Consulting Methodology Essay Example for Free

Consulting Methodology Essay Consultant Approach Quickly understanding problems, gathering relevant data, and synthesizing insightful results The Minto Pyramid Principle A set of rules that helps create groups in a way that is logical and structured. Groups help you communicate easily to others. Process that identifies issues, designs research, analysis, and communication Way of sorting data to compartmentalize complex details and organize info Only effective if you have a clear idea of what the issue or question is. Ideas should be top-down, with lower levels supporting upper levels. Avoid more than 3 categories (hard to remember). Sub-ideas = grouped as well. Consulting Process and Context Problem Definition Key issues are developed using a Situation-Complication-Question (SCQ) analysis The key issue is the client’s most pressing need.   A situation statement is a non-controversial description of stable conditions. A complication statement is what altered the stable situation and created the problem. The key question is the question implicitly raised by the complication statements. Step 1: Ask Probing Questions Get to the essence of the issue. Ask â€Å"Why?† and look for effects that may be masquerading as causes. Causal relationships can be very difficult to decipher. Take note of body language and subtext. Find evidence and document all of the answers. Step 2: Sort and Group Info Use the Pyramid Principle to join ideas. Start by grouping similar ideas. Then, summarize each group with a heading sentence. Sort each heading sentence into situation, complication, or question. Repeat these steps with all of the data. Step 3: Determine Key Objective There is only one key question. From the SCQ, determine the key question. It should be the natural question that is a logical progression from each of the complications. The overarching issue Framing the Key Question Can be as important as determining the question itself The form is dependent on what types of complications exist. Different frames will provide a different â€Å"lens† for the question. After determining the type, restate in a closed format; answered with YES or NO. Refrain from positioning one solution over another, unless complications explicitly require it. Make sure the question is broad enough (neither too specific nor too in-depth) to cover all of the relevant and related sub-questions Approach Issue Analysis Uses the Minto Pyramid Principle, which structures idea. Issues Analysis structures the analysis of a problem using questions. Issues Analysis is used to structure the questions that must be addressed to answer the key question. Step 1: Identify All Sub-Questions What other information is required to answer the key question. Use the closed question format and be stated in a positive-yes format. Step 2: Sort and Group Questions Use the Pyramid Principle to help connect questions. Step 3: Build the Issues Tree Reflect what your brain has already done and the work you’ve already completed. To begin, put the key question at the top of the tree. Underneath the key question, write down each of the heading questions at the same level. For each of the heading questions, add sub-questions at the next level. No need to have more than four levels of questions. Step 4: Test for MECE * There are 2 qualifications. ME = Mutually Exclusive and means questions are not similar to each other. CE = Collectively Exhaustive means you have covered all important questions and is comprehensive. Step 5: List Tasks for Getting Evidence Identifying the tasks that need to be completed to answer the sub-questions. At the lowest level of each part of the Issues Tree, determine what needs to be done to answer the lowest level question. If all of the lowest level questions can be answered, the questions above can also be answered, since each question is in a closed, positive-yes format. This means that work does not need to be repeated or added later on in the process. Work Plan Way to keep track of multiple projects. Knowing the scope of the work can help define (or redefine) content. Help clarify whether there are issues to address. Makes it easy to assign work. F our-step process: Rotate the Issues Tree Rotate the Issues Tree 90 degrees counterclockwise with the key issue on the left and as you move to the right, questions will get more and more detailed. On the far right will be the list of activities and tasks. Determine Resources Needed Establish the duration of each task and what will be needed and then assign. Align Work Plan with Resources Create a high-level work plan including designate resources. Include the individual tasks, which people are assigned to each task, and how long each task will take to complete. There are three basic elements of a work plan that determine scope: activities or tasks, resources, and a timing or project schedule. Define and Request Client Support Revisit important issues with the client. It will become clear what additional resources are needed and why. Because each resource is linked to an activity, and each activity is tied to an explicit question, requests for more time, people, or information are very easy to validate. Data Gathering and Analysis Primary and Secondary Research Equally important. Secondary is mining existing data. Important because it can be validated by multiple sources and supporting details. Beneficial because it uses different pieces of data to draw conclusions without emotional bias. Primary data gathered through interviews and is important because it includes nonverbal signals. Interview Techniques Not merely asking the right questions. 