Ecosystem

Organizing for Peace

Estuary’s organizational structure and governance model is based on the systems of sociocracy and holacracy. A holon is something that is simultaneously a whole in and of itself, as well as a part of a larger whole. The Holacratic model has much in common with the biblical analogy of the body of Christ which is described by the apostle Paul as a body made up of many parts or members. Jesus’ life-giving work is carried out by the church – Christ’s body enfleshed through our bodies.

Circles

Rather than funnelling authority from the top down through a hierarchical pyramid of leadership, our decentralized management model distributes authority and decision-making through an ecosystem of self-organizing and self-directed teams that we call circles. The agency of each circle is honoured as they make decisions, organize, and carry out work that is in alignment with Estuary’s ethos. Circles are encouraged to share roles (leader, facilitator, scribe, time keeper, etc.) and to make decisions through consensus-driven discernment. 

Hierarchical organizational model

Sociocratic organizational model

Conversation

Estuary gathers for a bi-monthly (on the even months) Check-In meeting, where circles come together to share information, questions, and needs with the larger body to be addressed by the church as a whole. This practice encourages conversation, mutual care, and communal processing. Whereas in more hierarchical organizations sub-groups might bring their issues and dreams to the management to solve and make come true, in a holarchy/sociocracy, the parts bring their questions and needs to the body where support and solutions are crowdsourced (bodysourced) together. 

Guidance

Estuary’s Guidance Circle keeps a discerning eye on the life of the church. At bi-monthly (on the odd months) meetings the Guidance Circle shares where they have noticed life in the Estuary eco-system and discerns how the church might need to shift in order to adapt to ever-changing circumstances. A different member from the congregation-at-large is invited to each Guidance Circle meeting for transparency, accountability, and to keep communication flowing within the body.