It is enough November 14, 2009
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We live in a society driven by consumption. At this time of year, flyers fill our mailboxes. Advertisements for the latest electronic gadget fill our airwaves. The latest recipes and tools for entertainment call us to have bigger or better parties. We look for more experiences to share with our families and friends.
At a Five Oaks event I participated in, Mary Jo Leddy encouraged us to consider the messages that drive this advertising. “I need more” or “I don’t have enough”. Whether it be a faster computer, an exciting game or a night at the theatre, we are sold that we will be better with these additions.
Howard Hughes, the eccentric billionaire, was asked how much it would take to be happy. He replied: “Just a little bit more.” It makes you wonder, can we ever have enough? Mary Jo takes this thread a step further, sharing that the “I don’t have enough” leads to a feeling of “I am not enough”, or “I am not good enough”.
When the message shared with us daily, is “I do not have enough”, it can leave us with a general sense of discontent. We wonder, how can we, who have so much compared to others, feel dissatisfied? Mary Jo suggests that this feeling is related to a vague guilt that permeates our society. “How can I be unhappy when I have so much?”
In one of her books, she allows us to see our own country, culture and ourselves, through the eyes of refugees. Here is an excerpt: THE HOUSE FOR A CAR
Hewet, the young Iretrian girl, and I sat at our kitchen table on the back porch the first afternoon she arrived at Romero House. We were having a cup of tea and I enjoyed listening to this teenager practice her English as much as she seemed delighted to describe her long journey to Canada .
Suddenly, she looked out the window that faced onto the back yard and asked “Who live out there?”
I looked out at the old familiar space. It was just a garden variety yard in need of a little time and attention.
“No one lives there.” I replied, “Well, maybe a few birds.”
“No, person live out there!” She was adamant now. “Person there; house there.”
House? I looked out and for the first time I saw the garage for what it was. There was only one reply that I could make and my words fell like stones, one by one. “It’s a house for a car.”
“A house for a car?” She looked at me in disbelief.
Yet many of us have a house for a car, just as we have money for food on our tables, a vacation, a computer to read email. Long gone are the times when we were told to clean our plates, with reference to the starving children in the world. Yet that vague guilt still remains and takes away our ability to be truly grateful for all that is good in our lives.
The idea of radical gratitude is not one of just a simplistic message. The message of saying “it is enough”, is not targeted at those who truly do not have enough. Gratitude is harder to find, when one is worrying where one can sleep to-night, or where your next meal will come from. We are called through the stories of the Gospels to a radical form of justice as well as a radical form of gratitude, of giving love and thanks.
Mary Jo proposes one of the most significant impacts we can make in our lives, is to experience gratitude, in fact, radical gratitude. By reflecting on all that we have, we can begin to be released from all the messages received daily that we are not enough.
Now, you might ask, what is radical gratitude? Radical gratitude is truly giving thanks for the essential elements of who we are. She recommends a morning practice of giving thanks, thanks for the air that you can breathe, the fact that you are alive, the glorious water we use in our morning rituals.
Another step of radical gratitude is to begin a practice of saying “it is enough”. Turning from the consumption/production of religion or judging of quality of events, and turn to a time of gratitude for that which we have experienced.
It is enough that we gathered to worship this morning.
It is enough that we had community and broke bread.
It is enough that a child laughed.
It is enough.
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Mary Jo’s books are available at .
A time of compromise — decision making at General Council August 14, 2009
Posted by pingadohtor in General Council 40.Tags: gc40, policy manual, United Church of Canada, WonderCafe
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An air of relief was felt around the court last night.
The work of commissions had been completed with a marathon day of process, wordsmithing in proposal state, then decision-marking motions.
It was the work we had been sent here to do. It was what we had studied for, reflected upon, leading up to this day.
There were disappointments. Time & time again, compromises were done. Time & time again, we faced not having the finances to do it all. Items were shifted from spending immediate funds to making reporting plans.
I am hopeful that change will still come.
This council was hampered by the amount of proposals that came forward due to the problems with enacting congregation ministry & designated lay ministry as presented & approved in previous years..