4 step process. Plan Interview and Define Objectives Important to know three things about finding the appropriate source for an interview: Who knows the answer to the questions? Who is willing to answer the questions? And who will be a credible source? Contact a large number of people. Call back if a subject is unavailable; it is more effective than leaving a message. Allow for additional time. Conduct background research on interviewees. Prepare a Script Execute the Interview Introduction: introduce self and state the purpose of the interview. Core: ask the questions you’ve prepared. Closing: Thank the interviewee and allow for them to ask questions. Record and Summarize Findings and Recommendations Presentations Convert the Issues Tree to an Outline Replace Each Question with a Statement Build the Presentation Slides Each phrase that answers a question will be the top line of the slide and findings will take up the rest of the slide. At the end of the presentation slide, repeat the first slide of the key issue and heading questions with an answer to reiterate the primary message When to disclose the â€Å"answer†? Can provide answer at the beginning of the presentation so that the audience is immediately aware. Or hold the answer until the end so the conclusion seems inevitable. Answer at the beginning when the audience already understands the situation, agreement is likely, and the audience is impatient. Answer at the end when the audience is unfamiliar with the facts, the conclusions are controversial, and the audience is detail-oriented and story-motivated. Ensures agreement and make the conclusion viewed as objective and inevitable. Framework and Tools Client Profiling Tool used to rapidly get up to speed with new clients. First step is understanding the client’s strategic direction, which is classified as either goals or objectives. Objectives are broad and describe general direction, are intangible, abstract, non-measurable. Goals are narrower and specific, concrete, tangible, measurable, with deadlines. Scope of the project is important in outlining what work your team will and won’t be expected to complete. To create the scope, you need to think carefully about what sorts of opportunities and threats the client is facing. Understand what the client is and isn’t willing to do. Business and Customers: start with examining the basic client business, the geographic area, financial status, recent news. Examine the value chain to analyze what the client does. Use the buying criteria to understand how customers interact with what the client is offering. The buying criteria are a number of things about a product that impact if the customer will choose it. Anything that is essential in order to have customers is called a â€Å"must have†. If a feature is something that changes a customer’s mind is called â€Å"differentiating†. Features that are interesting but may not be willing to pay for are called â€Å"nice to have†. Marketing Mix: help determine the best combination of marketing for customer awareness and loyalty. Called The Four P’s: Product, Place, Promotion, Price. The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Matrix: analyzes how product investment should be managed. Stars need added investment to maintain and can be potentially bring added profit. Question Marks may need more investment to succeed or should be divested. Dogs should be divested to invest in more profitable markets. Cows make excellent margins and don’t need more investment. Sources of Competitive Advantage: 3 types: Scale advantage means being larger than most competitors and manifests when a company creates standard products and can come from different sources like cost leadership, efficiency, economies of scale, market share, etc. Differentiation advantage is when the company has a premium because of value that is created by products that are unique. Creates an industry environment or imperfect competition in favor of client (example: Apple). Unique Access advantage is when the company reaches customers that others can’t or has resources others don’t; leads to price premium and imperfect competition. Macro and Industry Insight Need to understand the environment the client is working in. Generate insight around which forces drive client behavior. PESTEL analysis: examines the macro forces and trends beyond the immediate competitive landscape. Quick reference for drivers. 5 Forces Analysis: Porter is an MECE way to approach any industry and provide a quick litmus test for attractiveness. 5 forces are: supplier power, buyer power, threat of substitutes, barriers to entry and competitive rivalry. Magnitude and direction of each force will indicate attractiveness. If buyer power is high the result for the firms is negative and the industry is less attractive. If supplier power is high, the result for the firms is negative and the industry is less attractive. If competitive rivalry is high the result for each firm is negative and the industry is less attractive. If threat of substitutes is high, the result for each firm is negative and the industry is less attractive. If threat of new entrants is high (in other words, there are many barriers to entry) the force’s impact is dependent on what type of player the client is. If the client is an established player, having high barriers to entry is a positive force. If the client is a potential new entrant, high barriers to entry are negative and the industry is less attractive to enter, but more attractive to stay in. SWOT: only tool for examining a company directly. Competitor Analysis Usual and unusual competitors. Usual competitors are easy to recognize; they have a similar offering and/or target a similar market to serve the same needs. Unusual competitors are harder to find and come from lots of different sources; any competitor that is not usual. Professional Behavior and Ethics Maintaining Professionalism The goal of being a Trusted Advisor is to do business ethically, lawfully and collaboratively through an unwavering dedication to the highest standards of professional conduct. The ability to behave professionally establishes credibility in the client’s eyes. Exhibiting Interpersonal Skills Establishing and Honoring Agreements Successfully establishing and honoring agreements gives consultants integrity Take Action To integrate these skills into your daily routine, find a list of action items to start first thing on Monday morning. Practice sorting and grouping the elements of your daily e-mails, do an SCQ and issues analysis for a company you find interesting, and work hard to demonstrate integrity and credibility in any work that you do.

