Communion and Conversation
A dialogue on the future of middle governing bodies
The Task Force on Vision and Vitality for Middle Governing Bodies is convening a dialogue about the future identity, mission, funding, staffing and, in some cases, boundaries of our presbyteries and synods.
For questions about this dialogue contact Allison Seed or Gary Torrens.
Communion and Conversation
Albuquerque, New Mexico, February 14-16, 2007
Audio recordings, presentations and papers of the sessions at the Albuquerque meeting are available below for participants or those who could not attend.
Session presentations and recordings
Watch session Power Points and listen to streaming audio of the presentations.
Coming Together
Session one
Listen to session one 
Painting a Picture of Denominational Reinvention
Session two
This session works to bring perspective to what is happening across a number of denominations and to identify reasons why the middle governing bodies are at the point of greatest tension.
Watch the Power Point from session two 
Download the Power Point for use in a presentation 
Listen to session two
What is the appropriate leadership response?
Session 3a and 3b
This session identifies learnings from leaders responding to the middle judicatory crisis. It is an issue of stepping away from problem solving (since the changed conditions are not a problem) and learning how to do adaptive work.
Watch the Power Point from session three
Download the Power Point for use in a presentation
Listen to session 3a
Listen to session 3b
Shaping Worthy Work
Session 4
This session looks at key leverage points of judicatory change from a systems perspective. Participants are invited to process the information in their communities of practice.
Watch Power Point from session four
Download the Power Point for use in a presentation
Listen to session four
Download the Communities of Practice handout from this session 
Next Steps Forward
Session 6
No audio file of this session is available.
Worship download
Lynn Longfield presented a series of haikus during worship services at the conference. Participants also took this opportunity to share their own haikus. She describes haikus as follows:
Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry consisting of three lines with a total of
no more than 17 syllables — most often in a 5,7,5 metrical unit form. The
history of Haiku writing is long and its practice complicated and often
quite technical. Haiku writing became popular in the U.S. in the 20th
century.
While traditional haiku focused on nature and the place of humans in nature,
modern haiku poets often consider any subject matter suitable — even the
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)! Writing Haiku is a way to "get to the heart of
the matter" with beauty and clarity.
Watch the haikus Power Point.
Participants reflect and comment
By Zane K. Buxton (Synod of the Rocky Mountains and GAC Corresponding Member)
Snow modified plans for many on February 14, 2007, including quite a few people who planned to participate in the “Communion and Conversation” concerning the vision and viability of middle governing bodies in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). The task force guiding the gathering decided to modify the schedule a bit to allow a few more participants to arrive in Albuquerque. When the conversation resumed three hours late, many more participants were present (the Albuquerque airport reopened after several hours of closure due to snow). I’m sure they went home glad that they made it. I’m sure, as well, that many who didn’t make it will look forward to the next stages in the conversation. In all, approximately 150 colleagues from across the church participated (a mixture of executives, stated clerks and moderators). [Read Zane Buxton's reflections on the gathering.]
Please share your comments and reflections.
Email Angela Lucear.
Presbyterian News Service
February 22, 2007
Balcony space
Presbytery, synod execs encouraged to move from reactive space and to ask “adaptive” questions to solve problems
by Toya Richards Hill
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – No quick-fix, technical outline for the future of Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) synods and presbyteries was arrived at during a recent two-day meeting here, but that was precisely as the meeting’s facilitator intended.
Coming to these gatherings looking for a solution assumes there is a technical solution, but “deep change requires adaptive work,” said the Rev. Gilbert Rendle. Instead, we need to sit together “and ask better questions.” [Read the full story.] |
