So What Are Experiential Methods?
In the "Diving In" post I posed a question about manipulation. Yes, I know it's a loaded word and people have strong feelings about possibly being involved in manipulation. I use the word in the most neutral sense; to handle something or to use it on purpose. If we put ourselves out there as teachers, leaders and/or pastors we, hopefully, use our words, time, resources and environment on purpose. When we choose one word over another, one song over others, candles verses lamps, chairs versed sofas; we are manipulating the situation to reinforce what we are teaching or where we are leading people. We influence people. If we are not concerned about this power our position gives us we end up teaching people unintended lessons and leading people to unplanned destinations.
I wanted to start this adventure into experiential methods with a kind of "pre-flight warning." We make choices about how we teach and lead and those choices have consequences. Be careful. As teachers and leaders we are held to a higher level of accountability because we have such influence. We need keep vigilant so that we don't step over the line. From using our skills, talents and resources to point people in powerful and positive directions to coercing (seducing) people into our choices or perspectives.
“Experiential Methods,” the phrase conjures different images for different people. Some think about “Outward Bound” or back packing courses. Others picture standing 80 feet in a tree leaping for a trapeze bar as they dangle on the end of a rope. Classroom teachers sometimes jump to “math manipulatives,” case studies or lab assignments. Sometimes pastors think of experiential methods in terms of creating a worship experience. When I speak of experiential methods I include all these things.
Experiential Methods intentionally use experience in the process of transforming lives. This can be previous experiences, current “real life” experiences, created experiences or even helping people prepare for future experiences. We are constantly experiencing stuff. The tricky part is learning from it. That’s where the intentional part of experiential methods comes into play. There are theories and models that can help us understand how this works. There are methods and skills that can be used to help us be more effective. And as important as what to do and how it works is to consider yourself and how you fit into the process of transforming lives with the intentional use of experience.
I wanted to start this adventure into experiential methods with a kind of "pre-flight warning." We make choices about how we teach and lead and those choices have consequences. Be careful. As teachers and leaders we are held to a higher level of accountability because we have such influence. We need keep vigilant so that we don't step over the line. From using our skills, talents and resources to point people in powerful and positive directions to coercing (seducing) people into our choices or perspectives.
“Experiential Methods,” the phrase conjures different images for different people. Some think about “Outward Bound” or back packing courses. Others picture standing 80 feet in a tree leaping for a trapeze bar as they dangle on the end of a rope. Classroom teachers sometimes jump to “math manipulatives,” case studies or lab assignments. Sometimes pastors think of experiential methods in terms of creating a worship experience. When I speak of experiential methods I include all these things.
Experiential Methods intentionally use experience in the process of transforming lives. This can be previous experiences, current “real life” experiences, created experiences or even helping people prepare for future experiences. We are constantly experiencing stuff. The tricky part is learning from it. That’s where the intentional part of experiential methods comes into play. There are theories and models that can help us understand how this works. There are methods and skills that can be used to help us be more effective. And as important as what to do and how it works is to consider yourself and how you fit into the process of transforming lives with the intentional use of experience.
Comments
I know we can't totally escape our experiences from shaping our understanding of theology but I've seen some believers who base their faith more on an experience than on what the Bible says or historical orthoxy upholds.
Can we find a balance between the two?
That's not really what I'm getting at when I talk about experiential methods in ministry. Instead of spending a lot of time and energy proving and convencing students that scripture is relevant, I assume it is and as them to use scripture to help understand experience; to use it as a guide and measure as we walk through life.