Been thinking recently about purpose and values. Do or should projects start with values and then develop their purpose? I would suggest that Christian projects often start with a purpose in mind,usually around mission or conversion. In good circumstances the people then add their values to the way that purpose is achieved, at worse people don’t engage in developing or thinking about a value base. In youth and community work the value base is usually clear (set by history, training, and policy) with workers being aware of why they do what they are doing. Often the project would start by defining the needs of the people they are working with (which in itself is a reflection of the value led approach)and then develop projects purpose.
How does faith engage in this debate? If service is key then surely this value stands before we develop a project/purpose, in order to serve people fully we need to understand and respond to needs. Yet we have to balance this with the purpose we have in the great commission. What comes first chicken or egg?