[Dialogue] Some Reflections

[Mary D'Souza]

Thank you Doris for this statement.
Mary D'Souza


On 1/24/07, Charles or Doris Hahn <cdhahn at flash.net> wrote:
>
> Some Reflections
>
> As I tried to gather my thoughts after the first
> revelation of the November actions of the Board of the
> ICA, I realized first and foremost that I had only the
> vaguest understanding of how the ICA is structured in
> any of the many places and countries where it works.
> 1) I knew that since the Global Council of 1984
> "primary units" had gone their own way and that within
> each country these units (provided there was more than
> one in a given country) figured out how to relate to
> one another. 2) I did know that there was one Board of
> Directors in the United States, but I did not know how
> it actually played out its role. 3) I was even less
> knowledgeable about the Ecumenical Institute in the
> 21st century. I tended to lump everything under the
> wing of the ICA. 4) I have visited the Kemper Building
> several times during the past 20 years, but I was not
> clear that many of my colleagues who live there had no
> primary relationship to the ICA. Then, there was
> Phoenix, with people living together and apart; Denver
> which I really didn't know at all; and some separate
> families (like the Grows, who had some stunning
> accomplishments) that worked under the ICA flag. 5) I
> knew that the ICA International had moved its office
> to Canada and was busy trying to organize itself to
> play some sort of legal (and symbolic) role for
> various national entities of the ICA—that seemed to me
> to be a good idea. 6) I have an understanding of "the
> Order," but whether that matches up with anyone else's
> understanding, I can't say. And that pretty well sums
> up what I know about things to this very moment.
>
> Now, for a couple of reflections—one more personal and
> the other more contextual:
>
> 1) People have been scared, and people have been hurt.
> And those who have been hurt, feel betrayed on the one
> hand and abandoned on the other. The silence following
> the Board's first announcement seemed puzzling (even
> though I was in the silent camp). No doubt, we all
> knew that what had been done could not be undone. At
> that moment, maybe the better part of wisdom was to
> let it be.
>
> In times of pain, anger and distrust, I try to remind
> myself that the name I give the situation defines my
> relationship to the event. Then I try to recast things
> so that I am neither victim nor irresponsible genius.
> Finding a name that takes into account as much truth
> as possible is always releasing for me, and creating
> an appropriate symbol helps me to live life in a new
> (and sometimes healing) light.
>
> 2) The world of 1954 at the time of the Evanston
> Council of Churches and the first rustlings of The
> Ecumenical Institute (Chicago) can hardly be imagined
> from our present vantage point. E.I. served well, but
> it seems to me that the ICA became a far more
> authentic vehicle for spirit ecumenism in the 70's and
> to the present day—and perhaps the future. I attend
> church, and I live out of our theological insights
> (more and less faithfully), but the church just
> doesn't seem comprehensive enough to play the role of
> a global spirit vessel in our present world. I don't
> intend to imply that the ICA is THE answer; still it
> has viable global experience and is doing some
> creative work.
>
> These are simply my present reflections. Certainly, I
> don't ask you to agree, but maybe it's worth saying.
>
> Grace and Peace (what a great secular/religious phrase
> that is!),
>
> Doris Hahn
>
>
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