What is the purpose of the Initial Straw Poll (ISP) at the conference?

The Initial Straw Poll (ISP) serves a crucial role in gathering preliminary feedback from attendees regarding their opinions and feelings about various issues being discussed at the conference. This process helps to assess the general sentiment and perspectives within the Fellowship community before moving on to more formal voting or decision-making procedures. It acts as a barometer for the collective conscience of the Fellowship, providing insights into which topics might need more discussion or adjustment based on the attendees' responses.

Understanding the role of the ISP is important because it helps to foster open dialogue and collaboration among members. Rather than making binding decisions, the ISP is more about listening to the voices within the Fellowship, guiding leaders in understanding where the group stands on various matters. Thus, it sets the stage for future deliberations and helps ensure that decisions align with the collective will of the members.