Some threads of who/what Convergent Friends are

This is a cross-post from a comment I made on Robin's post, in which she seeks a short-hand to explain to Friends just who or what Convergent Friends are:

"people who are engaged in the renewal movement within the Religious Society of Friends, across all the branches of Friends."

As Robin mentions in a reply to a comment on her post, it is a challenge to consider and craft a definition that isn't simply a perfect reflection of me!

-Liz

I've made a brief comment on Martin's post already but I realize I wanted to respond here as well.

I'm not sure this "short explanation" goes far enough or is specific enough. I'm thinking back to the "components" of the word convergent that Robin offered originally: emergent and conservative--as in, conservation of the faith and its practice.

Is there a way to include these in even a broad explanation? For example:

Convergent Friends are those who (1) are engaged in the emergence of the renewal movement that is occurring across the branches of the RSoF; (2) have a concern for exploring, conserving, and restoring what contributes to a vibrant, cohesive, intergenerational Quakerism; (3) are dedicated to re-examining and wrestling with our faith tradition's roots and practices; and (4) are not Christophobic, anti-Universalism, etc.

Okay, so it's a mouthful but it was a helpful exercise for ME, anyway, to pull out some of the threads, as Martin had done in a much earlier post on Quaker Ranter.

Blessings,
Liz

RELATED LINKS:

Martin's detailed post on the emergent church and Quaker renewal. (Ninth Month 2003)

Robin's original definition of convergent. (First Month 2006)

Robin's first re-consideration of the definition of convergent. (Third Month 2007)

Robin's second consideration of the definition of convergent. (Seventh Month 2007)

Martin's 2007 post on examining Robin's short explanation. (Seventh Month 2007)

Martin's subsequent post in reply to a Conservative Friend's comment, about how Ohio Yearly Meeting can help advance the conversation about renewal of some parts of our Quaker tradition. (Eighth Month 2007)

Seeking a definition of "opportunity"

Friends,

During a conversation tonight with a Friend, we stumbled across the word "opportunity," which is a word I have seen and heard Friends use in a way that differs from its secular use... but the Friend with whom I was speaking--and who has a longer history among Friends than I do--hadn't heard it before in a Quaker context.

So I thought I'd poll the Quaker blogosphere:

When have you heard, seen, or used the word "opportunity" in a way that differs from the secular meaning?

What working definition would you give it?

Do you have any knowledge of when or where this word appears in any Quaker texts...?

Do you have any other comments or thoughts about the use or meaning or origin of the word "opportunity"?

Thanks for any Llight you can shed on this subject!

Blessings,
Liz

P.S. I'll share a bit of how I explained this word to the Friend after a few of you have had a chance to respond.

UPDATE: Now that a few Friends have offered their own thoughts, here's a paraphrase of how I explained "opportunity" to this one particular Friend. You'll see that it mirrors some of what others have already mentioned:

In my own experience, there have been at least two uses of the word "opportunity."

One is when two or more Friends are gathered, usually for fellowship and conversation as compared to a workshop or worship--and the Friends find they have fallen into worship; the Spirit has covered them if only for a moment or a few passing minutes. So simply be being present to one another, we might experience this sort of Opportunity.

The other use of the word has been related to a planned event or a planned gathering of Friends, often with an intention of seeking to learn more of each other, to know one another more deeply in That Which Is Eternal, by way of engaging in the planned time and activity together.

I also made it clear to the Friend with whom I was talking that no one had ever given me a specific definition for this word, but rather I seem to have a small knack for picking up the nuances of terms and language over time. Quakerism and "Quakerese" is no exception.

And for Friends who happen to have the book that is mentioned in a comment below, On Living with a Concern for Gospel Ministry, Brian Drayton's own consideration of "opportunities" is on pp. 137-148. --Liz

A preview of posts to come

Oh my. So many weeks have gone by and I have much to write about but not enough time to write about it all!

Consider this a preview of topics I hope to cover, in no particular order, in Eighth Month 2007:

Demystifying the Gathering's workshop selection process (I plan to post something after I have submitted the final report from the Workshops Committee)

Directions to a game I learned at Iowa Yearly Meeting Conservative's annual sessions, called Telephone Pictionary.
UPDATE: Read about the game here.

A summary of Marshall Massey's plenary--that is, his accounting of his faithfulness to travel from Omaha to Harrisonburg, Virginia in 2006 (Marshall's own posts are contained at his Earthwitness Journal in reverse chronological order)

A post about everything else related to IYM(C) sessions: new insights and musings, points of interest that arose from Meeting for Worship with attention to Business, and my own opportunity to serve on an ad hoc committee.
UPDATE: I've completed Part I of my reflections.

I'll do my best to get to these things, and I believe they'll come more easily after I complete the final report on behalf of the Workshops Committee for the 2007 Gathering.

Whew!

Blessings,
Liz

Gospel order and traveling to Iowa (again!)

As I continue to work on at least one more post related to FGC's 2007 Gathering, I interrupt that thread so I can prepare to head to Iowa Yearly Meeting (Conservative)'s annual sessions.

This year, though, it seemed that the closer the trip became, the more doubt was cast on whether or not I was truly clear to travel.

First, a minor health concern emerged for my partner (it's since cleared up). Then, a week before I was to leave for Iowa, a significant concern arose for the monthly meeting that perhaps would have implications for its Ministry & Counsel Committee, on which I serve and which is meeting later this week.

I am not in a place to go into detail about what the concern is but I may return to that question after the minutes are made available. What I'm grateful for, though, is the clearness that came when I was sitting in Meeting for Worship, opening myself for Guidance as to how to respond to the emerging concerns for the meeting and for M&C, and whether or not I would be released to travel.

Here's part of an email I sent to my care-and-accountability committee:

I wanted you to know that I am in fact headed to Iowa this week and leave in just a short while today. Clearness to travel for Iowa Conservative's sessions came primarily during early worship this past First Day, when I found myself reflecting on what Gospel Order means: re-ordering our lives around God, God's will, and God's Love.

And I began considering what that looks like for me at this point in time, especially when considering what M&C has on its plate and what [the meeting] was going to be considering at its business session that afternoon.

As I was beginning to settle into the initial clearness that heading to Iowa's annual sessions would help me return to God-at-the-Center, Paul L rose and offered vocal ministry about "re-Orienting" ourselves: turning ourselves in such a way that Jerusalem, the City of God, would become the internal compass by which/toward which we would steer.

Since then, the clearness to travel has only felt more true.

I had been hoping to speak with Paul at the rise of worship, to let him know how the ministry he offered spoke to my condition... but the "rise of worship," which includes introductions, took much longer than usual, and a Friend had summoned me out of the meetingroom before I had the chance to approach Paul.

So it goes.

And perhaps I will be able to write a bit about IYM(C) after I return, God willing.

Blessings,
Liz

P.S. It is not lost on me that a good many posts have come and gone within the Quaker blogosphere that I have not commented on, let alone read! Though the Gathering has ended, my responsibilities to FGC have not. I hope to have time in August to have a major push for catching up!

P.P.S. I recently found my long-lost copy of Sandra Cronk's pamphlet, Gospel Order. Certainly NOT a coincidence!