[Dialogue] Questions about the "Turn to the World"

[R Williams]

Thanks, Nancy.  Alan Gammel will be coming to the November meeting from your neck of the woods.  We'll see if there's a way he can bring the symbol with him.  It would be a great addition to 4750 and the work on the Archives.

 
The way I remember what you're talking about is that we always saw ourselves as "servants of the servants" of the world, and the servants we served early on were the local church.  At some point in time that focus either shifted or expanded.  One of my questions is, if with "the turn" the local church came not to be the "servant" we were serving, then who was/is?  I don't think we ever decided we could do it, i.e., serve/change the world, by ourselves.  As I recall, and said earlier, even Fifth City was a demonstration of how a local church could serve its own geographical parish.
 
Very much appreciate your input to this conversation.
 
Randy
From: Nancy Lanphear <nancy at songaia.com>
To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Thursday, August 4, 2011 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Questions about the "Turn to the World"


Randy, 

My memory is that was we worked with the churches/cadres as our initial path of "changing the world."  AS that did not sem to happen and we found ourselves supporting a structure that intensfied the focus inward, we decided to "become" the change we wanted to see.  Fifth City and the Primal Communities model encouraged us to move in the direction of being the church in the world. 

AND, a large, very heavy TURN SYMBOL showed up on our property. I think it may have come across the country when the student house moved to Washington State.  We could use it here as garden art OR if someone is coming to the meeting in November in Chicago, it could travel with them to be placed in the Kemper building.

Thanks for asking the question.  With love and great memories, 

Nancy


On Thu, Aug 4, 2011 at 3:23 AM, R Williams <rcwmbw at yahoo.com> wrote:

Dear Colleagues,
>
>In 1972 the Kemper Insurance Co. gave the Ecumenical Institute its 8-story office building at 4750 N. Sheridan Rd. in Chicago.  In and around that year the Institute of Cultural Affairs was incorporated and EI/ICA moved its headquarters from its "seminary campus" on the west side to its "insurance building" on north side.  Subsequently we drew a circle around the wedge blade and announced we were making a "turn to the world."
>
>Here are some questions regarding "the turn:"
>	1. What was going on in the world and internally with EI/O:E that precipitated the "Turn to the World?"
>	2. How did "the turn" affect our story about who we were and what we were doing? (For example, what did we understand we were turning to and what were we turning from?)
>	3. What were the strategic and practical implications at that time?
>	4. What are the implications today for ICAs around the world?
>The primary reason for asking these questions is, the Board of Directors of ICA-USA, when it meets in Chicago each November, dialogues on the issue of the long-term strategic direction and approach of the organization.  This piece of our history could have relevance for that dialogue this November.
>
>Please don't be restricted by the questions.  Any remembrances and insights that you are willing to share will be useful and most appreciated.
>
>Thank you,
>Randy Williams
>Acting Chair, ICA-USA Board of Directors
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