The network of Task Groups is lead by the Archdeacon of Northumberland who is responsible to Diocesan Synod and Bishop’s Council for reporting progress.
The Task Group way of working generates cooperation across a variety of tasks and themes, promotes action-led work and helps us learn from our experiences.
Task Groups define a task clearly and then gather a group of people together who have a passion for the task. Task groups recruit people from all parts of the diocese with skills relevant to the task. Having commitment and being comfortable working in a group are also important.
Task Groups aim to be balance the freedom of self-management with mutual accountability to the diocese – other Task Groups, Bishop’s Council, Synod, Boards and Committees. This involves taking responsibility for informing the whole network and cooperating with other groups where collaboration would lead to more effective outcomes.
To help the management of the Task Group network there are seven parts to a Toolkit. The toolkit is to facilitate the process of setting up a Task Group, self-managing its life, evaluating its work and learning from the experience.
Toolkits 3 and 7 are especially important since they help to begin Task Group’s life and then assist its self-evualation.
Becoming A Diocesan Task Group: this answers some of the basis questions about Task Groups. What are they? Who takes part? How to get started? What is the process?
Task Group Proposal: at the beginning of the task each task group completes a proposal form. This informs others in the network and allows the task to be aligned to the priorities of Diocesan Synod. There are two versions of the form that can be used.
Task Group Mantras: this is a booklet full of cartoons that illustrate the principles of Task Group working. Great to get discussion started.
Taking the Next Steps Through Appreciative Inquiry; this outlines the theory of Appreciative Inquiry and how we are using it as a diocese
Appreciative Inquiry: Planning from the Future. This is a practical booklet that helps a Task Group develop its life and also to report to others. There is a requirement to write a story for Link and for this website, and also a set of questions to help us all report back to Synod.
