Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Theory U, adventuresome bishops and flexible vision

I just got off the phone with Tom Brackett who recommended the book Otto Sharmer's book Theory U, among others. I'm ordering it now....it is exciting to participate in this ongoing, creative, expanding network of faithful people across the church who are open to dreaming, listening, hoping and making possible. We're meeting to talk further and with others before joining the anglimergent gathering of bishops, Diana Butler Bass, Phyllis Tickle and many others in Chicago at the end of the month. This is an incredibly exciting time to be the church--to find new ways to listen and to learn, to grow and to dance. Diana Butler Bass and I spoke yesterday about a whole host of things including the need for those writing and speaking and working in this great emergence to come together for time to talk and listen, pray and have space. She is excited about Seabury's willingness to imagine a new model of faculty--she hopes for a core faculty with enough flexibility built in that one can remain engaged in their work in the field yet have a strong sense of connected community to foster creative reflection on and education/formation of the church.