Traditioned Innovation Project

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Catalyzing a hopeful future for Christian institutions


The mission of the Traditioned Innovation Project is to catalyze a hopeful vision and embodiment of the future for Christian institutions in the United States. 

The project seeks to develop and implement strategies of curating, collaborating, and capacity-building in order to show why and how traditioned innovation is crucial to a vibrant, life-giving future.

The heart of the project is the cultivation of hospitable spaces for reflection at the Christian and secular intersections. These intersections are crucial in principle for practicing traditioned innovation, and they are even more important given the current conditions of both the church and the world.

What we’ll create—

Convenings & Network-building

Salon conversations that convene highly curated groups of successful cross-sector, faith-inspired community leaders for intimate evenings of rich discussion.

Stories & Case Studies

A reservoir of accessible, imaginative, and engaging stories and case studies. This digital storybank will provide a “deeper dive” into key individuals and organizations practicing traditioned innovation through a vibrant Christian imagination.

Courses & Frameworks

Mindsets, skillsets, and toolsets that provide clarity about why Christian imagination is important to human flourishing. Greater understanding about the inter-sections of sectors will foster deeper and richer vocabularies, enhancing the capacities of leaders, equip new and emerging leaders, and foster multiplier effects across sectors.

Convenings & Network-Building

Our steering committee are our thought-partners who guide our work. They represent the span of institutional structures and the Christian tradition, intentionally comprised of institutional leaders.

The steering committee’s primary focus will be on exploring the conditions and contexts in which a Christian imagination for networks and institutions enable communities to thrive and wisdom to be embodied.

Nisha Botchwey
DEAN | Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota

Anne Snyder Brooks
EDITOR | Comment Magazine

Ken Carter
BISHOP | Florida / Western NC United Methodist Church

Aaron McKethan
GENERAL MANAGER | New Ventures at Aledade, Inc.

Sanyin Siang
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Fuqua/ Coach K Center on Leadership & Ethics

Joanna Taft
FOUNDING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | Harrison Center

Noah Toly
PROVOST | Calvin College

Howard-John Wesley
PASTOR | Alfred Street Baptist Church

Want to meet our steering committee?

Case Studies

Case studies are compiled by Duke Divinity School and the Ormond Center as resources for Christian leaders seeking to cultivate the mindsets and practices of traditioned innovation for the networks and institutions they represent. Case studies seek to empower individuals and organizations to: 

Explore examples of institutions doing significant pivots to address critical challenges in the midst of the turmoil and transition

Work with their constituents to model and practice traditioned innovation through a faith animated by trust and hope in the Triune God

Connect others’ stories of struggle, inspiration, and adaptation to serve the leadership challenges of our present moment and context

Stories

  • Cary, NC— Meeting the Crisis of Our Time

    Cary is largely known as an affluent suburb of the state’s capital city, though Cary also includes significant numbers of people living near or below the poverty line. The COVID pandemic revealed and exacerbated the “hidden” challenges of those experiencing poverty. This case study explores how institutional leaders collaborated to address one barrier to thriving only to discover new possibilities and forms of faithful practice they never anticipated. This is a story about how a conviction turned into a coalition that became an asset to Wake County.

  • Loanwell— Enterprise Solutions to Poverty

    Loanwell seeks to bring affordable credit for all. This case study tells the story of how Justin Straight and Bernard Worthy, founders of Loanwell, were on a mission to provide access to capital for wealth generation for those that typically are left out of the financial markets. This story also explores how they are bringing “traditioned innovation” into the community lending system.

 

Courses & Frameworks

Case studies may refer to the mindsets, skillsets, toolsets, and soulsets exemplified by Christian leaders catalyzing traditioned innovation across sectors.

  • Mindsets

    Wonder

    Curiosity

    Creativity

  • Skillsets

    Prayer

    Rootedness

    Relationality

    Bridge-Building

  • Toolsets

    Networks

    Change Management

    Infrastructure

  • Soulsets

    Humility

    Honesty

    Mutuality

    Love of Neighbor