Notes: Dialogue within the Church Conference Call
Date: Thursday October 25, 2007
Time: 7PM PDT
Present on Call: Norm Bengel, Eileen Brown, Carol Fleitz, Mary Garvin, Mary Ellen Holohan

We took a few minutes to catch up on how our California communities are coping with the wild fires and are aware of wherever we are, we are touched by this tragedy.

Our discussion focused on the following areas with rich and varied contributions.

Interest in exploring further the Mega Trends proposed by John Allen. First we will become engaged in educating ourselves in the various areas which will lead us to being able to contribute to our various contexts for ministry. We gave special attention to: The Rise of Islam:

We will become more aware of what is going on in our various communities and look for resources
We might read Nostra Aetate from Vatican Council II
We will take advantage of various educational resources: reading, texts, engaging with other people and communities, prayer, fasting, practicing respect for diversity, films and media opportunities

This led to an equal interest in Allen's Mega Trend "Quest for Catholic Identity". We became more aware of how these two are interconnected .
This led to remembering Paul Lakeland's "Ten Steps to a more adult church." We discussed how people are in different places regarding all these issues and encouraged one another to pay attention in our own context to be aware of "where are the people" re: Inter-religious issues, Catholic Identity, and Laity claiming their place as Adult Church.
Finally we raised the topic of "Call to Action" groups in our various areas. Some are quite organized, others just at the beginning stages. We will investigate what is going on in our areas and what we might be able to contribute.