Global Integrators--9

Charting Your Course

in the Missio Dei-Mundi

 

 

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).

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Three Suggestions for Charting Your Course

 

One of the key activities for global integrators is connecting and contributing across sectors. As per the model and emphasis in Global Member Care (volume 2) crossing sectors is seen as an important developmental phase now for the member care field. Three of the international sectors relevant for member care are the humanitarian, health, and human resources sectors. Here are three suggestions to further orient us to crossing sectors, described in terms of issues, involvements, and influences.

1.      Issues—Pursue your Passions.

What issues matter to you the most? What are you passionate about? What are you naturally motivated to learn more about? Take it further by exploring what is happening in your areas of interest within other sectors. For example, if you are interested in interpersonal conflict resolution, take a look at the burgeoning area of peace studies and/or human security.  Be prepared to expand your “experiential boundaries,” knowing that it can be a bit uncomfortable but also rewarding. It may take time and effort to significantly connect and contribute. Don’t go alone but get involved with others. Find compatible colleagues with similar interests and key groups and networks in which you can be part.

2.      Involvements—Till the Terrain.

What types and levels of involvement are realistic for you?  Crossing sectors can be understood as a “continuum of involvement” demarcated by the three "I's" below. 

 

Informed----------Included----------Immersed

 The continuum begins with more minor involvement in a sector, such as reading the quarterly magazines from a human resources organization about things like staff selection and people management (informed). It then proceeds to a midpoint and the inclusion of a sector or parts of a sector in one’s work such as travel health resources for preventing road traffic accidents and malarial infections (included). The end of the continuum could involve becoming a recognized part of another sector such as working part time as a human rights advocate in a nongovernmental organization or developing culturally relevant psychosocial support for victims of gender violence (immersed). 

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Crossing sectors might get all of our adrenalin flowing, but as we have learned, it requires clear personal boundaries. If we light a candle at both ends, it gets used up twice as fast. So too much of a good thing is disruptive and can certainly distract us from work priorities. This means we may have to bypass many of the wonderful materials/opportunities that come our way from different conferences, organizations, disciplines, etc., and at times inundate our offices and email boxes. Nonetheless it is still well worth the effort, provided that we draw our parameters and pace ourselves well. Crossing sectors is a practice to intentionally and carefully build into our lifestyle and job description.

3.      Influences—Get a Grid.

What has influenced your desire and ability to cross sectors? The grid below can help you to get a better handle on some of the main influences that have personally affected your involvement in crossing sectors. To give you an idea, I have also listed some examples from my own life for each of the six categories. As you review your past, you may very well get a better sense of what your future course might look like (the last part of the grid).

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•      Principles/Beliefs

•      Documents/Materials

•      Organizations/Groups

•      People/Models

•      Milestones/Gravestones

•      Other

•     Charting Your Future Course

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Principles/ Beliefs

1.  The “unity of truth” across time and subjects

2.  The imago Dei as a basis for loving truth and peace

3.  Moral duty and “blessed to be a blessing”

4.  Resilient virtue is stronger than resilient evil
5.  Human history has a direction and purpose

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 Documents/ Materials

1.  Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations, 1948)

2.  Doing Member Care Well (2002).

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Organizations/ Groups

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People/Models

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Milestones/Gravestones

1. Spanish classes and Latin America (1970–83)

2. Integration of psychology and theology doctorate (1978–84)

3.  Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course (1981)

4.  “We must develop a macro model for member care” (1990).

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 Charting a future course

1.  Greater involvement in global mental health and with mental health as mission

2.  Greater involvement in international affairs/international relations.
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Note: Excerpts above are adapted from Chapter 2, Charting Your Course through the Sectors, Global Member Care (vol 2): Crossing Sectors for Serving Humanity (2013) edited by Kelly and Michèle O’Donnell. See the latest resources in the Updates section on the book series website. For more ideas on crossing sectors, see the website for the Global Member Care book series (see the section with suggestions for using volume 2):  https://sites.google.com/site/globalmca/

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