Reverting to a "business-as-usual" mindset is at our own peril.

Instead, we have to reframe our approaches both for short-term survival and to create a better future as #Buildbackbetter and similar sentiments are on all our minds.

Every organisation has been challenged to think and act more creatively than perhaps ever before in our working lives.

Many boards are finding themselves in uncharted waters, alongside the traditional responsibility for risk and assurance, they must also boldly imagine a new future.

Dr David Peterson, director of leadership and coaching at Google, talks about managing in a VUCA world (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) and says that leaders comfortable with stress, strife and change are needed because there's going to be more of it.

Boards need to ask themselves now if they have the best-equipped people around the table to envisage the necessary transformational change.

The World Economic Forum stated in its Future of Jobs report that the top three valuable skills of the future were complex problem solving, critical thinking and creativity - all skills which are more likely to be enhanced by having diverse perspectives.

While endorsing the need for diversity of age, gender, demography and upbringing, we propose another consideration: recruiting creatives.

Leaders from the arts and creative industries possess the imagination, savvy commercial ingenuity, resourcefulness and EQ that will allow boards to adapt to new conditions and even revolutionise their organisations.

Surely creativity is one of the key competencies all board members and leaders need now to imagine new paradigms and unshackle the restraints of the past and old ways of doing things.

Both divergent and critical thinking is needed to solve difficult challenges, and creatives are well-placed because they have the innate ability to think outside the box and challenge convention. They intuitively look for ideas from the depths of the unconscious and work at the edge of potential.

So-called "soft skills" naturally reside in many of us to one degree or another, but they are very often well-honed in creatives. Artists comfortably inhabit the world of VUCA and are accustomed to making sense out of chaos. Because their careers are often in the least-funded and most challenging environments, they have learned to not only lead with acute resourcefulness (aka the smell of an oily rag), but create beauty while often challenging assumptions.

There are five practical steps for any board to consider:

• Awareness: Raise awareness around the diversity of thought and the contributions creatives can provide
• Pathways: Identify smart methods to find qualified candidates beyond shoulder-tapping and traditional recruitment
• Training: Provide training for those new to boards to give a greater chance of success
• Listening: Actively listening to others perspectives fosters open-mindedness
• Culture: Take responsibility for shaping the board culture to be one which is willing to challenge convention and embrace blue sky thinking

Individuals with a foundation in the creative arts bring imagination and diversity of thought to the board table. If the governance culture is in place to embrace their perspective, then the discussions will be far richer and the decisions more deeply nuanced and successful.

If we want boards which are not just focused on being risk managers but instead are vision-casters, then making creatives welcome will be a big stride in the right direction.

• Anne Rodda is the founder of Voyager Advisory - Te Kaiarahi. Steven Moe is a Partner at Parry Field Lawyers.
• First published in Stuff. Republished with permission of the authors.
• Please read Anne and Stephen's White Paper: "Tomorrow's Board Diversity: the Role of Creatives"

The video-centric app is credited with popularizing the runaway hit "Stunnin'" by Curtis Waters.

In another instance, it exposed to millions of viewers a dance sequence known as "The Renegade" created by a 14-year-old girl in a suburb of Atlanta, resulting in teens mimicking the moves in school hallways around the country.

That TikTok's 15- to 30-second clips are perfect for making new songs and dances go viral is obvious, less so is its potential to #MakeJesusViral.

But the hashtag garnered 362 million views, proving bite-sized chunks of theology just as edible.

Similarly, #Christian has gotten 10.5 billion views #Jewish 1.1 billion and #Islam a whopping 23.7 billion.

To say that religion is big on the platform is an understatement.

These lessons aren't lost on young people hoping to build faith communities.

Christian, Muslim and Jewish creators alike are utilizing TikTok to spread the word — with evangelicals, in particular, embracing the platform as they historically have with new technology.

Religion's outsize presence on the app also calls into question the widely held belief that Gen Z, those born after 1996, is following the decades-old American trend away from religion.

Maybe TikTok isn't exactly bringing them into the fold — but some religious leaders say the proliferation of faith-related clips suggests the young are searching for something.

In search of the flock

Many TikTok creators making religious content use the same methods as other TikTokers —they ride the waves of the trending content to bring religion to the masses — to maximize attention to their posts.

Father Matt Lowry (@catholic.jacks 73.8K followers) is a Catholic priest who leads a church at Northern Arizona University.

He's not a Gen Zer but "Father Matt," as he's affectionately called, has a team of college students who help him create social media content to reach local students.

When Father Matt and his Gen Z advisers combined two trends — the song "Stunnin'" with the "What I'd wear" concept — he went viral to the tune of 3.7 million views and over 350,000 likes.

Father Matt was shocked at the success of the clip, which simply shows him in different robes for various holy days.

He was also surprised by the popularity of a clip in which he and young members of the church did the "COVID Slide" — a humorous, socially distanced version of the song "Electric Slide" that starts with putting masks on, continues with elbow taps, and concludes with washing hands.

"It got over a million views," he says.

Out of curiosity, he searched the app to see who else was using the same track.

It seemed to be mostly people between 14 to 21 — "a demographic that the church struggles with right now," says Father Matt.

"They're in TikTok. And if this is where the people are, this is where we want to go."

Using TikTok to reach out to Catholics, Father Matt says, is an "attempt to emulate Jesus, who goes in search of the flock." Continue reading

We tried very hard to continue our weekly ritual of prayer and worship.

Like many families, we created a small home altar. We lit a candle. We set out a statue of Mary. We stood. We knelt. We sang. We tried.

Our parishes tried, too.

Priests who never heard of Facebook Live quickly learned how to livestream. They bought tripods and tried different camera angles. Some relied on their parishioners to lend expertise on video production. Everyone tried their best in a difficult time.

