Summer '73

Research Assembly

July 25, 1973

Summer '73

Research Assembly ­ Wednesday

Fourth Week July 25, 1973

As the Spirit Movement has struggled to give form to the breakloose of Spirit within the Historical Church, a key contradiction has been its relationship to the Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches. A presupposition of this PSU is that one of the key strategies in overcoming this is the impact of the Religious Orders. The times are demanding the emergence of a global servant force to enable the reconstruction of human community and for the orders to reclaim their role in this task. This PSU has looked at the journey of Religious Orders past, present and future and has produced this document which articulates our vision of the role they are being called to play, the five contradictions, five pressure points, five proposals and a back up folder of all data.

The importance of impacting Religious Orders for the sake of Church renewal makes urgent the immediate implementation of this document. We recommend, therefore:

1. that practical strategies and tactics be determined by Fall, 1973;

2. that implementation of these strategies and tactics begin in Winter, 1973, with particular focus on a few critical orders;

3. that the three PSU's of this Research Assembly which dealt with Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches should be pulled together and coordinated by a movement team at Centrum. This team would also be responsible for the two above recommendations.

4. that a network of disciplined colleagues, both religious and lay, both Catholic and non­Catholic be assigned as an extension of the above mentioned coordinating team;

5. and that educating and deepening the sensitivity of the movement to the deep theological heritage of Religious Orders is necessary to facilitate the union of vision demanded for corporate mission.

The following document represents initial research into major long­range strategies for releasing Religious Orders to participate in the movement of the Spirit in the twentieth century. It needs to be seen as a working document, not for publication or distribution.

Summer '73 MISSIONALIZING RELIGIOUS ORDERS PSU Wednesday Research Assembly July 25, 1973 Fourth Week CONTRADICTION ELEMENTS: THE VISION Page 2
PIONEERING RELATIONSHIP TO THE MYSTERY	SERVING AND CARING COMPREHENSIVELY	CORPORATE LIFE STYLE	RELEASING THE SOCIAL PROCESS
ARTICULATING DEPTH SPIRIT EXPERIENCE	TRANSFORMERS AND GUARDIANS OF MOTHER EARTH	CORPORATE GLOBAL ASSIGNMENT	EDGE EXPERIMENTATION
RECOVER AND CREATE SYMBOLS	MOBIL TASK FORCE	LOCAL-GLOBAL POLITY DEMONSTRATION	SERIOUS EDUCATORS OF MAN FOR LIFE
RADICAL MASCULINITY/FEMININITY	COMPETENT COMPREHENSIVE STRUCTURED CARE	SERVANTHOOD THROUGH POVERTY, CHASTITY AND OBEDIENCE	EDGE OF VOCATIONAL RE-IMAGERY
CREATOR OF SPIRIT METHODS	SOCIAL REFORMULATION AND DEMONSTRATION	DISCIPLINED SYMBOLIC LIFE	GLOBAL PROBLEMS SURVEY UNIT

Summer '73 MISSIONALIZING RELIGIOUS ORDERS PSU Wednesday Research Assembly July 25, 1973 Fourth Week CONTRADICTION ELEMENTS: THE BLOCKS Page 3
COLLAPSE OF WORLD VIEW	COLLAPSE OF SOCIOLOGICAL VISION OF RELIGIOUS ORDERS	RESPONSE TO OUTMODED SOCIOLOGICAL FORMS	INADEQUATE METHODOLOGY FOR RENEWAL
TRAPPED IN ABSTRACT	ORIGINAL TASK NO LONGER CRUCIAL TO SOCIETY	TURNED INWARD SPIRITUAL LIFE	DESPAIR IN FACE OF FAILURE OF RENEWAL ATTEMPTS
OPERATING OUT OF STATIC UNIVERSE	WITH THE FULFILLMENT OF ORIGINAL TASK, TRADITIONAL STRUCTURES BECOME INOPERABLE AND REDUCED	DEADENING BUREAUCRACY	NO METHODOLGY ON REGULAR BASIS FOR ONGOING ACCOUNTABILITY, EVALUATION AND SPIRIT NURTURE
FOUNDATIONAL SYMBOLS DISRELATED TO EVERY MAN'S LIFE	CONFUSION AND LOSS OF SYMBOLIC POWER AND LEADERSHIP ROLE	OUTDATED STRUCTURES OF OBEDIENCE	INEFFECTIVE METHOD FOR ARRIVING AT AUTHENTIC ENGAGEMENT
DEFENSIVE POSTURE TOWARD OTHERS	COLLAPSE OF FUTURE VISION	DIVISIVE INDIVIDUALISM	WEAK METHOD FOR DEALING WITH HIERARCHY ON LOCAL/GLOBAL LEVEL

