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Beloved in the Lord,
The Convocation Steering Committee thanks God for the faithful work offered by all who attended Convocation One on Saturday, January 27 at the Cerveny Conference Center.
There was a richness and charity of spirit in both the worship and the table conversations. As a committee, we learned some things about hosting an event like this that we will strive to improve on for future gatherings. Yet all in all, we each left feeling like it was a productive and Spirit-led gathering, and we earnestly hope that you did as well.
As your clergy and parish representatives process the day and begin to plan your own parish gatherings, we want to remind you that all the materials and handouts that were offered on January 27 are available to you online. (Please note that in the near future, we will publish a broader webpage for all-things Convocation, but for now, please use the above link).
You are in our prayers as you conduct these important parish conversations, and we are available to you as a resource if you need it.
We urge you to remember in your planning of the two homework sessions in the parish that the goal of these first gatherings is NOT to have the difficult conversations but to learn the skills needed to make the difficult conversations productive. The difficult conversations are needed and will come; to conduct these conversations in a manner that is ultimately reconciling, we must prepare ourselves by learning such tools as Mutual Invitation, Psychological Safety, and Lectio Divina.
We encourage you to stress this as you communicate in advance of your own parish gatherings. You may also consider circulating the Communication Norms in advance of your gatherings. It may also be helpful to you to review Bishop Mary’s remarks, the transcripts of which can be accessed through the buttons below.
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