Future councils will look back on us and know whether the decisions we made were worthy by
generate a ton of work for future councils by poorly worded or thought out proposals?
facilitate the work of the social gospel
ease the load or make life more complicated for the courts of the church
make appropriate calls for justice in the world with the teeth to make a difference
I wonder if any council ever knows, ever has a clear decision about what they did. Did the ’88 decision know, or the ’95 or…any other critical point in the churches history? Were there courts that laid the groundwork for ’88, ’95 knowing it was ok, that it is ok to NOT be the ones that make groundbreaking decisions…but instead prepare the way for a series of decisions.
My hope is that the decisions made yesterday bring about right relationships with all people they address….serving the church and the world.
I hope others agree and do the hard work that is required to make it so.
For those decisions that require analysis, that people step up in their congregations or higher courts to volunteer their skills and resources to make the process work.
For those decisions that require action, that individuals step up to work the crowd, influencing those that make decisions in a positive way for justice.
May it be so.
Come down to the Potter’s house and I will let you hear my words August 13, 2009
Posted by pingadohtor in General Council 40.Tags: commissioner, discernment, gc40, United Church of Canada
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Tuesday’s worship and time in the full court was as amazing, of course.
But you knew it would be.
The storming started. Table groups rebelled against the process of leaving those we know at our tables to move to those we did not to discern responses to leading questions. Some commissioners wanted to hear the voices more that we knew, rather than the stranger a few tables over. Other commissioners had tables where their voices were not heard, and so needed to move. I encouraged the movement, to remember to always hear the other voice, but, also to support those at crappy tables (and yes, we all know they exist). Hopefully those individuals will find their voice at their table, but in the meantime, we need to support them well.
We finally moved into our commissions, chomping at the bit to get into our proposals.
We are church geeks, here to do the work we were asked by our conferences to do. For some the wait was a major issue. For others, it allowed us to lean into intercultural worship, the place of youth and others in our community, to breathe into the spirit of the whole. I am somewhere in the middle…concerned by the amount of work we are not completing, by the % of time spent in listening and presentations, by the shutting down of conversation from the floor. I am willing to lean into the process for another day.
The commissions process is an interesting one, whereby we discuss the proposal making recommendations, adjustments to language until such time as we have consensus or a reasonable decision, then we move to vote. In our commission, after a little bit of a rocky start, we grasped it and moved through business.
I am not copying the whole proposals below as I do not have the reworked proposal wording here.
We passed reworked proposals on
Recommending that as we enter work in the various courts of the church we recognize first nations, inuit & metis traditional territories
We confirmed that we should have a national gathering of glbttq folks in the next 3 years
We recommended resources be available for a transgender resource
We declined to give adherents the right to vote
We agreed with simulataneous electronic meetings, such as conference calls or online chat.
We agreed with voting during those meetings being done electronically. We declined to allow further work at this time on those electronic options.
We passed having a season of celebration during ordinary time upto Thanksgiving.
We passed having this children’s day being for children in care We declined the proposal re greening of church properties
We agreed that a diaconal minister be on the education and students committees…
And we did more.
The work was good…we were busy.
We struggled on this one: Saskatchewan 1. That the 40th General Council 2009 adopt a policy that the Session (or Church Board or Church Council), in the exercising its duty of oversight of the order of public worship under 5.10.1 of the Basis of Union, may not discriminate against any group of persons on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, disability or status as divorced persons to the fullest extent, subject only to the laws of Canada, its provinces and territories as may exist from time to time, especially those which protect the vulnerable; and authorize a remit to test the will of the church with respect to this policy.
Here are elements of the conversation in this you-tube.
I can’t imbed in a rush, so please accept just clicking on the link
The work continues. It is hard and your prayers for support and words of wisdom, not on how to vote, but on how to feel the spirit in the space, have been thankfully received. May I be centred enough to speak wisely and to act in a way that carries us forward to justice for all.
(will be edited later — time for breakfast)
sleep won over writing last night.
Warning — Pinga is on a rant! August 10, 2009
Posted by pingadohtor in General Council 40.Tags: commissioner, corporate, discernment, gc40, rant, United Church of Canada
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Rant is a tool, brought to a fine art by Rick Mercer, and which can be a good release. There are those who get the rant, who comprehend the expulsion of frustration and commentary. They will have a belly laugh at the end, and say “now, Pinga ….”.
