Story by Nicole Walters and Sarah Johnson and Photos by Nicole Walters and Mathew Francis
On January 25, 2025, members of St. Columba’s Inverness gathered at St. John’s Ross for a transformative day of reflection, storytelling, and visioning in an Appreciative Inquiry Summit. The purpose of the summit was to renew, deepen, and embody our shared vision for a vibrant contemplative Christian community for the world. Guided by Sarah Johnson, a seasoned consultant in Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and St. Columba’s community member, we engaged in a strengths-based approach to community development and future goal planning. Together, we sought out the most life-giving aspects of our identity and dreamed boldly about the future.
A Process Rooted in Strength and Story
Appreciative Inquiry is a collaborative, “life-centric” process that uncovers a community’s strengths and deepest aspirations. Throughout the day, we mapped the positive core of who we are as a contemplative community, uncovering the stories that define St. Columba’s. Participants spoke of art and beauty, an inclusive and welcoming space, deep connections to nature, and a Christ-like capacity for vulnerability and love. St. Columba’s was called “the church of hugs,” and a “church of chaplains”; a place of trust and wonder, intellect and mystery, warmth and service. St. Columba’s is a place with charismatic, servant leaders. Liturgy, silence, retreats, and social justice emerged as pillars of our community identity.
“One of the things AI does so well is to solicit stories from people, particularly stories around what’s most life-giving – these stories provide the basis for designing the future we want together,” Sarah Johnson reflected. The summit day was overwhelmingly positive as community members gave themselves fully to the process. Many beautiful and tender stories were shared, affirming who we are and what we hope to become. In an AI summit, stories that might not otherwise be told are shared, creating the foundation for future planning. As Father Vincent Pizzuto noted, “Sometimes we do not understand the meaning of our own story until we tell it.”
A Vision Rooted in Contemplation and Community
As we moved from discovery into dreaming, the conversation turned to the future. Participants imagined St. Columba’s in 2030, envisioning a contemplative presence that flows outward, impacting the next generation, expanding outdoor spaces, and becoming a hub that sends people forth into the world. Ideas surfaced about growing gracefully—expanding our staff, strengthening our resources, and enhancing our physical space to support the work of contemplation and service. “From our work as a contemplative community,” one participant noted, “we take that into action.”
The theme of vulnerability and community resonated deeply throughout the day. People expressed both a longing for and an appreciation of the openness and trust already present at St. Columba’s. In the summit we learned a contemplative community fosters warmth, vulnerability, and authentic connection; it is a place where “Liturgy meets connection”, where there is a “depth of curiosity”, and a place where we can be met intellectually. Contemplative community is a place of trust and joy.
A Day Shaped by Worship and Creativity
Interwoven with elements of liturgy and worship, the summit was a deeply spiritual experience. The day began and ended in prayer, grounding our reflections in faith. A key part of the process involved creative expressions of our dreams—through movement, poetry, song, and art. Participants envisioned St. Columba’s future not just in words but through embodiment and imagination.
“Our focus on the future wasn’t about creating something brand new,” said Penny Washbourn, reflecting on the experience. “Rather, we expanded the vision we already have, deepening our understanding of what it means to be a contemplative community.”
The summit concluded with a celebration of the Eucharist, encapsulating our shared experience as a community of faith.
Moving Forward Together
Sarah Johnson has been instrumental in leading this process at St. Columba’s over the past year. Fr. Vincent Pizzuto expressed deep gratitude for her leadership, stating, “This process has the power to bear a harvest of good fruit for years to come.” As a community, we are now called to take what we have discovered and carry it forward into practical action and deeper commitment. Results of the summit will be instrumental in developing the five-year strategic plan to be rolled out later this spring.
As we continue growing into our identity as an inclusive contemplative community, the Appreciative Inquiry Summit stands as a milestone—one that reminds us that the Spirit is already at work among us, drawing us ever more deeply into our shared calling.
