Ministers Council ABC/GI-IN-KY

“Seeing Beyond the Storm” Ministers Retreats

Report – December, 2005

 

History:

In August 2004, a proposal for a by-law change came before the Ministers Council Senate that would include sexual preference in the criteria for seating a senator, to be voted on by the senate in August 2005.  In February 2005 the GI-IN-KY Ministers Council hosted a ”Jerusalem Council” so that our senators would have an opportunity to hear from the constituency.  It was also an opportunity for us to hear one another in our diversity of perspective on the subject of homosexuality and how it should be handled within the denomination.  The Ministers Council Executive Committee determined that the Jerusalem Council process was a positive first step.  A taskforce was appointed to look into a “next step.”  The taskforce was made up of Tom Bridges, Charles Cole, Rebecca Jimenez, Harris Long, Becky Pohle, Jeff Stratton and Shawn Zambrows.  In July, Rebecca resigned and was replaced by Jan Judd.

The taskforce began by designing 24-hour retreat to discuss the issue of homosexuality. In mid-June they changed direction to focus on relationships and dealing with conflict.  A facilitator was secured Lynn Miller-Pease, Exec Dir. Leadership Evansville, who designed the process out of several discussions with taskforce members.  At the same time the taskforce sought and received financial grants from ABC/IN-KY and ABC/GI and reserved 5 retreat centers around Indiana

 

The Retreat Process:  Facilitator/host pastor

Each retreat was facilitated by Lynn Miller-Pease and hosted by one or two of the taskforce members.  The process began with registration and gathering time and dinner.  The evening session began with Scripture meditation and prayer led by the host pastor.  The facilitator then led in instruction and activities around the subjects of learning partners and learning preferences.  The rest of the evening was free and participants partook of refreshments, conversations and fellowship.  The next day began with breakfast, worship, including a devotional thought and prayer, again led by the host pastor.  The facilitator then led the group in a process involving a timeline in which each person had the opportunity to share personal stories involving where they were in 7th grade as well as when and how they came into ministry in this region.  After that the group shared what they would like to take with them and what they would like to leave behind from the experience.  After lunch, the facilitator led the group in a silent group activity in which they were to envision how it will be in 10 years if everything goes right and draw it on a sheet of paper together.  After that the group learned and participated in a process of consensus decision-making.  At the end the group closed in prayer and left before dinner.

 

Results: 

There were 66 participants total at four retreat sites.  One retreat site was cancelled due to low registration for that retreat.  Unfortunately none of those registered were able to attend another retreat.  After looking over the evaluation forms filled out by participants and the various retreats the taskforce summed  the evaluations up in three categories:

What was good or positive:

• Opportunity to talk and listen to one another that was not provided in any other arena
• The leadership of the retreat “had no agenda.”
• Relationships were built
• The process dealt with core issues of conflict
• “Learning Styles” session provided practical information for use in ministry
• Story-telling was moving and meaningful
• Participants saw new perspectives
• Created a greater appreciation for others in ministry
• Reminder of the power of differences
• Provided helpful tools for ministry.

What didn’t work or needed improvement:

• Didn’t deal with the issue of homosexuality directly
• There was no closure on the issue
• There were not enough participants over-all.
• Purpose/expectations of the retreat not communicated clearly enough

Recommendations for the future:

• Provide more opportunities to talk and listen to one another
• Have future gatherings with this kind of interaction.
• Communicate on a more localized level to reach more people
• Bring small groups together based on interest and affinity.

             

Finally, some comments from the evaluations answering  “how has the retreat impacted your life/ministry?”

“It has given me some tools to move into the future.”

“A time of solid reflective processing of where we are as a ministers council, as a region, and as a denomination.”

 “Helped me to understand where others are in this crisis.”

“I have a greater understanding of my colleagues and where they are coming from.”

“I am more committed to the mission God has given me no matter the cost”

“I have renewed hope that something will be there for us”

 

Conclusion

It is difficult to have gone through this process and not seen God at work.  We are grateful for ABC/GI and ABC/IN-KY for their financial support as well as the help in promoting the retreats.  Thank you also to American Baptist East Church in Evansville for financial aid in the project.  We are appreciative of the time, talent and spirit of Lynn Miller-Pease who led each of the retreats with enthusiasm and objectivity.  Finally, we are thankful to each of the taskforce members who spent many hours making the project happen, investing a great deal of time and energy over the last 9 months.