Why would I desire to rant at GC? Well, I have no tolerance for yapping dogs, mongrels who nip at the heels, at time just an annoyance but with the potential to be a real danger as they take away focus, resulting in missteps and spills. As the General Council 40 attempted to do the basic organizational business of the court, such as approving the agenda, and accepting accountability reports, time & again, a few voices chose to come to the mic. Not just speak, but to do speeches, going three times over their 90sec allotment, and with the same core message, which has been heard and responded to for 2 flipping years……
So, here’s my rant.
With all due respect to our business & procedures table, when there is a 90second time at the mic, cut the *&(&( mic. Have a countdown clock, to give them warning, but …shut the mic off. People will learn they cannot do speeches, and may actually make a point or ask a question.
For those commissioners, who cannot see that occasional adjustments in staff structures in an organization the size of the United Church of Canada are normal, especially when combined with budgetary restrictions – take your blinders off. Listen for a while to the voices that have differing understandings.
For those of you have chosen to personalize the attack, look closer at your own actions. Realize that you have demonized an individual, to the point where it blinds you, where it builds a wall between you and those who may actually sit and work with you on positive steps. I get that it hurts to have respected colleagues lose jobs – been there. I get that sometimes, there seems to be no logic and you wonder how can the services can go on – been there. Yet, normally, things do go on. Believe it or not, most people are not indispensable. What is important rises to the top.
Remember. everyone has a choice and a part to play… I hope you choose to be part of the solution .
END of RANT
GC40 – Orientation day August 9, 2009
Posted by pingadohtor in General Council 40, United Church of Canada.Tags: commissioner, evangelism, extrovert, gc40, United Church of Canada
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I’ve had a great day….
Someone asked me , if I knew many people here….and I realized, I did not know how to answer that — what is the norm? As I pondered this thought later, I also realized that some of the great conversations I have had today were when I sat down beside someone I did not know, and said, hi…where are you from. From that simple start, the conversations would wind, fed only by questions from a desire to share and to welcome and to be in community.
My learnings in those exchanges ranged from the strong Christiandom celebrated in Bermuda to the joy of youth camp in BelleIsle and the gift of pets in pastoral care. I sat with passionate folks who talked about Palestine / Israel multiple times and with multiple points of view. I laughed with folks from Sault St. Marie, and discovered a wonderful ministry www.giftstograndmothers.com at the Kelowna market. I discerned with travellers from Ghana and Zimbabwe. Whether under a tree, at a meeting, or over a meal, the decision is not which person that I see that I know that I should sit with, but rather, what person that I don’t know that may welcome a stranger into their midst. So far, each of those excursions has been a delight.
We are so blessed by our human resources in our church and those who travel with us. What a depth of talent, faith and committment. I wonder if just knowing this information may help me to remember to come from a place of riches, rather than scarcity.
There is such promise, as well. As we sat, quietly following lunch in the outer courtyard, the sound of drums began to catch folks attention. Before we knew it, a crowd of youth forum delegates filled the courtyard with dancing, drumming, voice and bright swaths of colour. It was like a whirlwind, that stayed for 15 minutes and then, moved on, but in that short time brought joy to those around.
I also had my first glimpse of the prayer flags. Wow! Honestly, they are stunning. I cannot wait to post pictures. The amount of energy and joy that went into them was brilliant, and what a variety…from the joyful community pieces to those which were fabric art, they showed again, the diversity in our congregations, along with the willingness,…. no….deep desire to offer gifts and talents. Hats off to the team who organized and spent time setting them up.
The only minor letdown was orientation, which for the visual learners was a tough due the amount of auditory instruction. Given the rest of the program, my guess is that something just went awry, as I know the content was solid from those who are auditory learners.
Hats off as well, to the UBC pub which opened up, so we are told, a day early for us. There were still signs of it being brand new; however, the staff was great and the company was fabulous. Another wondercafe-live gathering was a success, as Mo5,Ginger, RevMatt, RevJohn, Pinga had many laughs, discussion, zings and just good time with those who joined us.
