality, justice, and wellbeing for all” (O’Donnell, 2012, p. 201).  Develop your personal character and professional competence as a responsible global citizen committed to “seeing reality clearly… [including] physical and mental suffering due to human cruelty… [without giving up] our dream for a more loving and peaceful humanity” (Mollica, 2013, p.15).  Connect with a supportive caravan of colleagues for your Global Integration journey in the service of humanity. Remember that in all you do and in whatever comes your way, “your task is to be true, not popular” (Luke 6:26, The Message).