{"id":134,"date":"2012-04-17T19:23:50","date_gmt":"2012-04-18T02:23:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/gc2012\/?p=134"},"modified":"2012-04-25T12:48:43","modified_gmt":"2012-04-25T19:48:43","slug":"holy-conversation-ii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/holy-conversation-ii\/","title":{"rendered":"Holy Conversation II"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article, written\u00a0by Amory Peck<\/strong>, originally appeared in\u00a0Channels<\/a>\u00a0Newsletter. Photo by Jesse Love.<\/em><\/p>\n

I\u2019m sitting in my room at the Archbishop Alex J. Brunett Retreat Center as I write this. I\u2019ve loved this room \u2013 it is simple, uncluttered, and has a wall of windows overlooking Puget Sound. The desktop altar that I created from small items from home feels just right: a \u201cwalking cross\u201d made for me by a friend, my favorite greeting card that I received when I was first diagnosed with heart failure, an art piece from my niece last Christmas, and a wooden and brass Jesus that my father used to carry with him whenever he would travel. This quiet, soothing place has been my home while attending the Five-Day Academy for Spiritual Formation.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s theme has been \u201cHealing \u2013 Personally and Between Religions.\u201d Dr. Le Xuan Hy, from Seattle University, has been leading us through an exploration of personal health. Dr. M. Thomas Thangara, a visiting professor at Boston University, has us considering what it means to heal relationships between the world\u2019s religions. I have been moved and challenged by both men, as well as the comments and questions from the participants. I\u2019ve been especially intrigued, as Dr. Thangara has talked us through our world of religious pluralities. He is passionate about inter-religious dialogue and his passion is contagious.
\nThis is going to sound like an abrupt leap from one topic to another, but here I go. As I\u2019ve listened to Dr. Thangara, and observed his deep belief in the necessity and possibility of conversation among the diverse religious believers of the world, I keep thinking about General Conference and the discussions waiting for us there.<\/p>\n

When David Valera, Craig Parrish and I attended the Pre-General Conference Briefing in Tampa last January, we heard Bishop Sally Dyck say that many approach General Conference with a sense of dread. That dread comes from our General Conference history of rancorous debate and the likelihood that the same discord will be present at this spring\u2019s gathering as well. Dr. Thangara devotes his life to thoughtful conversation among Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists and Christians. The United Methodist family often has trouble playing nice with one another when it gathers.<\/p>\n

The designers of General Conference 2012 are determined to change that pattern of behavior. Three times, early on during our two weeks together, the 988 delegates are going to gather into small groups for Holy Conversation. Late afternoon on the first full day, we will gather into small groups to discuss \u201cIdentity and Theology.\u201d Following a break, we\u2019ll discuss homosexuality, and later in the week we\u2019ll have our third time of Holy Conversation, talking about the worldwide nature of the church. The hope, of course, is that thinking about, and practicing how, we talk with one another will give us the skills we need when we are doing the work of General Conference.<\/p>\n

Those times of Holy Conversation will be more than just talking together. Facilitators will help us understand and use a number of key principles. We\u2019ll be prompted to:<\/p>\n