I love to tell the story…
As the almost two hundred year-old hymn by Katherine Hankey says, “I love to tell the story; ’tis pleasant to repeat; what seems, each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.”
We do love to tell the story, whether it is of salvation by Christ and the good news of redemption in the Bible or one of our own stories. We revel in the opportunity to share with others that which has uplifted, transformed, amused, or changed us — revel, in retelling of the very familiar, — revel, in communicating to others that which is so important to us.
Stories are very powerful vehicles for transmitting moral or practical points, for revealing our moral values and for engaging others in causes important to us. But, powerful as stories are on their own, they benefit from being told in a way that increases their impact.
Rev. Tiffany Steinwert (pictured), Reconciling Ministries Network, United Methodist Church (USA), has developed just such a way to link your story narrative to achieving your goals or those of your organization, your goals of achieving full inclusion and acceptance of LGBT persons in the life of the church and the pews of its congregations.
Based on the work on Public Narrative by Marshall Ganz of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government where he is a Lecturer in Public Policy, Tiffany’s method links the telling of our own story to the story of your organization and its goals and then to action needed now. It can be summed up as telling the “Story of Self,” the “Story of Us,” and the “Story of Now.”
As Marshall Ganz says, “A good story is drawn from the series of choice points that have structured the “plot” of your life — the challenges you faced, choices you made, and outcomes you experienced.” A public story links how you became the person you are, how the community or organization you are part of came to be, the people they are, and the challenges–choices–outcomes facing those people, that community, to achieve their goals.
Intuitive as this may sound since it starts with something we are all experts on (ourselves), doing it requires training and practice to arrive at stories that are specific, are only sufficiently detailed for understanding, that tap into emotion, include challenges-choices-outcomes, offer hope and communicate our values.
Also part of the training is how to listen, how to help others hone their stories down so the story connects the dots. In this way, not only are you trained to have the stories you tell have the impact you desire, you are trained to help others achieve the same skill. Active listening and good coaching are important in this regard.
Tiffany will train us in this method of Strategic Storytelling at Hearts on Fire in July in San Francisco. The training you will receive will change forever how and why you tell your story. You will be able to link your story directly to positive action to achieve full inclusion. You will be able to help others do the same. Come. Tell your story. Learn to change others. Create the Spirit-led world of full inclusion so evident in Gospels and teachings of Christ.
Our Hearts on Fire Family Album
At Hearts on Fire everyone will have the opportunity to have a picture made. Families of love, families of fun, families of birth, families of friends, families of choice, and families of one are invited to take part. Come as you are, no make-up sessions required. Pictures will be available for purchase and will be compiled in our Hearts on Fire Photo Album along with contact information for those participants willing to be included. The album will also include photos from Hearts on Fire.
Table Blessings Project
At Hearts on Fire we will begin collecting pictures, stories and favorite recipes from families, especially those who have had a blessing or marriage service, to create a new resource called Table Blessings. Bring your own family photos or use the ones created for the Hearts on Fire Family Album. This creative booklet will include table prayers from advocate and poet, David Weiss. This resource will be available to congregations in conversation about same-gender marriage as well as for synod assemblies in 2009.