Henrik Isbens A Dolls House :: A Dolls House Essays

Nora received supernatural aid in the form of self awareness of her own value/worth. Some could say her ignorance, ignorant as to what her actions would cause to happen if they where known publicly. Innocently she thought there was nothing wrong with saving her husbands life, but his pride, his ego would be hurt and society would outcast them. Another form of aid was Linde who served as a mirror like character who showed Nora what she had done in a way, and how an independent woman could The long and winding road was quite harsh on Nora, even a close friend such as Dr. Rank proved to be an obstacle she had to hurdle when he professed his love to her. All the time Krogstads blackmailing her, having to raise money, working at nights and the like where constant torments. The constant secrecy and stress accumulating and building up never giving her space to catch her breathe. To top it all off, Helmer continually restricted her, molded and sculpted her like a toy. Any other character would have cracked under this enormous burden but Nora just kept on going, with the hope of a â€Å"wonderful thing† keeping her going.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Stumbling upon the realization that the â€Å"wonderful thing† was but a mere fantasy that did not exist marked her final encounter with the ultimate dragon, Torvald. She had already had to tolerate his restrictions and lack of freedom that he imposed on her tyrannically. Also, there is the blackmailing by Krogstad whose hunger for a second chance to redeem him self is great. However, he does not plan on relinquishing the bond, which gives him the leverage over Nora. Her encounters have been plentiful with these two dragons that daunt her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ultimately Nora vanquished the supreme dragon Torvald. After the Tarantella, which did not stall for enough time, Helmer discovers the truth by mail. Because of his jealousy/sexual urge that made him decide to come down to early he discovered this in such a fashion that showed his true character. Nora then proceeds to tell him that she cannot stay with him anymore, in essence slaying him. Torvald is helpless and dazed, and utterly defeated though his ignorance, of how to treat Nora.

Economic and Environmental benefits of Green walls

IntroductionGreen wall and its necessityThe life, organic systems characterized by green walls, are integrated with the inorganic and exanimate constructions are ruling modern architecture and holds the promise of a new type of ‘living ‘ architecture. Green walls are by and large walls that are portion of the Building covered with flora. They are similar perpendicular garden largely formed with creeper system on the exterior wall with the roots on the land or with free standing vertically framed wall with different native workss grown on the surface. They are besides termed as bio walls or populating walls since they act as natural air-conditioner as they purifies and cools the ambient air to a big extent making a healthy environment. The deepest menace of planetary heating is the rapid urbanisation and deforestation. There is a considerable addition of co2 emanation and heat transportation. This impact is utmost in the urban status where the vegetation/ verdure are sparse. Besides in the urban conditions largely all the edifices are glazed and air-conditioned with out any ways of neither thermic insularity, nor are they shaded with thick environing landscape. This is fundamentally due to the infinite restraints and optimisation. In such ambitious instances Green wall is the best option which acts as a good shading device against heat addition and energy losingss, pollution etc. Hence, Green walls are must in urban conditions.Economic and Environmental benefits of Green wallsThe economic and environmental benefits are many. They result in significant energy nest eggs, extension of constructing life, CO2 gaining control, acoustics and Aestheticss.Energy Conservation: Vegetation on walls can help in chilling edifice s in summer and insulating them in winter. Decrease of thermic lading to edifices consequences lower warming and chilling costs which in bend lowers carbon emanations. Jacklyn Johnston and John Newton ( 2004 )Health: These mounting workss on green walls filter out dust and other pollutants. Jacklyn Johnston and John Newton ( 2004 )Decrease of heat island consequence consequences in less reflected heat.Air purification: workss filter pollution particularly when used inside edifices.Noise fading: It acts as sound barrier ensuing in quieter edifices and streets.Green walls can roll up over 30kgs per M2 of rainwater.Increased urban biomass.Jacklyn Johnston and John Newton ( 2004 ) clears the fact that ‘There is a widespread belief that workss are unfriendly to construct constructions, rending out howitzer and prying isolated articulations with their roots. The grounds suggests that these jobs have been greatly overdone, except where decay has already set in and so workss can so sp eed up the