Thanks again to the team for their contribution to the discussion together with the questions and answers on RIC discernment.
When asked about the moments in the discernment process that touched people deeply Bishop Dave's Bible study was brought up as one of the powerful moments. Another was the RIC team truly being involved in congregational discernment rather than trying to take the congregation through a process where RIC designation was inevitable.
This was the first congregational group where we talked about wanting 80% approval from the congregation for Creator to become RIC. There was worry about the high bar the RIC team will be recommending and a concern about what would happen if Creator fails to become an RIC congregation. The RIC team may want to talk about what will need to happen to make sure the congregation will not feel acrimony between members after the results are known.
Another question that came up was where the RIC statement would be published or displayed. There is a concern about how visible it should be.
We went over the upcoming themes for the months until the January vote. For the most part the participants felt comfortable with future plans. There was a suggestion to play the tape Mary made of Pastor Christian's amazing talk, that kicked off our discernment, for an upcoming RIC Sunday. Pastor Christian's comfort with playing that tape would have to be considered. Another potential topic for our Thursday meeting.
We may want to talk about a need for RIC logo pins. Two members expressed a desire to show support by wearing them.
We received our first completed paper surveys after the activity and many more were distributed, so our invitation to fill out a survey made a difference.
We will have more to discuss at our next meeting. If anyone who was there has additional feedback on what happened at our gathering, feel free to comment on this post.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Sunday's RIC Activity - Survey Q/A and a continued discernment discussion
Hopefully you have all seen the letter about the survey that was mailed out and Toni's email link.
We did not find speakers from other congregations to talk about their experiences being RIC this Sunday, so tomorrow's topic changed.
We will answer any questions about the survey (perhaps have people fill out surveys). We will also discuss our discernment process from now until January. The goal is to discover what other participants, besides our team, want to see happen in Creator's process that we may not have included yet.
As of today, there are17 survey responses.
76.5% or 13 participants want Creator to become an RIC congregation.
88.2% or 15 participants would vote for the sample Affirmation statement.
Not the results I expected to date.
See you tomorrow,
Gary
We did not find speakers from other congregations to talk about their experiences being RIC this Sunday, so tomorrow's topic changed.
We will answer any questions about the survey (perhaps have people fill out surveys). We will also discuss our discernment process from now until January. The goal is to discover what other participants, besides our team, want to see happen in Creator's process that we may not have included yet.
As of today, there are17 survey responses.
76.5% or 13 participants want Creator to become an RIC congregation.
88.2% or 15 participants would vote for the sample Affirmation statement.
Not the results I expected to date.
See you tomorrow,
Gary
Saturday, September 13, 2008
September Meeting Minutes
Hello RIC Team,
If you have trouble opening the Word attachment on the email I sent, let me know (new version of Word now on my PC).
Sorry for the duplication. This email will be generated as I write the meeting minutes as a blog entry.
- Gary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The September 4th team meeting was productive. There is now a draft Affirmation of Welcome and questions for the survey.
* We decided to keep the Affirmation of Welcome short and to write up a detailed rationale statement to include points that would make the current statement too long. Please feel free to provide feedback on the survery and / or the statement of welcome.
* The survey will be mailed to the congregation and will reference a Survey Monkey link on the web. Members can either turn in the survey or fill it out on line.
* Survey Monkey allows for a free, basic survey with 100 responses or less. We decided we will work with the basic functions and upgrade to professional if the survey response warrants.
* For our September event we talked about having representatives from RIC congregations come in to talk about changes in their congregation since becoming RIC. We want to ask what was planned and accomplished after becoming RIC as well. I emailed PDX RIC Core Team members and LCNA representatives and have not heard back yet.
* For October we are planning to focus on Other Explicit Welcomes. We are planning a moderated talk that focuses on members stories around welcome.
* We want to write up an RIC Q/A that will be a direct result of the survey, addressing questions and concerns brought up in the feedback. * Gretchen brought up finding people who would be willing to write a paragraph for the congregation that explains their thoughts on RIC.
* We decided that RIC needs to pass with an 80% yes vote by the congregation in January or Creator will not become an RIC congregation.
If you have trouble opening the Word attachment on the email I sent, let me know (new version of Word now on my PC).
