Minutes from Conference Call on Church
Date: Thursday July 26, 2007
Time: 7PM PDT
Present on Call:
Norm Bengel
Eileen Brown
Carol Fleitz
Mary Garvin
Kathy Herrington
Mary Ellen Holohan
The following topics provided for an animated discussion
1. Continuing our focus on the importance of adult education and church and the various means of delivery and effectiveness
2. We find the survey questions provided by Kathy Herrington’s friend who is summarizing a chapter from a book on American Catholicism very thought provoking. Kathy will follow up and try to find out the title of the book. We may want to utilize the questions ourselves in the future.
3. We heard from various group members who offered current ideas concerning our topic of church:
a) Albert Nolan’s new book JESUS TODAY
b) Joan Chittister from New Zealand
c) Topic of Salvation – open to all??
d) How do we distinguish between “church” and “community”. We are aware of diverse meanings of “church” in U.S.
e) The popularity of HARRY POTTER – what do we think as we read/see it and what it says to us about church, spirituality, youth etc.
f) Aware of Inter-net resources: Benetvision, Catholic News Service (we will add more as we become more aware)
4. The theme of the importance of the Laity continues to surface as key to our discussion
a) How the voice of the laity can be heard more
b) Aware that churches are drawing people e.g. Pentecostal – examining the reasons
c) Discovering how we can be aware of and connect with “little shoots of life”
d) Examining Fellowship of Southern Illinois Laity publication “Stones Cry Out”. Thank you Kathy for forwarding this to us
e) Rejoicing in the national celebrations for the Feast of Mary Magdalen
f) Raising special concerns for youth, their interests and how to approach them. We noted the Bing Crosby version of priesthood and the impact of film. Now we note the importance of Technology
5) Law and Authority in relationship to church and community
a) Aware of how US culture deals with law in a more literal observance (comparison with European culture)
b) Pondering just what does “authority” mean to us regarding church
c) Raising the questions about how law and authority may differ because of culture and how that may influence our attitude/experience of church
i)
Noting cultural differences within the U.S. church (Hispanic, Vietnamese, African American, even Latin)
6)We are aware that as we engage more in inter-religious dialogue the experience of religious/cultural symbols to express church and religious realities may open up new paths and incorporate diversity in new ways
7) Returning to the importance of delivery of adult education regarding “church”, we emphasized examining not only the content but also how it is presented.
a) Examples – a key speaker then breaking out and continuing in small communities
b) Reflect more on the process of how we are being educated – how do we learn about “church”. As adults how do we utilize our critical thinking skills to assess the sources which form our knowledge and attitudes, what is the credibility of those whose ideas and opinions effect us to either react or respond.
8) Finally we mentioned “Signs of Hope”
a) SNJM community retreat at Santa Cruz – our own experience of church and community
b) Persons receiving Benedict’s papal statements in light of their own experience
c) Significance of our own process on our conference calls of learning from one another and building ideas together
9) Topics for next conference call to consider
a) Continuing with adult education and signs of hope
b) Sharing other inter-net resources concerning “church”
c) Any more comments re: HARRY POTTER?
d) What kind of “action steps” might be emerging
e) Lakeland’s 10 steps may stimulate discussion
OUR NEXT CONFERENCE CALL – THURSDAY AUGUST 23RD 7 PM
As always suggestions- additions- corrections are welcome
Mary
Mary Garvin snjm
Religious Studies Department
Gonzaga University
Spokane Washington
509-323-6798
garvinm@calvin.gonzaga.edu
