Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciating Church AI courses

We offer two courses currently: Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry (below) and Deepening your Appreciative Inquiry practice. Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry is organised by partner churches according to their needs, with spare places being opened to participants from other organisations through the Appreciating Church website.

Course dates are advertised here and on Facebook and Twitter as soon as they become known. If you would like to register your interest to take part in the next training event please contact us.

Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry

Encountering AI theory and practice

Offered as four three-hour sessions, either physically or online, the course introduces Appreciative Inquiry for churches exploring development and change. Those attending are introduced to the underlying theory, as well as examples of good practice. The aim is to become confident in using appreciative techniques in their own work and in the life of their churches.

The programme is practically based and includes:

• Examples of AI techniques in practice

• The Principles of AI

• Appreciative conversations

• Crafting appreciative questions

• Reframing

• The importance of generativity

• 5D cycle

• SOAR tool (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results)

• Ways in which Appreciative Inquiry is being used by churches in the UK

This course is part of Appreciating Church, an ecumenical partnership between the United Reformed Church, Methodist Church, Quakers, Congregational Federation and parts of the Church of England, to create a self-sustaining community of AI practice in association with Appreciating People.

Participation in this course is the first step to meet the necessary requirements for joining the advanced Deepening Your Appreciative Inquiry Practice course. Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry counts as Module One of International Academy for Appreciative Inquiry (IAAI) accreditation as an appreciative inquiry practitioner.