Mentor

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Mentor

EMBODY FAITH STYLE

Mentors welcome widely different perspectives and hold on to the tension between them.

You accept what cannot be fully understood or explained.
You accept a wide range of different perspectives.
You welcome opinions that are different from your own.
You go beyond superficial differences.
You practice to listen deeply, behind the words.

You accept what cannot be fully understood or explained.

Mentors are at a stage in life where they become more aware of the mystery in all of life. This awareness leads to a deep sense of being okay. They feel completely whole and at peace. This feeling of being complete enables them to accept and believe what cannot be fully understood or explained. This makes them experienced and trusted advisers.

You accept a wide range of different perspectives.

They are not trying to convince everyone to agree with them. They accept widely different perspectives and hold onto the tension between them. They feel less and less driven to defend their own perspectives.

You welcome opinions that are different from your own.

Mentors know that we all come closer to the truth when many strangers engage in dialogue. When talking to people, Mentors focus on the deeper truths behind those people’s words. They are less upset by mismatches. Mentors have the ability to hold on to widely different ideas at the same time.

You go beyond superficial differences.

Their openness to diverse worldviews makes it easier for Mentors to relate to people whose faith styles differ from their own, without being condescending. God’s presence is experienced on the deeper levels of themselves, others and creation. You practice to listen deeply, behind the words. They can hold the tension between perspectives that sometimes seem at odds with each other. Mentors have the skill to listen carefully and package their advice gently. Although they may possess all kinds of accumulated wisdom, they know the people with whom they engage are not vessels into which they can pour their insights. Mentors often learn and practise to listen closely, ask open questions, dig deeper and act as a sounding board for others. Mentors would enjoy interchurch, interdenominational and interfaith dialogues.

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The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship. — Martin Luther

Find out your faith style!

Nurture and explore your faith. Make sense of how you believe, who you are and why you do things the way you do.

The Reflective Observer

Interpret × Reactive

1) Short description

Communication offers thoughtful insight and reflection on conversations already happening, with limited agency or direction-setting.

2) Appreciative Inquiry questions

Where has reflection added clarity?
How has thoughtful response built credibility?
What insights do people value most?

3) Individual

Deepen interpretive skills.
Practise careful listening.
Articulate insights clearly.

4) Organisation

Create space for reflection.
Value thoughtful commentary.
Capture learning over time.

5) Stretch

Introduce one proactive interpretive piece.
Name implications, not just observations.

Foundational conditions

Intellectual humility
Listening posture
Space for reflection
Access to diverse perspectives
Safety to speak thoughtfully without pressure to act
Respect for nuance

Right to play comes from attentiveness and credibility.

The Sense-Maker

Interpret × Intentional

1) Short description

Media is used to interpret events and trends with discernment, intentionally guiding understanding and perspective.

2) Appreciative Inquiry questions

Where have we helped people make sense of complexity?
How has interpretation reduced confusion or anxiety?
When has our framing guided understanding well?

3) Individual

Strengthen contextual thinking.
Practice clear framing.
Integrate insight with empathy.

4) Organisation

Align leadership around interpretation.
Support depth over speed.
Invest in interpretive capacity.

5) Stretch

Test interpretation across multiple platforms.
Invite feedback on clarity and usefulness.

Foundational conditions

Interpretive skill and clarity
Leadership mandate to frame meaning
Trust from audiences
Ability to slow things down
Depth over speed
Alignment between insight and values

Right to play comes from authority rooted in trust.

The Agenda Shaper / Weaver

Interpret × Shaping

1) Short description

Meaning and direction are held together. Media actively shapes public understanding, frames complex issues, and weaves stories into an ongoing narrative that guides action.

2) Appreciative Inquiry questions

Where are we already shaping conversations responsibly?
How are our stories guiding action over time?
What influence do we carry that we steward well?

3) Individual

Hold purpose, audience and risk together.
Practice long-range thinking.
Weave insight into narrative.

4) Organisation

Design systems for sustained influence.
Support emotional and spiritual sustainability.
Clarify accountability for narrative direction.

5) Stretch

Engage with contested or complex issues deliberately.
Invite dialogue on long-term public impact.

Foundational conditions

Long-term legitimacy and moral authority
Systems that support sustained influence
Emotional and spiritual resilience
Accountability for public impact
Capacity to hold tension and disagreement
Clear purpose beyond self-interest

Right to play comes from stewardship, not power.

The Storyteller

Experience × Reactive

1) Short description

Human stories are shared in response to moments and events. Communication creates warmth and connection, but lacks sustained narrative direction.

2) Appreciative Inquiry questions

Which stories have created the strongest sense of connection?
Where do people recognise themselves in our stories?
How has storytelling strengthened trust or empathy?

3) Individual

Listen more intentionally for meaningful stories.
Honour emotional resonance as data.
Protect authenticity in storytelling.

4) Organisation

Create safe spaces for stories to surface.
Support flexible workflows for storytelling.
Value lived experience as content.