SYMBOL/LUCIDITY GAP REDUCED MISSIONAL CONTEXT COLLAPSED SOCIAL FORMS	1. Insulation between a powerful and internalized symbol system one's lucidity about humanness. The two story universe of men's symbol system has so effectively separated "The Kingdom of God and His Righteousness" from where we actually live for so long that it has become next to impossible to apply the Word of God to the last fat lady or the lonely cowhand. The religious life has in effect lived in a place where the second story is adored and ritualized while in the mean time the stairway has disappeared and one can find it. The Word ­ trapped in the abstract ­ and the flight of humankind below are seen and known with lucidity and insight, but the way of relating the foundational symbols to daily life has been lost. Any suggestion that there is only one story arouses the fear of the destruction of the two­story universe and therefore of all that has been meant by religion. A way must be found whereby the of the symbol system can be reappropriated in daily life. 2. The loss of radically redeeming every last human being as the context of any particular task, which can only, be done as a body of people (the body of Christ). In this consideration, the authentic historical role of the religious orders comes to light ­ the task of radical servanthood to every single person. The loss of radicality results in lives expended in structures that don't meet edge needs, and causes dread in the face of these needs. In addition, a non­revolutionary self­image results, with the task no longer being seen as the necessary deed. The task of relating man to the mystery is reduced to individual service. In this process, the global/ social vision has been lost so that responsibility for all creation has vanished. It is only through the dedication of the radically religious corporate body that this universal goal can be achieve. 3. The times have evoked from order grassroots a desire to assume responsibility for the whole, but this desire is being channeled into outdated social forms or left to radical individualism The times no long allow man to operate alone or under authoritarian rule and is calling each person to take responsibility corporately. The initial effort to assume responsibility for society has been thwarted because of bureaucratic structures which are incapable of responding to authentic desire ­to forge the new corporate thrust. Because of this we are left with the option of regressing to the old corporate modes of existence to encouraged to forge out one's own individual response to human needs outside these forms without any accountability.
INOPERABLE CATALYSIS METHODS CORPORATENESS TURNED INWARD	4. Inadequate methods of global visioning and practical imaginal education to catalyze movementa1 base in and out of the church Vatican II demanded of Religious Orders a depth renewal that the times and the State of the orders had long indicated as necessary. Subsequent self studies have lacked a total comprehensive vision to guide the mission. Renewal attempts have not consistently used practical tools, such as imaginal education in order to transform objectives to concrete action and develop troops to carry out the task. 5. Vision of corporateness dealt with by inadequate efforts at creating collegiality. The arena of the struggle is how to make decisions as a body of people: how to decide where to expend the corporate energy in missional engagement. The vision of corporateness which is held up as authentic engagement speaks to the times, but lacks any images or polity vehicle to translate it into practice, and so gets reduced to having a cozy, peaceable fellow ship. Emphasis is placed on getting along well and the reali- zation that you are deciding each other's route to the grave becomes glossed over. Clearly the church has as its base of priority the Word. The contradiction is found in the contrast, between the vision of corporateness and the lack of practical tools of methodology and polity models to embody it.

ARENA I ARENA II ARENA III ARENA IV

Reimaging and reconstructing symbolic existence. 1. Articulation of role as profound function. 2. symbolic life workshop 3. workshop re: meaning of vows, prayer, solitary life 4. Masculine/feminine style 5. sanctification struggle 6. Heritage workshop 7. NRM ­ contemplative religious orders 8. Long Range sustenance 9. Functional celibacy ­ honor gift to the Church Forging external thrust. 1. Methods community reformulation 2. inner city demonstration project 3. How to work in foreign country. 4. Prog. communication ­ mass media 5. How to relate to college students 6. Family life Methods 7. Meaningful engagement of housewives 8. Long range planning ­ apostolic works 9. Effective pastor visitation. Spirit life of the family of the sick. Tooling for mission. 1. Training. 2. Training for team ministry 3. Religious Ed. training 4. Methods for community (parish) Reformulation (e.g. Uptown steps) 5. Methods in infant and pre­school education. 6. Educational experimentation constructs 7. Providing study method tools. Ordering internal enablement. 1. Recruitment of new vocations 2. Retaining of present members 3. Financial management techniques 4. Creative use of personnel 5. Conflict resolution 6. Group dynamics 7. Consultants on methods to prepare for general chapters 8. Creative ways to dealing with pre­retirement and retirement 9. Phaseology 10. Religious vocation recruiting club 11. Life balance workshops 12. Long­range sustenance methods 13. Full use of one's time

ARENA V

Broad Movement impact Strategies. 1. Publications of movement materials in review for religious. 2. Ecumenical Affairs workshops 3. John Dunne RS­I 4. Ecumenical theologians 5. General speaking bureau 5. Pentecostal leaders 7. Personal discipline, accountability, responsibility (style of movement relationship honor values.)

