[Oe List ...] Fw: Reflecting on the Turn

[Jann Barr]

Nancy,

The community cadre was still meeting when we closed the Amarillo House in
1978.

In Spirit Community,
Jann Barr

2011/8/4 Nancy Lanphear <nancy at songaia.com>

> Hi Jim!
>
> Please say more about the "parish experiment".  This is what comes to my
> mind.
>
> I remember vividly about the Primal Community experiment as Fred and I
> (along with many others) were in Amarillo, TX.  Of course, colleagues would
> ask where we were assigned ...we would respond, AMARILLO,TX ....colleagues
> would say, "where is that?"  However, Amarillo and the community called "El
> Sol de Amarillo" served as a training ground for us to be the secular church
> in the world as we were assigned into Kenya and India.  Father Buxkemper,
> Fred and the cadre of community leadership met weekly and continue to meet
> for many years - they may still be gathering to care for their community.
> In fact, Fred and I often spoke of that community being our first experience
> with an HDP.
>
> Now, I must say, my memory is getting rusty and you know what great story
> tellers we are, right?  So, let's take that into consideration when any of
> us repeat our stories for the 100th time!  You are all loved and remembered
> with deep gratitude.
>
> In spirit community,
>
> Nancy
>
>
>   2011/8/4 R Williams <rcwmbw at yahoo.com>
>
>>
>>
>>  ----- Forwarded Message -----
>> *From:* Jim Troxel <troxel at consultmillennia.com>
>> *To:* Randy Williams <rcwmbw at yahoo.com>
>> *Cc:* Karen Snyder <ksnyder at consultmillennia.com>
>> *Sent:* Thursday, August 4, 2011 1:38 PM
>> *Subject:* Reflecting on the Turn
>>
>>  Randy,
>> Karen forwarded to me from one of the dialogues your question about the
>> Turn.  Since I am not a subscriber but was intrigued with the question, I
>> post my recollections direct to you.  If you want to post them, you can.
>> Some are in synch with others Karen forwarded to me; some ideas are
>> different.
>>
>> Reflections from Jim Troxel in maroon.
>>
>> 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.  [We purchased the seminary; we were given the
>> insurance building.  The symbolism is rich.  We had to buy our way into the
>> church; the world opened its arms to us.]  Subsequently we drew a circle
>> around the wedge blade and announced we were making a "turn to the world."  [Or,
>> did we overlay the Wedge Blade on the world?]
>>
>> Here are some questions regarding "the turn:"  And some of my random
>> responses.
>>
>>    1. What was going on in the world and internally with EI/O:E that *
>>    precipitated* the "Turn to the World?"
>>
>> a)    The Order was growing too fast.  We needed to invent significant
>> engagement for everyone.  We had hit a saturation point of placing our
>> religious houses.
>> b)   The Local Church Experiment was doing well, having an impact, but it
>> was weak on the “parish” pole.  Fifth City was only replicable in a certain
>> sort of way.  We needed a way to show the Church how to care for the World.
>> We began something along the lines of a “parish experiment” as I recall, but
>> it was half-baked and didn’t last too long.
>>
>>    1. 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*?)
>>
>> a)    Many of those ensconced in the “church” thought we were turning
>> away from it.  I think you could find some evidence of that notion, but that
>> wasn’t intended.
>> b)   The “ICA” had been a “division” of the EI, but we spun it off to
>> emphasize our social mission.  I remember hearing this for the first time
>> and said to myself, “I didn’t know that.”  It was a clever/subtle way of
>> making the shift to make it seem seamless.  I use this illustration a lot to
>> remind myself that you *invent your story*.
>>
>>    1. What were the strategic and practical *implications* at that time?
>>
>> a)    I recall about this same time the concept of “contradictions”
>> entered Joe’s vocabulary.  Those who remember being tutored by him on what
>> contradictions were will remember how difficult it was.  I think identifying
>> the underlying, root causes to society’s ills was one of the drivers of all
>> this.
>> b)   From the “Turn” you have the social process research, which led to
>> the whistle/pressure points, which led to the ideas of the HDPs and Town
>> Meetings and the rest, as they say, was history.
>>
>>    1. What are the *implications today* for ICAs around the world?
>>
>> a)    On the one hand, absolutely nothing.
>> b)   On the other, the ICA exists to examine the deep underlying root
>> issues blocking full humanness in our world and then works to catalyze
>> creative responses to it.  This is a timeless task.
>> I have drafted an outline of a paper on “Why It Failed” trying to capture
>> my recollections and reflections on the demise of the Order.  Some of the
>> origins of the demise are found in the imagery of the “Turn” IMHO.
>>
>>
>>
>> [image: cid:image001.png at 01C92564.17BA9170]
>> *Jim Troxel*
>> 312-922-9920, Ext. 8
>> Mobile: 312-404-9920
>> Troxel at ConsultMillennia.com
>> www.ConsultMillennia.com <http://www.consultmillennia.com/>
>> [image: MCLOGO.jpg]
>>
>>
>>
>>
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-- 
Jann Barr, Scheduler
Live Oak Friends Meeting
ph: 832 863 8705
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