procedure of impairment. ‘ There is small grounds that workss damage walls. In fact in most of the instances the exact opposite is true, with workss covering the wall helps in protecting the wall from harmful elements, solar radiation which in bend reduces the thermal tensenesss within the construction.Autochthonal sustainable elements and their benefitsAutochthonal sustainable elements are the simple elements which are locally available and considered as waste or least prioritized. For illustration, the coconut shells in the state like India which are available in copiousness are merely disposed or burnt to ashes even though they have high thermic coefficient and suitableness for insulation/ acoustics. Similarly, stuffs like Clay, Bamboo, Jungle/ Pine/Rubber wood, Cork etc carry untarnishing consequence in the field of sustainable Architecture when used suitably. Apart from their interesting feature they are besides economic.RESEARCH QUESTION/OBJECTIVE:Department o f energies green palisade demand to be green?The realistic aim of this research is to make more gratifying greener metropoliss which in bend bring legion benefits to the environing environment. In the about all the Urban locations of the universe where the CO2 emanation is highly high due to assorted factors have barely any good flora to command environmental pollution. Unfortunately, in such locations the construct of sustainability like ‘Green wall ‘ gets relegated to the 2nd topographic point due to building and care cost. The thought is to turn to to these countries and besides to heighten the benefits of â€Å" Green walls ‘ with some medicative value. This needs to be achieved by placing native herbal workss and besides, to analyze and introduce in the country of low cost autochthonal elements like coconut shells, bamboo, cane, Jute, cork, ect as building stuffs to supplement to sustainable design.LITERATURE REVIEW:Green walls are easy deriving value and are considered valuable for chilling the Urban infinite than green roofs in states like Japan. But the green wall is still new to states like India and China. Jacklyn Johnston and John Newton ( 2004 ) states that ‘This is a great commiseration, because even in those metropoliss comparatively good endowed with greenspace many countries can justifiably be regarded as comeuppances in biological footings. ‘ Nigel Dunnett and Noel Kingsbury ( 2004 ) Green wall is widely practiced in Europe and it is rather common in France and Germany to see house covered in Virginia creeper or vines which are influenced by Mediterranean clime. Jacklyn Johnston and John Newton ( 2004 ) states that ‘We necessitate appropriate development which incorporates an ecological attack to edifice and landscape. ‘ This means that the land lost in the building of edifices and roads should be replaced with a bed of workss on the difficult surfaces. By this manner green tegument can be strategical ly added to make a new web of flora associating roofs, courtyards, walls and unfastened infinites.Different types of green wallsThere are two different types: Green frontages and Living wallsGreen facades: are wall systems where workss cover back uping constructions rooted at the base of the construction. Supporting construction can either be a bing wall or built as freestanding constructions. Populating walls: ( besides called bio walls or perpendicular gardens ) composed of pre-vegetated modular panels that are fixed to a structural wall or freestanding frame. Modular panels comprises of polypropene plastic containers, geotextiles, irrigation system, turning medium and flora. Populating walls can be installed on the outside of a edifice in full Sun, shadiness, and inside of a edifice. They grow good in both tropical and temperate clime. Due to immense assortment of workss used, populating walls require more intensive care than green frontages like regular lacrimation, adding foods and fertilisers.Different types of green facade support constructionsThe two primary types areModular treillage systems: Panels which are stiff and lightweight are installed vertically as wall-mounted or freestanding. They can besides be used on tall edifices along side with intermediate plantation owners. Modular treillage systems are indispensable where the physical growing of mounting workss is restricted.Freestanding constructions: are stiff panels such as green columns or canopy signifiers that can be placed on either on edifice walls where either the infinite is limited or burden is restricted. The panels can besides be used as shading devices for a unfastened parking country.Cable and rope wire systems: this system consist high-tensile steel overseas telegrams, wire treillages, spacers, and extra equipment. Vertical and horizontal wires are connected through cross clinchs to organize a treillage system of coveted sizes and forms. Stainless steel wire-rope cyberspace is supported on flexible or stiff frames to cover big countries.Best works types to utilize for green wallsJacklyn Johnston and John Newton ( 2004 ) Sing the relationship between the types of works used and