Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Today, I should be released to begin to put weight on my right foot, six-weeks after surgery. It feels like a day of freedom for me. It is none too soon, as I am headed to American Baptist Homes of the West Board meetings in Oakland tomorrow evening.
The participants at the Leader Retreat last weekend affirmed four core values, the corners of our virtual jigsaw puzzle that is Evergreen. Yesterday I wrote about the first corner of “unity”, today I would like to address the second, “cultural diversity.” These core values are a part of Evergreen whenever we meet. Cultural Diversity is apparent in our structure, with our caucuses and our quorums which call for representatives of all caucus to be present in order for us to do business. We also are very intentional about making sure that the chair of Evergreen moves from caucus to caucus. I think it is also apparent because nominations come from the caucuses rather than having a separate nominating committee. It says that we put some power in our cultural diversity. Our challenge is to express this value by lifting up the differences of our cultural diversity. One of our growing edges is to be appreciative of our differences, not just giving lip service to the diversity, but truly listening to the unique-nesses among us and using them to spread the love and grace of God.
Those of us who gathered at the Leader’s Retreat are anxious to know how our work will be received by the rest of the Evergreen family. We hope you will respond to these notes with your questions, clarifications, suggestions and reactions. You can do so by sending your responses on our contact us page.
Marcia
The participants at the Leader Retreat last weekend affirmed four core values, the corners of our virtual jigsaw puzzle that is Evergreen. Yesterday I wrote about the first corner of “unity”, today I would like to address the second, “cultural diversity.” These core values are a part of Evergreen whenever we meet. Cultural Diversity is apparent in our structure, with our caucuses and our quorums which call for representatives of all caucus to be present in order for us to do business. We also are very intentional about making sure that the chair of Evergreen moves from caucus to caucus. I think it is also apparent because nominations come from the caucuses rather than having a separate nominating committee. It says that we put some power in our cultural diversity. Our challenge is to express this value by lifting up the differences of our cultural diversity. One of our growing edges is to be appreciative of our differences, not just giving lip service to the diversity, but truly listening to the unique-nesses among us and using them to spread the love and grace of God.
Those of us who gathered at the Leader’s Retreat are anxious to know how our work will be received by the rest of the Evergreen family. We hope you will respond to these notes with your questions, clarifications, suggestions and reactions. You can do so by sending your responses on our contact us page.
Marcia
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