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Visioning FAQ
1. What is visioning?
Becoming a space of deep listening available to hear spirit’s highest vision or idea. A process by which we hear, feel, see, and catch God’s plan for any particular project we are working on.
2. Is visioning different from visualization?
Yes. Visualization is mentally seeing the things that you wish to have or to do. An example is to visualize yourself giving a successful speech. Visioning is “catching” God’s idea. We are not telling God what we want. We are sensing into a Divine Idea for us (or for that thing for which we vision) that is so wonderful it is beyond our imagination. We are opening the way for that which is unlimited to come into view—into our experience of life. We are volunteering ourselves as a place in consciousness that is available to allow the perfection and wholeness of the One Life to become manifest.
3. Why do we practice visioning?
There is a spiritual ideal, a perfect prototype, under girding everything that IS. In visioning we make ourselves available to become that idea. We are the conduits for the vision to be revealed.
4. How is visioning used in a church to guide planning or decision-making?
Churches who use visioning begin all projects, new areas, or issues facing the church, with ongoing visioning as the starting place. Start with God’s idea. Develop from there. The vision core continues to vision even as other committees or the Board uses the visionings to help guide planning and implementation. The vision becomes a touchstone to check back whether we are on track.
5. What if I have a strong opinion about a certain question asked in the visioning?
If you suspect your vision might be biased simply speak that into the space in order to be clear with yourself and others. Strive to be open and receptive to Spirit’s impulse and let go of your ego. Be gentle with yourself. This is a ‘practice.’
6. What if I ‘get’ something that just makes no sense?
You may ask Spirit, “What does this mean?” and usually you receive further clarification.
7. Should you give participants the questions ahead of time?
Not usually. It helps people stay present with Spirit if the busy mind hasn’t already gotten started on the issue.
8. Do you always use the same questions?
The process suggested here is powerful and we recommend using the same questions every time. You may add other questions related to specific topics: What is the highest vision for our new location? What is the highest vision for our bookstore? What is the highest vision for the men’s group? Keep the questions open-ended and general.
9. How do you develop other questions?
Consider the various ministries in your church, areas that are newly developing or areas that need support. Visioning is about self-transformation. The vision is manifested through the participants. That is why the questions “What must be embraced, released?” really refers to the very individuals who are doing the visioning.
10. I always get words, never pictures. What’s wrong?
Absolutely nothing! People receive in a variety of ways; pictures, feelings, a feeling tone, words, phrases, whole scenes. It is all good. It is all God.
11. Some people seem so good at visioning. How can I improve?
You will become more confident and comfortable with the process as you practice it, like most things. Anyone can vision. No one has an exclusive line to Spirit. It is available to us all if we will but listen and trust.
12. Are visioning and strategy related?
Yes. The purpose of visioning is to catch the divine idea of a thing. Strategy involves HOW to bring something into manifestation. Visioning comes first, then strategy. We bridge from visioning to strategy by first picking themes, dialoguing about the vision, and then eventually setting goals. The vision core and the strategy committee should be separate. Even if some people do both, the activities should be kept separate.
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