the facet of the walls where they will turn is besides a really of import facet. Deciduous workss are the most suited on the south side of a edifice. In the summer their dense leaf shields the edifice from sunshine and creates chilling consequence. In winter foliages are shed, leting sunshine to make the surface of the wall so assisting to warm the inside of the edifice. Similarly on a west-facing wall it is reasonable to utilize evergreens to protect the edifice from rain and supply a shock absorber of air to assist insularity. North confronting walls are best for back uping native herbs and wider scopes of workss. East walls may fall into either class. Plants used on exterior edifice walls are exposed to harsher climactic milieus than those of indoors. Hence for edifice that intend to make great highs, more stalwart species of workss should be selected. Similarly, for less works friendly climes, climbers that are tolerant for air current and heat should be selected. Nigel Dunnett and Noel Kingsbury ( 2004 ) On wooden walls and other constructions, species with really heavy growing or a thick ramification wont should be avoided, as the construction may non be able to back up the weight. Plant choice will hold major impact on the design of the back uping system. For case, a denser and faster turning works will necessitate a larger infinite between supports than less aggressive works species. The denseness of works life further impacts the implicit in construction. Greater the leaf surface country, the more impact rain will hold on the weight of the system.Green wall installing and careJacklyn Johnston and John Newton ( 2004 ) Small herbaceous species are able to turn on walls by taking root in the substance of the wall itself. But other species are of course adapted to mounting up and over obstructions such as stone faces, trees and bush. Some sort of support construction is indispensable for these workss to turn successfully. For illustration, climbers such as hops support themselves by gyrating upwards around an object. They will necessitate lumber battings, trellis work, steel overseas telegrams or plastic ropes. Although some creeper can cleave straight onto wall s by their roots, they require a unsmooth surface to enable them to make so. Ramble oning workss such as bramble and mounting rose need wide-meshed grid constructions to which they can be attached. A 50x50cm fretwork of treated lumber mounted on wooden stations ( or an tantamount construction utilizing overseas telegrams, rope or sacking ) will supply an equal support for a scope of species. Whenever possible it is reasonable to go forth small spread between the facade of the edifice and the supporting construction to maximize the effects of summer chilling and winter insularity. The constructions help in administering the weight of the workss across the supporting construction and wall. In overseas telegram and rope wire systems, ground tackles and turnbuckles have to be installed at the terminal of each overseas telegram for fastening and accommodations as and when required. Jacklyn Johnston and John Newton ( 2004 ) Polypropylene cladding tiles incorporates rainproof membranes and their ain irrigation system. Plants could be established on these and so hung on the exterior of a edifice. Depending on species, mounting workss by and large require a good supply of H2O and occasional pruning. Supporting constructions require less care, with lone occasional monitoring of the supporting construction. Jacklyn Johnston and John Newton ( 2004 ) For mounting workss the land should be prepared merely like for any tree or bush by making a cavity and adding in some compost to the top 30cm.Pre-grown panels for populating walls needs 6-12 months for workss to turn prior to bringing and installing. The panels are grown horizontally until it is shipped to the site after which it can be mounted vertically. Climbing workss should be selected that do non supply a nutrient beginning for unwanted plagues and insects. Excessive growing or dead wood should be removed sporadically and standing H2O should be avoided.LEED points for utilizing green wallsLEED has several credits for green walls when used in edifices.Sustainable Sites Credit 7.1: Landscape Design that Reduces Urban Heat Islands ( 1 point ) . Solar coefficient of reflection of a edifice is greatly reduced by exterior green walls, therefore cut downing the urban heat island consequence.Water Efficiency Credits 1.1, 1.2: Water Efficient Landscaping ( 1 to 2 points ) . Harvested stormwater can be used for irrigating the workss of the green walls. Use merely collected, recycled, or nonpotable H2O may besides add on to this recognition.Water Efficiency Credit 2: Advanced Wastewater Technologies ( 1 point ) . Green walls can move as a medium for utilizing effluent intervention.Energy and Atmosphere Credit 1: Optimize Energy Performance ( 1 to 10 points ) . Building ‘s mechanical systems use can be reduced greatly by green walls which acts as extra insularity for the construction and besides provides natural chilling.Invention in