RECOVERING RELIGIOUS HERITAGE	PROPOSAL I We propose the creation of courses and training constructs to ground classical religious symbols in contemporary life experiences. To enable religious to reappropriate their role of witnessing to the spirit deeps of life and to lead others in the journey of the Spirit, we propose that courses and training constructs be specifically designed to ground the classical religious symbols in the light of contemporary life experiences.
THE SUBPROPOSALS	RECOGNIZING Create courses or other means to enable orders THE TIMES to appropriate the shifts 'from classical to secular world views so that they can begin to rearticulate classical religious symbols in 20th century terms
	REARTICULATING Devise construct or other means to enable depth THE SYMBOLS re­imaging and demonstration of reality behind key traditional symbols, thereby revealing the vital role symbols play in every aspect of life.
	REAPPROPRIATING By means of a construct describing and grounding THE MYSTERY the spiritual life in terms of the "other world" in the midst of everyday life to give the orders permission to reappropriate the role of "those most sensitive to mystery in life."
	EQUIPPING Provide for depth pedagogical training of key FOR MINISTRY religious so that they may provide all members with the necessary practical theologizing tools so that they may authentically symbolize the secular/religious life.

RECAPTURING AUTHENTIC MISSION	PROPOSAL II This proposal intends to restore authentic missional context by recapturing the profound historical and leadership roles in order to strategize corporateness We propose the restoration of authentic missional stance based on the profound historical and leadership roles founded on corporate- ness. Imaginal methodology and constructs, participation in global odysseys, periodic introduction of guest speakers, and daily scripture/news conversations are some of the relevant contexting activities that will reactivate and sustain the re- captured image.
THE SUBPROPOSALS	MISSIONAL Missional stance is enabled by providing all METHODOLOGY available imaginal methodology and constructs needed, such as LENS, Parish Lab, and various workshops.
	GLOBAL Expansion of the missional context is accom- ENCOUNTER plished through a global odyssey impacting participants with experiences that restore authentic vision of responsibility for every person on earth.
	FOLLOW­UP As a follow­up this proposal recommends a series STRATEGY of internationally informed guest speakers to further educate the orders in global awareness.
	CONTINUED Such activities as daily scripture/news conver- AWARENESS sations instill continual consciousness of local enactment of universal responsibility.

CREATING TRANSITIONAL METHODS	PROPOSAL III We propose that religious orders be enabled to update their traditional style through the creation of transitional imaginal methods and intentional accountability structures. This proposal states that religious orders create intentional accountability and consensus polity structures; create transi- tional methods and images; create structures to enable re­imaging .of superiors and community decision making methods and structures to help re­image stories for laymen of the religious role in the community.
THE SUBPROPOSALS	CORPORATE Corporate accountability structures intentionally RESPONSIBILITY hold the religious community accountable to the STRUCTURES task.
	IMAGINAL Imaginal transitional methods provide the tools TRANSITIONAL to enable the religious orders to make the tran- METHODS sition from the past to the future.
	RE­IMAGING Re­imaging decision­making roles re­images the DECISION­MAKING role of superiors and members which allow them ROLES to participate in the decision­making process.
	RE­IMAGING A new story needs to be told about the role of RELIGIOUS the religious to the religious order itself LIFE and also to the community at large.

CORPORATENESS FOR MISSION	PROPOSAL V We propose to enable Religious orders to become missionally corporate key decision­making methods to create the vision and goal of mission, spirit exercises to rehearse corporateness, common study to understand it and group leadership for all. We propose that events be created to enable religious communities , to become missionally corporate through methods of decision making with respect to the common mission that produces specific goals within a common timeline including periodic evaluation and re direction; corporate study to produce common vision of authentic community; common spirit practices, accountability/absolution rites, celebration rites with a missional cast and signal discipline events as reminders of being a revolutionary body and the training of each member for group leadership.
THE SUBPROPOSALS	CORPORATE Materials will need to be selected and methods of STUDY corporate study devised that will create a common vision of authentic community.
	DECISION­ Decision­making methodology relative to the mission, MAKING aimed at stating specific goals within a common time METHODS line and including periodic evaluation and redirection should be made available to religious orders.
	COMMON Through courses, workshops, etc. enable religious SPIRIT communities to create spirit exercises that include PRACTICES accountability/absolution rites and signal discipline events.
	LEADERSHIP Devise means ( courses, lectures, workshops etc.) that TRAINING would provide leadership training for all members. FOR ALL