Beyond Accompaniment: Guiding a Fractured Community to Wholeness

by Over Jazz Duo

Overview

When a community experiences a fracture in its communal life, what tools can be used to foster reconciliation? How can right relationship be restored when there is conflict in the Body of Christ? In Beyond Accompaniment, William Nordenbrock proposes the use of a process that is based in the theory of Appreciative Inquiry as a ministerial method to guide a community from brokenness to communion. His practical application of this process in his work with St. Agatha Catholic Church in Chicago? A community whose pastor had been accused and convicted of sexually abusing minors in the parish? Will be beneficial for communities experiencing conflict of any kind.

Nordenbrock helps us focus on the positive aspects of our communities in order to discover that our redemption and reconciliation with God, won for us by Christ, is inseparable from the reconciliation and communion that Christians are to live with one another."

William A. Nordenbrock, CPPS, is an ordained member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. He is on staff at the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation in Chicago (pbmr.org). Nordenbrock has served his congregation in a number of administrative roles and is currently a member of their General Council.

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Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814639382
Publisher:	Liturgical Press, The
Publication date:	02/01/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	224
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

William A. Nordenbrock, CPPS, is an ordained member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. He is on staff at the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation in Chicago (pbmr.org). Nordenbrock has served his congregation in a number of administrative roles and is currently a member of their General Council.

Table of Contents

List of Appendixes vii

Introduction ix

Section 1

Chapter 1 A Church of Communion 3

Chapter 2 Toward a Practical Theology of Reconciliation 16

Chapter 3 Appreciative Inquiry: Theory and Process 40

Section 2

Chapter 4 A Community's Journey of Reconciliation: Walking in Faith and Moving Forward with Christ 65

Chapter 5 Discovery: How Has God Blessed St. Agatha Church? 84

Chapter 6 Dream: St. Agatha's Faithful Future 97

Chapter 7 Design and Doing It: How Will St. Agatha Live the Dream into Reality? 109

Section 3

Chapter 8 Restoring Communion through Appreciative Inquiry 121

Chapter 9 Reconciliation and Communion Ecclesiology at St. Agatha Church 129

Conclusion: The Place of Appreciative Inquiry in the Praxis of Reconciliation 143

Epilogue 153

Appendixes 156

Notes 192

Bibliography 202

Index 205

Editorial Reviews

Thorough, precise, well researched . . . the elegance of the simplicity of his writing style just jumps off the pages. . . . [Nordenbrock’s] concise explanation of [Appreciative Inquiry] and his masterful implementation of it is textbook perfect in my opinion. In truth anyone trying to understand and then use [this] process would do well to immerse her/himself in Beyond Accompaniment.
Ralph Bonaccorsi
Office of Conciliation
Chicago, Illinois

Beyond Accompaniment offers a solid combination of sound theology, a good grasp of the principles of conflict transformation, and a strong vision of renewed community that will serve as a model for parishes and other organizations trying to work their way beyond past wounds to a revitalized communion. The clear, step-by-step presentation William Nordenbrock provides can help guide troubled and conflicted communities to a deeper appreciation of their own hidden gifts and to an imaginative re-visioning of their future. Highly recommended for any parish or church organization wanting to move themselves forward in greater faithfulness and discipleship.
Robert Schreiter
Author of The Ministry of Reconciliation

From the Publisher