[Oe List ...] Questions about the "Turn to the World"

[jlepps at pc.jaring.my]

Hi Randy.

Thanks for the questions. A more complete answer than this will be 
forthcoming in Volume 2 of Bending History, scheduled to be out this 
Fall. Jim Wiegel has done a good job of answering it. A very simple 
response is: We set out to renew the Church. We discovered, in the 
process, that the Church did not know how to serve the world, which 
is its primary mission. So we decided to do an "end run" to get out 
front and invent ways to serve the world authentically, i.e., to 
create primal community which involved profound awakenment, 
significant engagement, and human fulfillment. Our work was meant to 
show the Church how it can be done.

I hope this helps to further the discussion.

John

At 04:23 AM 8/4/2011, you 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:"
>    * What was going on in the world and internally with EI/O:E that 
> precipitated the "Turn to the World?"
>    * 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?)
>    * What were the strategic and practical implications at that time?
>    * 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
>_______________________________________________
>OE mailing list
>OE at wedgeblade.net
>http://wedgeblade.net/mailman/listinfo/oe_wedgeblade.net
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