Design Credits 1-4: Invention in Design ( 1 to 4 points ) . Green walls can lend to innovative effluent direction or airing systems.KNOWLEDGES AND GAPSWhat is the consciousness on Green walls in the states like India?Green Building Movement in India – Catalysts and Course India is witnessing unbelievable growing in substructure and building sector. The building industry in India happens to be one of the largest economic activities. As this sector is turning quickly, continuing the environment poses batch of challenges and at the same clip nowadayss chances. The building sector hence needs to lend towards environmental duty. Green wall constructs are at emerging phase in India chiefly due to high initial cost and deficiency of a native merchandise to turn to the same. But still it offers great potency which asks for greater apprehension and germinating an autochthonal merchandise by Indian Architects/ Landscape interior decorators.How cost witting developed states are and how it is of import?Most of the developed states are focused on the engineering of future and the art of modern architecture plays critical function where the value of simple autochthonal elements gets neglected. In that instance, even in the name of modernisation most of the development states are besides acquiring inspired by the developed states. Cost effectual design ever carries value at the clip of crisis and recession. It besides speaks its untasted appeal as they are formed largely with natural elements.Invention:An Indian based Agriculturist who tried organic agriculture ‘elunkathir pannai ‘ with the protection of bio fencing created with the native herb teas and workss. The consequence proved to be amazing and achieved good output. The interesting secrete behind it is, all the air born plagues are filtered and killed by of course available herbal marauders. This inspires and even strengthens the construct of Green walls for the urban infinites besides. And that is one of my enterprise and portion of the research utilizing native herb teas to accomplish medicative benefits.Sustainability is mostly being practised in assorted Fieldss. But in most of the instances they are non cost effectual. The other portion of my invention is to accommodate low cost sustainable design with simple autochthonal elements like Coconut shell, Clay plaster, Cork, Bamboo, Jungle/pine wood etc. at appropriate countries.DATA AND INFORMATION TO BE COLLECTED:Detailss of Green wall construction/installationSupports and framesPlants species for indoor and out doorIrrigation system inside informationsLighting inside informationsCareSamplesHow to roll up informations and How to analyze it?Already garnering information from the service suppliers of assorted topographic points on green wall building and care facets.In the procedure of acquiring associated with a Horticulturalist/ Agriculturalist to acquire inside informations on the workss species and their behavior.Apart from the above, I have collected sufficient literature to travel frontward. Besides, analysis of each component will be carried out through theoretical accounts and tools by roll uping all the needed samples from the mentioned resources.PlanningThe construct of green wall has to be incorporated in design and the same will be detailed and fine-tuned towards the research subject as a survey theoretical account. As portion of advanced design the use of autochthonal sustainable elements will besides be adopted. Features of the autochthonal elements available in the underdeveloped states like India are tremendous. Will be after them suitably in design specification based on their features and besides, following with ergonomic criterions.POSSIBLE ResultSing all the urban infinites which are wholly responsible for the expletive ‘Global warming ‘ on this female parent Earth, as a responsible Architect would work towards through my thesis to attest and turn out Green walls and other simple autochthonal stuffs as low-cost solution for all the Urban conditions and warrant the use of green wall for a infinite which is non-Air-conditioned. The other issue which is endangering the universe is the recession which besides calls for advanced cost effectual practise in the building and specification. Initiative to accomplish the same with cost effectual autochthonal stuffs is a challenge yet it will be proven possible. â€Å" It is ever better to be after and protect, instead than repent and fix †Bibliography:Property World- August 2009The Hindu-Elunkathirpannai- Arunachlam-Thursday,2008The Architects Journal, Building LibraryGet downing with Plants-Dougherty, DavidGreen walls Austrialia Pvt ltd.www.greenscreen.comhypertext transfer protocol: //www.greenscreen.com/home.htmlhypertext transfer protocol: //www.bdcnetwork.com/article/379033-6_Things_You_Need_to_Know_About_Green_Walls.phpGreen Building Movement in India – Catalysts and Course

Essays on Gay and Lesbian Christians in Church

