The last two mornings I’ve taken part in conversations that have me thinking about how change happens, and the role of collaboration and confrontation. The first was one of the many “Big Table” conversations Tuesday, sponsored by the Columbus Foundation.  The question of the day was how we might work together to improve our community – a big question, but one that garnered plenty of energy.  Most of the people in the room worked in the corporate and government worlds and the value of collaboration was emphasized.  Columbus is known nationally for its collaborative spirit.  The fact that nearly 500 of these Big Table conversations took place, well above the initial goal, testifies to this.  One of the directions our conversation took was recognizing who all wasn’t around the table, and how Columbus continues to be a place that is economically segregated.  How to give voice to those in survival

  The last two mornings I’ve taken part in conversations that have me thinking about how change happens, and the role of collaboration and confrontation. The first was one of the many “Big Table” conversations Tuesday, sponsored by the Columbus Foundation.  The question of the day was how we might work together to improve our community – a big question, but one that garnered plenty of energy.  Most of the people in the room worked in the corporate and government worlds and the value of collaboration was emphasized.  Columbus is known nationally for its collaborative spirit.  The fact that nearly 500 of these Big Table conversations took place, well above the initial goal, testifies to this.  One of the directions our conversation took was recognizing who all wasn’t around the table, and how Columbus continues to be a place that is economically segregated.  How to give voice to those in

  “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”  Luke 19:40, the words of Jesus. Two weeks ago the shore of Lake Michigan between Saint Joseph and South Haven was covered with rocks.  We stayed in a cabin my brother and his partner have owned for less than a year, and already they’re getting a sense of how these waters work.  The beach changes frequently, Luke noted.  One week it may be loaded with sand, the next week half the sand washes away.  Not long before our arrival the waves unloaded a knee deep crop of stones on top of the beach.  They were rounded and smooth, most of them ranging in size between my hand and Ila’s.  During our weeklong stay, the stones were already being reclaimed by the lake.  But there were still plenty, and we spent hours walking up and down the beach

Greetings from Chicago!  (Ok, I’m in Lombard, but that is close enough to me.)  This week I am attending the Mediation Skills Training Institute for Church Leaders put on by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center.  That’s a really long title, but in a nutshell it is a full week of lectures, discussions, and lots of role-playing aimed at giving me the skills needed to help mediate conflicts on both an interpersonal and a congregational level.  That’s quite a tall order and one for which I am not sure I will ever feel fully prepared, no matter how much role playing we do.  Thankfully I am not alone.  There is a group within CMC known as the Reconciliation Team that has also been trained in these skills.  This group exists to be a resource for those in need of mediation as well as to advocate and educate on matters of conflict

  Interview This Sunday I’ll be doing an interview/dialogue sermon with Rev. Lane Campbell.  Lane is a young white woman who is co-leader of the Columbus chapter of SURJ – Showing Up for Racial Justice.  This is the group that helped organize the public action Mark, Austin, and Adam spoke of last Sunday.  SURJ is also hosting a training/teaching/skill building event this Saturday and Sunday, hosted at First UU.  Lane is one of the pastors at First UU, and comes at this work from a faith perspective.  I’m looking forward to the dialogue, and glad to be the one asking rather than answering the questions. Renovations This Sunday is also our last time worshipping in our building before renovations begin on the front of the sanctuary and the kitchen.  The project is on track to begin this coming Monday and will go into the first days of September.  The opening