Question about OST

[Peggy Holman]

Russ,

In open space, your concern will take care of itself.  Part of its power is
that people follow their passions and end up talking to the most unlikely
of people.  I have not yet run into a situation where people spent the
entire time hanging out only with those who agreed with them.

Open Space works extremely well with conflict avoiders, conflict lovers,
the selfish side of all of us.  In short, it works well with human beings.


I am forwarding your message to our e-mail discussion list so that others
may add their thoughts based upon their experiences.

OST has been used with a number of church groups very successfully.  With a
large group, you may want to see if there is an experienced OST facilitator
in your area who can support your work.  It can be a big help when getting
started.

If I can be of further assistance, please write again.

Peg Holman
Open Space Institute

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> From: Russ Nehrig <nehrig at earthlink.net>
> To: osi at tmn.com
> Subject: Question about OST
> Date: Wednesday, October 22, 1997 2:40 PM
>
> I am proposing the use of OST in my church, a large Episcopal parish
> of over 2,000 members.  We are beginning an interim period after some
> serious conflict over the previous rector.  I have one question.  A
> friend of mine said "We are all conflict avoiders AND we are all real
> selfish; we want things our own way."  I think this explains why
> people form into factions and hang with those who agree with them.
>
> My question about OST is how to keep the factions from
> hanging together at the conference by attending the meetings called
> by those who are known to be in agreement with them, so that we don't
> get a good dialogue between different points of view?
>
> We had a large meeting last summer with 20 breakout groups put
> together randomly, and I think the best thing about that meeting was
> the dialogue across factional lines.  I would not want to lose that
> quality if we use OST in the future.
>
> Thanks,
> Russ Nehrig
>
> PS: I am also sending my check for $70 to join the OSI.