Sorry for the duplication. This email will be generated as I write the meeting minutes as a blog entry.
- Gary
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The September 4th team meeting was productive. There is now a draft Affirmation of Welcome and questions for the survey.
* We decided to keep the Affirmation of Welcome short and to write up a detailed rationale statement to include points that would make the current statement too long. Please feel free to provide feedback on the survery and / or the statement of welcome.
* The survey will be mailed to the congregation and will reference a Survey Monkey link on the web. Members can either turn in the survey or fill it out on line.
* Survey Monkey allows for a free, basic survey with 100 responses or less. We decided we will work with the basic functions and upgrade to professional if the survey response warrants.
* For our September event we talked about having representatives from RIC congregations come in to talk about changes in their congregation since becoming RIC. We want to ask what was planned and accomplished after becoming RIC as well. I emailed PDX RIC Core Team members and LCNA representatives and have not heard back yet.
* For October we are planning to focus on Other Explicit Welcomes. We are planning a moderated talk that focuses on members stories around welcome.
* We want to write up an RIC Q/A that will be a direct result of the survey, addressing questions and concerns brought up in the feedback. * Gretchen brought up finding people who would be willing to write a paragraph for the congregation that explains their thoughts on RIC.
* We decided that RIC needs to pass with an 80% yes vote by the congregation in January or Creator will not become an RIC congregation.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
More feedback from Sunday RIC Activity
It is interesting. On Sunday there was a perception that the same people come to these RIC events each time and that we "preach to the choir". Yet the heartfelt feedback on Sunday is coming from those for whom Sunday was only their first or second event.
One of our proposed explicit welcomes connected Sunday with someone who was divorced. There are other Creator members who still feel uncomfortable with a divorce in their past. They are hesitant to share their past because of their church's reactions at the time of their divorces.
October was initially our Ongoing Refinement of the Affirmation of Welcome. Let's change this to an Other Explicit Welcome month to focus on others in our congregation who don't feel the blanket "all are welcome" necessarily refers to them.
We can discuss this at our meeting next Thursday.
One of our proposed explicit welcomes connected Sunday with someone who was divorced. There are other Creator members who still feel uncomfortable with a divorce in their past. They are hesitant to share their past because of their church's reactions at the time of their divorces.
October was initially our Ongoing Refinement of the Affirmation of Welcome. Let's change this to an Other Explicit Welcome month to focus on others in our congregation who don't feel the blanket "all are welcome" necessarily refers to them.
We can discuss this at our meeting next Thursday.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
RIC Language of Affirmation Adult Forum
Hello Team,
Thanks for all who helped with this Sunday’s activity and thanks to those who were there with us in spirit.
This Sunday the primary take aways were not suggestions on the language of the statement (although we have seven we can discuss). Those in attendance continued the conversation regarding fears, concerns and what excites us about RIC. I was somewhat surprised by what needed to be explained and emphasized to this group today. We may need to have deeper discussions with the congregation in at least two areas:
Who is journeying with us and who are “we”? The RIC team understands the why, when and how of activities. There are those, not as closely connected with the discernment, in the group that met today who believe that given all the activity, our RIC team is pushing exclusively towards becoming RIC rather than focusing on RIC discernment and would override what the congregation wants.
Questions came up about the timing, (why come up with a draft Affirmation of Welcome now), other things we could be doing (inviting others with mental disabilities or those in different socioeconomic groups to tell their stories) and questioning if there were better things to focus on than RIC at Creator at present. Also whether we were following Pastor Dayle’s agenda on this came up again.
We addressed these questions in the group. If this needs to be brought to the congregation’s attention and how best to accomplish that are questions we need to answer as a team.
There were suggestions from the group about increasing the attendance at the activities and, as a result, engaging more of the congregation. One suggestion was for each of us to personally invite someone else.
What does being an RIC congregation mean? The group was not clear that to become RIC means the Affirmation of Welcome must explicitly welcome both gender identity and sexual orientation. We talked about why a congregation would become RIC. We probably need to explore this question more with those who are not on the team. Basically the question to be answered is:
If we passed an Affirmation of Welcome to welcome all rather particular groups isn’t that enough if it is all about Creator being welcoming as a community?
