Transforming stories : what is the role of storytelling in congregational visioning within United Church communities of faith?

Abstract

This qualitative research study uses a narrative framework to explore the role of storytelling in congregational visioning. Using a multi-case study approach, the project explores the vision journey of three United Churches of Canada that have each completed visioning in the last five years. The data, collected through a series of group and one on one interviews as well as through analysing written material, identifies common ways in which stories are used to help churches understand who they are, who they once were, and where they are going. It offers insight to the correlation between the use of storytelling in visioning, and the transformation results within the community of faith.