I know quite a few priests, so my Facebook feed was inundated with livestream Masses in the early days of the pandemic.

Every day, I would scroll through and see priest after priest celebrating Mass in an empty church. I would watch them receive Communion, give a small teaching, and do all the rituals associated with the prayer.

They were doing their best.

As the weeks went on, the experience of watching Mass got more difficult for my family.

I would often miss the readings or homily because I was wrangling our toddler.

In the end, Mass was more of a spectator sport than worship experience.

What became clear to us after weeks of watching online Mass was that it boiled down to watching someone else pray.

We who sat in our living room weren't experiencing a sacrament.

We were watching someone else experience it.

And, at least for us, that was frustrating more than it was uplifting.

So, we stopped watching virtual Mass and we haven't watched a Mass for months.

After further reflection, I've come to realize my problem was not with live-streamed Mass.

I know many who love the experience, and it has served as a lifeline for their faith.

I think it's an important ministry and it should continue.

My problem with virtual Mass was that it was the only form of ministry I was experiencing from my parish. And because it was the only form of ministry — it was wholly inadequate.

I have witnessed creativity and ingenuity in ministry during this difficult time.

I saw parishes and priests who hosted a daily evening prayer, a weekly rosary, or weekly virtual Bible study.

I've seen parishes offering virtual lectures and other learning opportunities.

I know of priests and deacons who call their homebound parishioners to check in.

I think that is a good start to the new kind of community parishes are building. Because, we are, in fact, in the process of building a new kind of community.

There will not be a return to the way things were.

How could there be?

The world has changed and so have we.

And moving forward, that kind of ingenuity and creativity is what I'm asking of our priests and parishes. In short, how can I pray with you?

Because, I'm tired of watching you pray.

We know this pandemic is far from over and there are many, like my family, who will not see the inside of a church for many more months.

Many are scared to go back, too at-risk, and it's precisely those people who need their parish more than ever.

So, our parishes must consider how to create virtual and in-person worship experiences that are communal and meaningful.

What resources can we send to our parishioners to support their prayer at home?

How can we support young families, our elders, our homebound in their experience of faith at home?

What do we have to do to make human connections in a time when those things are in short supply? Continue reading

They say the new normal is means the Church's liturgy remains restricted to protect the vulnerable and elderly.

The statement, creatively designed for Pentecost, parallels society's lockdown with the image of the apostles and Mary emerging from their pre-Pentecost "closed room."

The bishops say they share the joy of Catholics all over New Zealand at being able to celebrate Eucharist together, however, warn that at least for a while, the new normal means not everyone will be able to be accommodated at Sunday Mass and that each parish will have to determine how to celebrate Mass and ensure the health guidelines are kept.

They also say that due to the regulations some churches are likely to not reopen immediately.

"We share your joy at being able to celebrate Eucharist together. However, we still have to live under the restrictions that are there for the good of our vulnerable and elderly. Each parish is going to have to determine how it will offer Masses while ensuring health guidelines are kept. This may mean some churches will not open immediately. It may mean that there are more people wanting to attend Mass than can be accommodated" a part of the bishops' statement reads.

In the absence of Mass for over two months, the bishops acknowledge the creativity of New Zealanders.

"We have been delighted by the creative initiatives that have arisen and the way the risen Lord has used these to bestow his graces", they wrote.

However, further acknowledging the new normal will be different, the bishops addressed congregations throughout the country, asking anyone who is vulnerable to the virus, those who are afraid and anyone who is not well to stay at home.

The bishops' pastoral statement, acknowledges those who risked themselves while the rest of the country was locked-down.

"As we emerge from our "closed room" and return to our churches and community engagement we take this opportunity to thank those who protected and supported our sick, vulnerable and, indeed, all of us throughout the lockdown. We thank all those in our faith communities who have worked tirelessly to connect with parishioners offering spiritual support."

The bishops say the dispensation from attendance at Sunday Mass continues.

Sources

• Catholic Media

"Every time we return to the source of Christian experience, new paths and un-thought of possibilities open up," the Pope said at a prayer vigil the night before the synod opened.

He recommended gazing on the face of Christ for unity and renewal.

"With the joy of the Gospel we will rediscover the way of a reconciled and merciful Church, poor and friend of the poor; a Church ‘given strength that it might, in patience and in love, overcome its sorrows and its challenges, both within itself and from without'."

The Pope asked the Holy Spirit for three things for the October 5-19 synod participants; the theme of which is "the pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelisation".

The first is the gift of listening as God does to the voices of people, "until they breathe the will to which God calls us".

The second is openness to sincere discussion, with confidence that Christ will unify all in the end.

The third is being able to gaze on the face of Christ, so that the synod discussions, loved in return with the gaze of Christ, might be a providential occasion for renewal of Church and society.

Opening the synod at a Mass the next day, the Pontiff commented on the readings, warning the synod fathers not to take over the vineyard entrusted to them.

He warned against "bad shepherds lay[ing] intolerable burdens on the shoulders of others, which they themselves do not lift a finger to move".

The pontiff also laid out clearly what the synod is not to do.

"Synod assemblies are not meant to discuss beautiful and clever ideas, or to see who is more intelligent," said Francis.

"They are meant to better nurture and tend the Lord's vineyard, to help realise his dream, his loving plan for his people."

The Pope warned synod participants not to "thwart God's dream" by failing to "let ourselves be guided by the Holy Spirit".

"The Spirit gives us that wisdom which surpasses knowledge, and enables us to work generously with authentic freedom and humble creativity," he continued.

The synod's deliberations are not open to the public, and the Vatican has said information released from it will be limited.

But reporters will get a daily briefing from a Vatican spokesman.

Sources

• National Catholic Reporter
• The Tablet
• Catholic News Agency
• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: CBC