[Oe List ...] the Question of the Order

Tue Sep 14 14:30:56 CDT 2010

Hesse's Journey to the East-the inescapable ambiguity of our reality, its
opaque pathways and barely discernable manifestations.  ".through the glass
darkly."

Susan

From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of M. George Walters
Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2010 11:21 AM
To: 'Order Ecumenical Community'
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] the Question of the Order

Jack, Randy et al.

Randy, good questions! Whatever this new order is, I think it will no doubt
be comprised of a lot of people who knew nothing of our EI/ICA roots but
have found their way into our midst through relations to those of us who in
the Diaspora have profoundly impacted their lives and been able to make them
aware of the profound impact life itself has had upon them.

I think Herman would agree that no "doctrinal" ascription to our roots is
necessary for them to be part of the go-forward forms we might now create,
including a covenant and a curriculum. A covenant by nature must be broad
and non-prescriptive; But the "rule of this new order" may never be
documented (as many of us have always wished so we knew what the hell we
were saying yes and no to) but the "certainty" of having been plunged into a
posture of service to humanity and responsibility for civilization will be
no stranger in our midst. Indeed it may be the only central core that can
bind together people from every walk of life. Yet as always, the practical
form is the issue, not the doctrine. Working on a curriculum that makes that
possible will probably consume most of the rest of many of our lives. It
will be a living and evolving curriculum but it if does not include how you
are going to expend your life, it will be another dead curriculum. 

My wife, Carol's, two favorite professors at Troy University here in Tampa
(where she is director) approach their classes like evangelists calling for
the commitment of their students to serve those they are being trained to
serve as a life-long vocation, not a job. And their students respond with
excitement to be engaged in the adventure this curriculum brings to them in
pursuing their Master's programs.

But back to the order, it seems to me we have to be clear that membership in
this order of "we" or "us" also includes all those "ye know not of" but are
continually discovering and be discovered by. It is not "ours" in the sense
of membership ownership, but "ours" in the sense of belonging to something
greater that has been given to us. Some of us found the doorway through our
little sojourn in EI/ICA, some found the doorway before that elsewhere. Some
found the doorway after that. Some never find the doorway and are not even
looking for it. Some will be slapped down by the doorway and will get up and
say no or yes. Some will enter and then turn back. The doorway is always
there with or without us and we have the "obligation" that comes from
"awareness" to point to it. And it is not just some docile doorway of
"peace-filled" consciousness. It is the doorway to endless expenditure. 

Jack, I think you got yourself a dialogue. Great piece of work.

With kindest regards.

M. George Walters

Resurgence Publishing Corporation

4240 Sandy Shores Dr

Lutz, FL 33558

USA

Tel: +1 (813) 948-7267

Fax: +1 (813) 333-1787

Mob: +1 (813) 505-9041

URL: www.ResurgencePublishing.com

Professional Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mgwalters

From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of Jack Gilles
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 17:58
To: Order Ecumenical Community
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] the Question of the Order

Randy,

I don't have time for a long response as I'm still having to use the local
village cybercafe.  The Order I refer to (Community of Practice??) is the
one we have been calling the Springboard group.  In the many times we met,
but especially in Asheville a couple of years ago, we talked about our being
a dispersed Order, covenanted together and we wrote a draft of that
covenant.  We have not attempted to work on polity, or other form issues,
but there is a fairly large group of us who see ourselves as the Order.  It
also includes some people from India who never knew of our OE history, only
the presence of myself and Judy.  Herman Greene is very strong on our need
to move this forward.  Let's see what emerges.  Until the mission of a
dispersed group of colleagues becomes clearer we can go easy on these
questions.  But the building of a curriculum, based on our post-OKC meeting
is a good start.

G&P,

Jack

On Sep 13, 2010, at 8:57 AM, R Williams wrote:

Jack,

Great start to what I hope will be an extended conversation among many of
us!  Two questions come quickly to my mind.  What are we talking about when
we say ICA-USA--an institution with a small professional staff and a
volunteer board--or what--and what are we talking about when we throw in
ICAI, the other national ICAs and the colleagues across the country who want
some kind of formal affiliation?

Second, what now is the Order to which you refer?  You suggest it is "we"
who, though dispersed and without form or structure, are/were covenanted
together.  In other places you refer to "our" work.  Some have gone so far
as to suggest there is no "we" and "our."  Assuming however that there is,
what is the articulation of the covenant which binds us now, and how shall
we include those who have no experience of the Order of the past but are now
so indispensible to us?

I believe these are among the many questions with which we all need to
wrestle, which have to do not with theoretical or intellectual definitions
but with practical implications for our strategic approach in the immediate
and long-term future.

Randy

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