I end this post knowing I should have been asleep an hour ago, yet this recording helps me to hold up that which occurred so that you too can see the beauty of this gathering.
I also recognize that friends may read this at the start of their day. I offer you a prayer from the Gathering magazine and hope that you carry it with you as you go to your own places of worship this morning
Prayer for Beginning the Day;
Loving God, you welcome me as I come to this meeting of General Council and you will be with me each day. When I feel out of place, or confused, you will encourage me. When I feel at a loss you will enable me to share my uncertainty. When I greet an old friend or find a new friend you will rejoice with me; as I join a group, your smile will bond us together. In the inspiration of worship you will be there; in moments of reflection you will be beside me. There is nowhere I can go and nothing any of us can do to separate us from your presence, or your love. Amen.written by David Sparks, Gathering Advisory Board chair
from Gathering — In the Potter’s House
a prayer resource for General Council 40 www.united-church.ca/planning/lectionary
Day 1 – The travel day August 7, 2009
Posted by pingadohtor in General Council 40, United Church of Canada.Tags: commissioner, gc40, United Church of Canada
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1. Lesson 1 — don’t think anything will follow normal patterns — Pick up at 5:15am ET…for flight at 8:45am ET. Figured I would get some sleep on the van as I always do.. but, had a driver I hadn’t seen for a while, and he invited me to the front seat to chat on the way down — lol, it worked out fine, but alas. no sleep
2. Be prepared to learn — Made our way through the maze for those who are travelling with service dogs / wheelchairs, with the asisstance of a wonderful ticket agent from Air Canada. Who knew there were special entrances / security?
3. Be open & inviting – introduce other folks — make the circle wide – At the gate, there were people we recognized from GC, including old friend from Francis Sandi Centre. Good to hang. Still trying to come up a catchy phraze for a collection of UCCan folks. MadMonk suggested a few the favourite of which was a flock of freaks (Jesus freaks). Other suggestions welcome.
The energy was great, as people reacquainted, gave hugs. It was also fun to try to identify the GC folks who may be hanging back, unsure if they should join in… I met a lovely woman who was headed home to Kelowna who happened to be United Church, but not headed to GC. Much fun.
4. Don’t count on stuff —The flight was great, with much laughter, but again, not the sleep I normally do. The folks who were managing my friends chair…well..it wasn’t the best situation. We now have two bolts which we aren’t quite sure where they go which were handed to us when we arrived……..that’s tonights project. Argh..but…it could have been worse..at least the chair made it!
5. Breathe in the spirit, let it give life. The campus folks have been wonderful, the volunteers for conference have been wonderful, the delight of meeting new people, and reacquainting with old is life-giving. It is fun to watch even if you aren’t one of the ones who is reacquainting…just watching the faces lights up — gives you life.
6. Be ready for the unexpected delights — the gifts. I was sitting outside of registration, when who should walk up but my niece, who is a graduate student at UBC. She & I had not connected, and so, it was quite a surprise, when she looked down from her office & saw me. It was great. from wondering how I could find/connect with her, there was a chance encounter — a lovely gift. On top of it, I now have an appointment to have BC wine picked out by an expert….to share with friends.
7. Thinks don’t have to be complicated! My hats off to the organizers — it was a smooth, fast and welcoming registration. Amazing. The process was simple..and effective.
8. People want to help — but you have to be willing to ask. Figured out where the bolts went, and though I tried, I was not strong enough to fix it, and the chair let me know it was fed up, when it whacked me over the head with the armrest (lol, that one caused me to lose it laughing on the floor). We went for dinner, confident we could find a friend to help, and sure, enough, within a few moments of explaining, two folks had jumped in and fixed the chair.
9. Good things cometh to those that wait . Dinner was late, yet , it gave an opportunity for gathering, visiting. We were tantalized by the smell of salmon on the grill, and then had a feast in the UBC courtyard, with homemade salads, bannock, and delicious Pacific Salmon. It was presented by a local First Nations congregation (I will get specifics to give proper credit. I sadly realized that I had neglected to bring tobacco. I am new to this learnings of thanks. One of my tasks tomorrow, will be to learn more about those who were such gracious hosts tonight..and fed us wonderfully.