In the recent past, gaysm and lesbianism has been in the center stage at all religious meetings. Most religious groups and churches have condemned homosexuality while a few have tolerated them. William Countryman in his book Gifted by Otherness argues that homosexuality is not evil rather a vocation and a gift in the contemporary church. Countryman argues that homosexuality should be accommodated in church as it is the central scriptural message: including all Children of God in the Church. Ritley and Countryman urge the church to not only accept but also affirm and tolerate the homosexuals in their flock. They observe that, the church cannot be blind on the presence of gays and lesbians in their congregation and urges the church to be reactive and struggle with homosexuality. To justify this, they further note that the Church is not monolithic institution of all likeminded individuals rather a community with many diverse and contradicting people. Countryman and Ritley articulate that as a gift to the Church, gay Christians can serve as â€Å"icons† in the priesthood of believers. This is what they call â€Å"windows that show the facet of God.†Particularly, the gay Christians who have gone through the turbulent times (what they call wilderness times) in coming to the public and declaring their homosexuality can preach to others on the sustaining Grace of God. As the Church stagger in the fear of death, the HIV/AIDS scourge has taught the gay Christians on how to deal with the epidemic as part of their normal life. Countryman and Ritley write this book to remind Christians that humor is a gift from God and this is what Gays potent. The Church’s condemnation of homosexuality is based on the bible. Frequently, the Church refers to the Biblical story of Sodom and Gomorra’s destruction n Genesis 19: 1-25. They believe that the destruction was due to Homosexuality prevalence in the two cities. Leviticus 20:13, states that â€Å"If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death their blood will be on their own heads.† The opposition to Homosexuality is unquestionable according to this verse. As such, capital punishment should be given to those who contravene this law hence giving no space to lesbians and gays. Biblical defense on homosexuality is complex and more often delving into the biblical Hebrew and Greek. In the book Gifted by Otherness Countryman does not give a biblical justification as defense is naturally negative. The book is positive in that it focuses on how homosexual Christians can live as Christians and keep their faith in God. They present the Gay community as chosen one by God, just the same way the ancient Israel tribes were chosen by God. As such, as God calls people, the gay Christians have been called and need not defend themselves in the pulpits. They argue that, Gay community in the church should define itself rather than sit and wait the straight Christians to make a decision on their fate. God’s grace in the book is a surprise. It is an interesting way in which we see the grace of God to human kind. As such, the extension of grace to the gay Christians is a pleasant surprise to the gay community and an outrageous surprise to the straight Christians. By giving a blind eye on this issue, the church has met much criticism on the basis of Hypocrisy. This has gone along way to some extending an olive branch to the gay and lesbian community in their flock. Countryman in this book demands Christians to have the courage to present ones true version. This is what the gay Christians have done by proclaiming their stand on sexuality. This has led to churches softening their hard line stand on this issue on basis of hypocrisy. Vulnerability is both a spiritual freedom and strength. This is a major problem affecting the church today is admitting this. Countryman states that, by admitting their sexuality, the gay Christians have got a spiritual freedom as well as strength. For Christians and the church to grow spiritually in Christ, they have to admit that they are vulnerable to contemporary issues affecting the church. This is what many church leaders today have come to realize and as such softened their rigid stand on homosexuality. The church doctrine has neglected sexuality as part of Christian spiritual wholeness. Countryman states that by accepting their sexuality the gays and lesbian Christians complemented their wholesomeness: spirituality and sexuality. This argument by Countryman has bought the light to churches on the overlooked aspect of wholeness: sexuality. Finally, by proclaiming their inherent sexuality, homosexuals have demonstrated their courage and willingness to love regardless of the perception and action of the church. Thus, Countryman has shown to the church that homosexuals in the church are not afraid of being denounced as such it is upon the church to accept them as they are or reject them rather than pleasing the church. This is what has led to the church rethinking about their decision on homosexuality as they have found that it is their duty to show the way to all in the society. Works Cited Countryman Louis William, Ritley M. R. Gifted by otherness: gay and lesbian Christians in the church. New York: Church Publishing, Inc., 2001.