Stage Two: Formation

• Continue to emphasize and work on relationships.
• Allow for prayer time with each other and ask specifically for God's wisdom and direction.
• Be as inclusive as possible -- try to allow for wide participation. Do not be afraid of differences; instead celebrate the diversity while emphasizing what you have in common.
• Work on team building among the core group of organizers. Allow access to the decision-making process through consensus.
• Launch by convening an organizing meeting, but don't call a meeting too soon.
• Establish key working groups around the agreed upon priorities and identify specific steps to address them (action plans).
• Set dates and draft key timetables.
• Facilitator plays a crucial role at this stage keeping things held together and communicating among the partners.

Key Principles of the Launch Stage

• Effective Partnerships seek God's direction in all they do.
• Effective partnerships have well-defined objectives. In the beginning these need to be limited and achievable.
• Effective partnerships focus on what the partners have in common rather than on what makes them different.
• Effective partnerships maintain a high level of participation and ownership by the partners.
• Effective partners have clear identities and visions. Partners who have a strong sense of their own identity are the ones who most likely will be the most valuable players.

Stage One: Exploration

Stage Three: Operations