by Jay Krusell
My parents taught, “Nothing worth pursuing comes easily.” Such is the case with building community, particularly in the diffuse and diverse world of the United Church of Christ.
But that is the beauty of the Comm,unity Team – a new way of seeing and being the church together, in dialogue, deliberation and mission. The Comm,unity Team reflects this desire to enhance communications and build unity within the Conference.
It is comprised of members from across the state – clergy and lay, newcomers and veterans, parishioners of large churches and smaller churches, urban to suburban to rural – formed in response to the Board of Directors request in 2005 “that the Conference take a ‘jubilee moment’ to focus on renewing relationships, enhancing dialogue and establishing new and deeper ways of considering issues before us.”
While the process of bringing resolutions to the Conference Annual Meeting was the presenting issue, the Comm,unity Team is exploring many ways we can talk constructively with one another, rather than feeling constrained by a process that frequently leads to outcomes that separate us into winners and losers.
Based on our work to date, we are convinced there is more than one helpful way to be in dialogue and discern God’s will together. In fact, we are finding ways in which the current resolution process may be enhanced to serve the mission of our Conference more effectively. We are piloting some promising approaches in partnership with the sponsors of the upcoming Health Care resolution.
Although we sense progress, we are not ready to issue a final report or a tidy motion to wrap-up our assignment. In addition to testing some of our ideas with willing “energy centers,” we plan to debrief with the Resolutions Committee to garner their input. We also are exploring how to “take our show on the road,” visiting churches that would be willing to engage in a discussion of our work.
Though our work is taking longer than expected (if I had listened more carefully to my parents!), we have learned that governance issues within a polity such as ours are tender business. And we have been inspired by the feedback and ideas offered by those who have met with us and/or attended our workshops. There is much passion behind making our community a better place!
Jay Krusell is a member of the Newington Church, past moderator of the Conference and a member of the Comm,unity Team.
