WCC O&A Working Group
Meeting Notes of Mon. Aug.10th
The O&A planning group meeting was called to order by Chairperson Charlene Swietek at approximately 7:15 pm and was hosted by Matt Desy at his home.
Attending were Charlene Swietek, Ann Drake, Erik Ribera, Jason St. Denis, Matt Desy, Donna Williams and Peter Delany. Ann Drake led with an opening prayer.
We welcomed Peter Delany to the group. Charlene followed up about members who we have not heard from. Due to over commitments, Judy Hall, Joyce Vallez, Deanna Elliot, Kellie & Britney Stickles have all left the group.
Matt proposed that from this point on we identify ourselves as a “group” instead of a “committee”.
Feedback from the congregation:
We are just beginning to receive feedback from the congregation. Ann shared a letter that was mailed to us from a parishioner and a copy of our response back to her. We spoke as a group about how we invite these and all types of correspondence, questions and discussions in an attempt to be fully transparent at all times. It was discussed that we remember that this is a “discernment process”.
Donna suggested that we may need an O&A mailbox for paper mail.
More discussions are being had about the existence and necessity of this group. Ann, Matt and Donna shared some of the conversations they have been having with parishioners over the last approximate week. Group members are setting up follow up meetings in the near future with these congregants to continue these much desired conversations.
Making Our Circle Bigger:
Much discussion surrounded how we as the group would like to go about having more people included in this dialogue. Peter was quite eloquent in how he spoke about O&A being a “constant, gentle presence” as we move forward. For example hosting coffee hour again and by putting up a bulletin board among other suggestions. He shared ideas about how this new movement may be affecting especially some of the older congregants stating that this social change is making people uncomfortable, nervous and fearful. “The ground beneath their feet is shifting,” he said. He went on to say that “we need to address the fear” and wondered how we “express that an all loving God doesn’t exclude anyone”. “The older congregants have always counted on being welcome.” Erik pointed out that “the LGBT community have never felt welcome.”
Charlene brought to our attention that O & A was originally started to “welcome the LGBT community”. We as a group felt that making the “ground safe for everyone” and “opening the doors a little wider”, as Peter said, is how we can “integrate into the existing way the church is already functioning”. The group agreed on a key basic concept that we, instead of trying to get the congregation to “see it our way”, that we should try seeing it from where the congregants are coming from and align with them to share and dispel fears, discuss confusion and “bring people home” to Wapping Community Church to “explore a gentler, more compelling way to find God’s love in the world.”
Proposed Mission Statement:
Donna, after collecting a lot of the views, thoughts and ideas during the meeting had quickly put together a proposed Mission Statement and read it aloud to the group. All were in agreement that it was a wonderful start and Peter proposed that she send it out to everyone in order that all may look it over, edit, and add suggestions to finalize it.
Everyone agreed that it would be best to have a final draft as soon as possible and add it to the next bulletin insert.
Other Points:
Charlene proposed that the group find and use a talking stick/tool/prop of some sort to help people feel that they have the floor to speak. Group was in agreement.
Charlene had volunteers (Ann & Jason) take empty shoeboxes to decorate for index card question/suggestion boxes to be put in places around the church.
The group agreed that a bulletin board is a good thing to do next to keep the information available to all and at all times.
Donna proposed that we start talking more about planning an LGBT discussion/ Q&A panel.
Matt suggested we need a new bulletin insert by the 1st of the month.
Charlene suggested that we have another meeting in 2 weeks.
We closed the meeting at approx 9:15pm
Next meeting will take place on Mon. Aug. 24th at 7pm.
Notes respectfully submitted by Erik Ribera.
Meeting Notes of Mon. Aug.10th
The O&A planning group meeting was called to order by Chairperson Charlene Swietek at approximately 7:15 pm and was hosted by Matt Desy at his home.
Attending were Charlene Swietek, Ann Drake, Erik Ribera, Jason St. Denis, Matt Desy, Donna Williams and Peter Delany. Ann Drake led with an opening prayer.
We welcomed Peter Delany to the group. Charlene followed up about members who we have not heard from. Due to over commitments, Judy Hall, Joyce Vallez, Deanna Elliot, Kellie & Britney Stickles have all left the group.
Matt proposed that from this point on we identify ourselves as a “group” instead of a “committee”.
Feedback from the congregation:
We are just beginning to receive feedback from the congregation. Ann shared a letter that was mailed to us from a parishioner and a copy of our response back to her. We spoke as a group about how we invite these and all types of correspondence, questions and discussions in an attempt to be fully transparent at all times. It was discussed that we remember that this is a “discernment process”.
Donna suggested that we may need an O&A mailbox for paper mail.
More discussions are being had about the existence and necessity of this group. Ann, Matt and Donna shared some of the conversations they have been having with parishioners over the last approximate week. Group members are setting up follow up meetings in the near future with these congregants to continue these much desired conversations.
Making Our Circle Bigger:
Much discussion surrounded how we as the group would like to go about having more people included in this dialogue. Peter was quite eloquent in how he spoke about O&A being a “constant, gentle presence” as we move forward. For example hosting coffee hour again and by putting up a bulletin board among other suggestions. He shared ideas about how this new movement may be affecting especially some of the older congregants stating that this social change is making people uncomfortable, nervous and fearful. “The ground beneath their feet is shifting,” he said. He went on to say that “we need to address the fear” and wondered how we “express that an all loving God doesn’t exclude anyone”. “The older congregants have always counted on being welcome.” Erik pointed out that “the LGBT community have never felt welcome.”
Charlene brought to our attention that O & A was originally started to “welcome the LGBT community”. We as a group felt that making the “ground safe for everyone” and “opening the doors a little wider”, as Peter said, is how we can “integrate into the existing way the church is already functioning”. The group agreed on a key basic concept that we, instead of trying to get the congregation to “see it our way”, that we should try seeing it from where the congregants are coming from and align with them to share and dispel fears, discuss confusion and “bring people home” to Wapping Community Church to “explore a gentler, more compelling way to find God’s love in the world.”
Proposed Mission Statement:
Donna, after collecting a lot of the views, thoughts and ideas during the meeting had quickly put together a proposed Mission Statement and read it aloud to the group. All were in agreement that it was a wonderful start and Peter proposed that she send it out to everyone in order that all may look it over, edit, and add suggestions to finalize it.
Everyone agreed that it would be best to have a final draft as soon as possible and add it to the next bulletin insert.
Other Points:
Charlene proposed that the group find and use a talking stick/tool/prop of some sort to help people feel that they have the floor to speak. Group was in agreement.
Charlene had volunteers (Ann & Jason) take empty shoeboxes to decorate for index card question/suggestion boxes to be put in places around the church.
The group agreed that a bulletin board is a good thing to do next to keep the information available to all and at all times.
Donna proposed that we start talking more about planning an LGBT discussion/ Q&A panel.
Matt suggested we need a new bulletin insert by the 1st of the month.
Charlene suggested that we have another meeting in 2 weeks.
We closed the meeting at approx 9:15pm
Next meeting will take place on Mon. Aug. 24th at 7pm.
Notes respectfully submitted by Erik Ribera.