5) Stretch

Begin grouping stories around shared themes.
Reflect quarterly on what stories are teaching you.

Foundational conditions

Psychological safety for sharing stories
Trust with people whose stories are told
Sensitivity to emotional impact
Ethical care for vulnerability
Permission to be human, not polished
Flexibility in workflows

Right to play comes from trust and relational depth.

The Narrative Curator

Experience × Intentional

1) Short description

Stories are selected and shaped with care, creating rhythm, coherence, and a growing sense of shared identity over time.

2) Appreciative Inquiry questions

What sense of identity is emerging through our stories?
Where do we see coherence taking shape?
How are stories shaping belonging?

3) Individual

Sharpen editorial judgement.
Pay attention to story sequencing.
Notice patterns in audience response.

4) Organisation

Clarify narrative themes.
Support editorial reflection.
Align leadership with storytelling direction.

5) Stretch

Articulate a one-sentence narrative direction.
Test one story series intentionally.

Foundational conditions

Editorial judgement and discernment
Ability to say no to some stories
Shared understanding of narrative direction
Time to reflect and curate
Leadership alignment around storytelling
Respect for coherence over volume

Right to play comes from discernment and restraint.

The Cultural Interpreter

Experience × Shaping

1) Short description

Lived experience is deliberately framed to guide identity, values, and belonging. Media is seen as formative, not neutral.

2) Appreciative Inquiry questions

How is our communication shaping who we are becoming?
What values are being reinforced through our stories?
Where do people experience belonging through our media?

3) Individual

Develop cultural awareness.
Reflect on implicit messages.
Frame stories with identity in mind.

4) Organisation

Name shared values explicitly.
Support editorial framing.
Monitor cultural impact over time.

5) Stretch

Reflect on unintended cultural signals.
Invite diverse voices into interpretation.

Foundational conditions

Deep contextual and cultural awareness
Theological and ethical grounding
Credibility within the community
Ability to hold complexity and difference
Trust earned over time
Sensitivity to unintended consequences

Right to play comes from legitimacy and wisdom.

The Noticeboard

Aggregate × Reactive

1) Short description

Media is used primarily to share announcements and respond to immediate needs. Communication is practical, timely, and service-oriented, with little emphasis on interpretation or long-term direction.

2) Appreciative Inquiry questions

Where does our responsiveness genuinely help people feel informed and cared for?
When has timely information made a real difference in our community?
What strengths do we already have in getting information out quickly?

3) Individual

Strengthen clarity and accuracy in announcements.
Become more attentive to timing and relevance.
Notice recurring questions or needs behind announcements.

4) Organisation

Clarify core channels for essential information.
Protect responsiveness as a shared value.
Support simple, reliable communication routines.

5) Stretch

Add one short line of context to key announcements (“why this matters”).
Reflect monthly on which announcements repeat and what they signal.

Foundational conditions

Clear access to accurate information
Trust that basic updates are useful to people
Reliable channels people already check
Responsiveness to immediate needs
Informal but functional coordination
Low risk of misinterpretation or controversy

Right to play comes from usefulness and reliability.

The Publisher

Aggregate × Intentional

1) Short description

Communication is planned and consistent, focusing on producing and distributing content. Structure and routines are strong, but shared meaning is still largely unprocessed.

2) Appreciative Inquiry questions

What has planning and consistency already made easier for us?
Which routines help us show up reliably?
Where has structure reduced stress or confusion?

3) Individual

Improve editorial discipline and scheduling.
Refine clarity and quality within existing formats.
Strengthen follow-through on plans.

4) Organisation

Formalise publishing rhythms.
Support basic editorial calendars.
Acknowledge reliability as a core strength.

5) Stretch

Identify one recurring theme across content.
Introduce a simple reflection after publishing cycles.

Foundational conditions

Basic planning capacity (time, calendars, routines)
People who can execute consistently
Agreement on formats and channels
Clear expectations around frequency
Enough stability to plan ahead
Permission to prioritise order and structure

Right to play comes from discipline and predictability.

The Megaphone

Aggregate × Shaping

1) Short description

High-volume communication drives visibility and influence. Media is used to amplify reach and momentum, often prioritising scale over depth.

2) Appreciative Inquiry questions

Where has visibility helped us reach people we otherwise wouldn’t?
How has momentum energised our work?
What influence are we already exercising well?

3) Individual

Refine platform-specific messaging.
Learn to read engagement patterns more deeply.
Balance speed with attentiveness.

4) Organisation

Use reach strategically, not randomly.
Align visibility with purpose.
Support teams managing high output.

5) Stretch

Choose one high-reach message to deepen with context.
Pair reach metrics with one meaning-based indicator.

Foundational conditions

Confidence in message and legitimacy
Capacity to handle visibility and scrutiny
Platforms that can sustain high output
Basic analytics literacy
Leadership support for public presence
Ability to respond to backlash or misunderstanding

Right to play comes from scale, confidence and resilience.