There were other areas but these are probably the main areas to address.
For those who were there please comment on anything I did not write about that we should address. I will write up the language suggestions in a different post.
We received some kudos as a team for our effort so far in the meeting. I pass them along and add the team continues to amaze me with the passion and effort you put into the RIC process at Creator.
Thanks,
Gary
Thanks for all who helped with this Sunday’s activity and thanks to those who were there with us in spirit.
This Sunday the primary take aways were not suggestions on the language of the statement (although we have seven we can discuss). Those in attendance continued the conversation regarding fears, concerns and what excites us about RIC. I was somewhat surprised by what needed to be explained and emphasized to this group today. We may need to have deeper discussions with the congregation in at least two areas:
Who is journeying with us and who are “we”? The RIC team understands the why, when and how of activities. There are those, not as closely connected with the discernment, in the group that met today who believe that given all the activity, our RIC team is pushing exclusively towards becoming RIC rather than focusing on RIC discernment and would override what the congregation wants.
Questions came up about the timing, (why come up with a draft Affirmation of Welcome now), other things we could be doing (inviting others with mental disabilities or those in different socioeconomic groups to tell their stories) and questioning if there were better things to focus on than RIC at Creator at present. Also whether we were following Pastor Dayle’s agenda on this came up again.
We addressed these questions in the group. If this needs to be brought to the congregation’s attention and how best to accomplish that are questions we need to answer as a team.
There were suggestions from the group about increasing the attendance at the activities and, as a result, engaging more of the congregation. One suggestion was for each of us to personally invite someone else.
What does being an RIC congregation mean? The group was not clear that to become RIC means the Affirmation of Welcome must explicitly welcome both gender identity and sexual orientation. We talked about why a congregation would become RIC. We probably need to explore this question more with those who are not on the team. Basically the question to be answered is:
If we passed an Affirmation of Welcome to welcome all rather particular groups isn’t that enough if it is all about Creator being welcoming as a community?
There were other areas but these are probably the main areas to address.
For those who were there please comment on anything I did not write about that we should address. I will write up the language suggestions in a different post.
We received some kudos as a team for our effort so far in the meeting. I pass them along and add the team continues to amaze me with the passion and effort you put into the RIC process at Creator.
Thanks,
Gary
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Resources
Who has "For the Bible Tells Me So" video? I'm thinking that perhaps we need to think about a time to set up a showing for the congregation. Ideas?
Also, while at Holden Village this last week, I read a book called "Take the Bread" by Sara Miles. (Pastor Mary referred to it in her sermon a few weeks ago.) I think it's very applicable to those of us in RIC discernment and recommend it to you as an interesting read. It's about radical discipleship and hospitality to all is a major theme.
Gretchen
Also, while at Holden Village this last week, I read a book called "Take the Bread" by Sara Miles. (Pastor Mary referred to it in her sermon a few weeks ago.) I think it's very applicable to those of us in RIC discernment and recommend it to you as an interesting read. It's about radical discipleship and hospitality to all is a major theme.
Gretchen
Monday, August 18, 2008
Planning August 24th Adult Forum for Affirmation Language
Hello Team,
If you would like to help plan this Sunday's Adult Forum, let me know. Otherwise I don't think we have enough people to meet this Thursday.
My current thoughts are to write out different pieces of the language that received feedback on the colloborative space and talk about the different pieces of the Affirmation.
If you have conflicts and cannot help plan for this Sunday, please let me know if you will attend.
And now for something completely different (well, maybe not completely). At council meeting tonight they asked for the moderators and topics for RIC Adult Forums we will have through the end of the year.
Think about it and let me know your ideas.
Peace,
Gary
If you would like to help plan this Sunday's Adult Forum, let me know. Otherwise I don't think we have enough people to meet this Thursday.
My current thoughts are to write out different pieces of the language that received feedback on the colloborative space and talk about the different pieces of the Affirmation.
If you have conflicts and cannot help plan for this Sunday, please let me know if you will attend.
And now for something completely different (well, maybe not completely). At council meeting tonight they asked for the moderators and topics for RIC Adult Forums we will have through the end of the year.
Think about it and let me know your ideas.
Peace,
Gary
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