10. Start a conversation – throw a question — people are passionate…share your dreams, challenges, concerns – There are so many wonderful bright folks here. Gifted and passionate about the church. Yes, we could talk about the weather, but, why would I when surrounded by such gifts! In the time around dinner, had great conversations on Palestine/israel, Neos (youth ministry), corporate battlegrounds, the best twitter package (TwitterGenius). Yesterday was a fascinating conversation around discernment and membership requirements for same..and the implciation to those transferring from other denominations
11. The diversity of our theology and presentation is what gives us LIFE. The highlight for me today, is a Gathering publication “In the Potter’s House — a prayer resource for GC40″. It is a celebration of 25 years of the Gathering publication. We were sitting under the tree, going through it, laughing and in awe at the power of the material in it. A scant 19 pages, it is a resource that I will treasure.
So, let me close with a prayer from this publication, and may it touch your heart.
Prayer for Ending the Day
Thank you, Loving God, thank you for being
with me today, in all the finding out, in all
the newness, in all the wondering.
Thank you for those who have helped me in different ways…
Thank you for loved ones and friends back home who are thinking about me even as I am holding them in prayer..
I know there will be much that is new and unexpected.
I know I will be challenged in ways I cannot yet tell.
I know you, God, will give me the strength I need.
Bless Moderator David and those who lead our General Council tomorrow and bless me with a good sleep tonight.
Amen.
(David Sparks, Gathering Advisory Board Chair…from Gathering (check out www.united-church.ca/planning/lectionary ))
Discovering the Passion in the Church July 18, 2009
Posted by pingadohtor in General Council 40.Tags: commissioner, gc40, moderator, United Church of Canada
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Thursday evening, I spent time in the omnibus of the General Council 40 workbook. The reading flew by and energized me. Here is the passion of the church showing through — the visionaries sharing their dreams of the future, and calling the church to action.
Before I reflect on those items, I wish to offer thanks for our Moderator, The Right Reverend David Giuliano. His letter to the General Council was passionate and pastoral, explaining how his brokenness and fragility from cancer during his term provided insight and “unwelcome blessing”.
Re our church he shared “Our diminishing status, membership and income challenge us to measure the treasure of our life together by standards other than growth and success. As a church, we have a great heart for justice. From this less powerful place, we may be able to truly stand beside, rather than above, those we are called to serve. I believe we are being pushed into a more risky solidarity with Christ crucified and hence with those on the margins of society – the hungry, thirsty, homeless, sick, in prison and alone. “
Re the Moderator directive to give priority to visiting First Nations communities: . …… I took up this request with a sense of moral obligation to heal those our nation and church had so badly harmed. I now realize that our own healing, from cultural arrogance and attitudes of religious superiority, is just as pressing.
May we be able to live into the reshaping of which he writes.
Is Lobbying of Commissioners Valid? July 18, 2009
Posted by pingadohtor in General Council 40.Tags: commissioner, gc40, Hamilton Conference, United Church of Canada
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A few weeks ago, I received a letter to my home address.
It was a lobby letter for a proposal : HAM 5 – The Future of Albright Gardens for the 40th General Council.
I was stunned.
At our orientation meeting, the Conference Secretary asked if we would like to receive lobby information directly. The answer was a resounding “no”. We agreed that should lobby material be sent in, it would be placed on the groups private Facebook Page. It would allow us to read it at our control, and also allow comments from the group.
I remember HAM 5 from Conference. It seemed logical. A group asking to be involved in discussions related to a process impacting property. Now this same group was bypassing the standard processes, and doing a direct appeal to commissioners. I must admit, it is making me wonder how easy they are to work with. .
Just thinking that when folks try to go around process they may find it does them more harm than good.
Karma? July 17, 2009
Posted by pingadohtor in General Council 40.Tags: gc40, karma, United Church of Canada
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The commissioners and commissions is posted. I am in the Arctic commission. Remember those proposals that I blogged about last night…they are in the Arctic commission too. That is Karma, I think.
What does this mean? As a Commissioner, I will join with 152 other people from across Canada. We will determine if the suggested action is necessary, appropriate, and right for this time. We will take into account if the church has the available money, resources and time. The methodology used to do this process is outlined in the info workbook for 40th General Council
