New article series for 2023-24
“And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.”
Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
Revelation 21:5
WE SHALL ALL BE CHANGED
I’ve been an avid reader of Spirituality + Health Magazine for well over a decade now. I’ve found the articles so useful that I actually have an archive of past issues in my home office, marked by subject, to which I often refer.
Spirituality + Health, launched in 1998, originally imagined as part of the 300th Anniversary celebration of Trinity Church Wall Street, Manhattan, an Episcopalian (Anglican) parish in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. It’s purpose, to “explore the rituals, practices, beliefs, and ideas that enhance the health of our bodies, minds, communities, and the earth that supports us.”
The theme of our Diocesan Synod in May — We Shall All Be Changed — and the wonderful conversations that we had together, sparked my memory of an article in the magazine, recounting a gathering held in 2018 at the Trinity Church Wall Street Retreat Centre in West Cornwall, Connecticut. The gathering marked the 20th anniversary of the launch of the magazine and its goal was similar to ours at Synod: To begin to consider what mature spirituality and practice looks like in this world now, and to go back to the roots, to see what the future might bring. The results of their conversations — and our conversations at Synod — were both deeply hopeful and deeply sobering.
The article, written by Robert (Bob) Owens Scott, the former Editor-in-Chief and Director of Faith and Formation at Trinity Church Wall Street, was entitled, “The Next 20 Years of Spirituality & Health”, with contributions from Dierdre Taylor, the former Director of Communications for Trinity Wall Street and the first publisher of Spirituality & Health.
ZERO-SUM VS. NON-ZERO SUM
Drawing from game theory, specifically the zero-sum (competition for finite goods, a distinct “winner”) versus non-zero sum (everybody wins) theories, they explored four different future scenarios. In my next article, I’ll go deeper into what we call “transformative scenario planning,” so stay tuned if you want to learn more about it!
The main question for them: “Are people willing to “lose” to create a non-zero world for everyone? ”
Jesus certainly was and did. He lost everything for the whole world, in order to transform life from finite to eternal. To amplify healing to transform suffering. To amplify dignity to transform shame. To amplify forgiveness to transform hatred.
They used four different scenarios, with each of the four groups focusing on only one:
- Our spiritual work is non-zero (everyone can win) and the world is going zero-sum (intense nationalism and “us vs. them” thinking)?
- Our spiritual work is non-zero and the world is becoming non-zero;
- Our spiritual work is zero-sum (our task is to get it right and guard against error) and the world is going in a non-zero direction (my good is your good);
- Our spiritual work is zero-sum, and the world is increasingly zero-sum.
I think this can be a highly useful exercise for our parishes, regions and the diocese as a whole. And I wonder how engaging in such a process might guide us to change our way of viewing each other, the mission field communities entrusted to our care by God, and how we engage in mission and outreach in them.
Over the course of October, November, December and January, I will unpack each of the scenarios in an article of its own.
HALLMARKS OF THE SPIRITUALLY MATURE ORGANIZATION
For now, I leave you with the “Hallmarks of the Spiritually Mature Organization,” which were formed after the scenario exercise was complete:
- There is a deep culture of consistency and trust;
- The culture is one of recognizing, and appreciating, contribution;
- New people are integrated;
- No one is lost;
- The power structure is flat;
- There is a clear code of ethics.
Likewise, here is the list of what they concluded makes for a “spiritually mature, faith-based community”:
- Like a tree, the spiritually mature community has both roots (depth) and branches (diversity);
- The organization recognizes itself as part of a larger and increasingly diverse world;
- The organization creates space for varied expressions of faithfulness and stewardship;
- Qualities include friendliness, hospitality and staring, as well as a balance of community tradition and experience;
- Members do the inner work necessary to support the collective good, with increased connectedness as their goal;
- The mature community is intergenerational;
- Maturity can include being empty: The importance of silence is understood and embraced as a means of discerning a contemplative vision;
- Mature spiritual organizations may create new stories;
- Mature spirituality encourages the kind of non-zero practices that 12 step groups are known for;
- Spiritually mature communities appreciate that there are no “sacred” and “profane,” only sacred spaces and desecrated spaces.
Bob Owens Scott concludes his article with a question that I think is worth a great deal of our time in the months ahead, as we consider the theme of Synod, of how “we shall all be changed”:
“What if winning means having the best questions, and the courage to face them?”
For me, the best questions might be drawn from the many points above and make wonderful tools for the expansion of our discussions throughout the diocese for meeting the challenges we face in times such as these. I would argue that learning to engage in the sacred work of church changing — with a non-zero-sum faith and determination as our foundation — is essential for us all.
READ
“The Next 20 Years of Spirituality & Health” written by Robert Owens Scott for the January/February 2019 issue. https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/articles/2018/12/11/the-next-20-years-of-spirituality-health
EXPLORE
The Trinity Church Wall Street website
https://trinitywallstreet.org/
I conclude with the same prayer offered by Bishop Sandra in the Bishop’s Charge at Synod in May:
“O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Amen!
I’ll see you back here in the October Issue.
Photo Credit: Kyle Glenn, Unsplash
If you need any help, assistance or resource suggestions, contact me directly at [email protected] and find me on social media @vocapeace.
By Cathy Lee Cunningham (she/her)
Rector, Church of the Good Shepherd, Beaver Bank
