Wow!..it seems that you will have fun during these 3 days. I am so happy to read about their courage and freedom. Funda ----- Original Message ----- From: "Craig Gilliam" <wcraiggill...@hotmail.com> To: <osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu> Sent: Thursday, May 19, 2005 6:27 PM Subject: Gilliam
> Harrison: > > The other day, I met with some leaders of a particular religious (Christian) > denomination. They wanted to plan a larger gathering of Elders to have a > retreat and to explore what it means to be an Elder in their tradition, at > least that was the identifying issue or reason for our meeting, and they > invited me to be part of this conversation of how to facilitate for such a > conversation. > > First I ask them about their intention for this retreat/work. After some > conversation, I suggested they have the larger retreat as an Open Space. I > spent some time talking about Open Space or at least how we might do it in > their setting/context. As I talked, it was fascinating to watch the energy > and responses of the group. Some were getting excited, positive energy was > cracking, while others began getting nervous, resistant; it seemed they > were quaking at the thought of loosing control. > > Questions and comments ranged from: > I don't like this "Whatever happens is the only thing that could have. . > .Sounds too Calvinistic." Someone else challenged the person and said, "No > that is not Calvinistic. To me, this is the opposite extreme--human > freedom." > > Someone said, "How will those who need structure, the Type A personalities > respond to this lack of structure and agendas?" > > Someone else offered the alternative of having a speaker in to lead them, as > they have always done in the past. > > I was amazed to observe them, some fearful, others excited, but all engaged. > The energy surfaced and the pot was being stirred. Finally, when the hour > was up, which is the amount of time I committed to them, I said, "This is > your choice. I am not here to persuade you, only to offer you my thoughts. > Whatever you choose, let me know." As I was leaving, someone said, "You > are doing to us what you said the process encourages, letting people work > out their own issues." I didn't comment, but simply smiled as I said > good-bye and walked out the door. > > They called me later, and not only did they decide to go with Open Space, > but they are planning on going further with it than I had first suggested or > imagined. Interesting response from them. Originally they had thought > about putting together a schedule or agenda, placing a worship service in > the beginning and end, and maybe during the day putting some down time. > When they called, they said that they are going to do the entire 3 days as > Open Space-no schedule of worship, etc. . . They said, let's explore doing > a worship service as Open Space, but let's let it happen. They are going to > let it all be Open Space and what happens is the only thing that can happen. > Wow! The is amazing because of the high level of structure and > bureaucracy that is built into this group. Now, I have to begin working on > being comfortable "knowing I don't know" and being okay with it. Getting > ready for what ever needs to happen and getting out of the way so it can. > > Craig > > * > * > ========================================================== > osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu > ------------------------------ > To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, > view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: > http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html > > To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: > http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist > * * ========================================================== osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu ------------------------------ To subscribe, unsubscribe, change your options, view the archives of osl...@listserv.boisestate.edu: http://listserv.boisestate.edu/archives/oslist.html To learn about OpenSpaceEmailLists and OSLIST FAQs: http://www.openspaceworld.org/oslist
