November, 1998 - Vol. XXVII No. 2
Total Ministry: A New Way of Being Together

"Open Space Technology"
by Ann Kloeppel

The Law of Two Feet.

The ultimate facilitator will do nothing and remain totally invisible.

    These three excerpts from Harrison Owen’s book titled Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide might catch your attention. They certainly did catch my interest. Friends had raved about the use of Open Space at meetings they had attended and when I finally got the book I was intrigued and also baffled as to how this process really works in real life, with real people and with real issues. What is OST anyhow? And how does this process relate to the topic of Total Ministry?

    Simply stated Open Space Technology is a process that has evolved through use with large and small groups over a number of years. It is an effective way to address multiple issues in a short period of time with high levels of innovation, ownership, and synergy. The above axioms definitely come into play. The four principles are obvious – we can use the people who are here to accomplish the tasks at hand. Whether we are a small group or a large group, whoever is here is great. The law of two feet says that if, during the course of the gathering any person finds him or herself in a situation where s/he is neither learning nor contributing, the person can use two feet to go to some more productive place. This may seem blunt but it is death to egotists, those who feel they alone possess the truth. It also puts the responsibility for our own actions directly on our shoulders and ultimately enables leadership gifts of a great variety to emerge from the group. Sounds like enabling total ministry to me! This along with the last axiom regarding the facilitator’s role is very important. The facilitator actually has a very important role in planning, praying, and preparing the group for open space. Then the facilitator needs to back off and let it happen.

    My first experience with OST was at the annual meeting of the Network for Lay Professionals. Sixty-plus people from all over the country met for 3 days. Some folks knew one another and for some this was their first meeting – but there were several common issues within the group assembled. After the introductory pieces and keynote address, the "marketplace" was set up and explained. This is where any participant could write on a notecard the topic he or she wished to pursue. Then others signed up for whichever topics or issues they were interested in as well. Time and place were announced and we were off. Notes were taken and entered into a computer and the "minutes" of each meeting were made available to all. Some general sharing at the closing told of plans and/or interest in further action from each open space meeting. As stated above, this is not a place for reticence and stargazing, it is an opportunity to get involved and to find common interests and solutions within the group. Ownership, synergy, and innovation are key outcomes and people leave feeling heard, effective, and connected to the group and its mission.

    Harrison Owen quotes in the book from a friend and colleague, Angeles Arrien. When living fully on the planet or facilitating Open Space, Angie suggests that four things are necessary.

• Show up. Mere physical presence does not guarantee authentic presence, but it is a start.

• Be fully present. If we are distracted then folks can tell "no one is at home" and that is not enabling to one-on-one interaction let alone the work of a group.

• Tell the Truth. This creates the quality of our presence; it also means getting in touch with what we really feel, need, and care about.

• Let it all go. Have no attachment to fixed outcomes. "To the best of my knowledge, there is exactly one way to absolutely guarantee failure of an Open Space Event, and that is to try and control it."

    I have found Open Space to be effective with small retreat groups and in goal-setting environments and I look forward to other opportunities to participate in or facilitate Open Space. In any event, the axioms and counsel of this book have been helpful. This is not a cookie-cutter planning manual for controlling people. It is a tool for enabling the gifts and passions of the people in a particular group. Total Ministry is Open Space at work, sometimes messy and seemingly chaotic, but life-giving and productive and ultimately, satisfying.

Resource:

Open Space Technology: A User’s Guide
Harrison Owen
ISBN 0-9618205-3-5
ABBOTT PUBLISHING
Potomac, MD 301-469-9269

© 2001, Diocese of Oregon
updated 05/03/2003 16:25
contact: kylew@diocese-oregon.org