Chapter of Elections 2013
Friday, July 5
Morning Session
Day begins in chapel
Prayer- “Holy Spirit Come and fill this place….” -silence-
Mary Jo – Reading of questions generated yesterday in table groups. Duplicates or personal questions were eliminated, with focus on leadership questions:
The small groups will have 15 minutes with each nominee. Each deliberative member has a room to go to, and nominees will circulate. Meet in Medaille Hall by 12:15
Medaille Hall – Mary Jo – invitation into quiet reflection on these questions:
What did you hear this morning? Where is your discernment leading?
-Lunch –
Afternoon Session
Mary Jo – Phone call to Carolyn Bodenschatz. She will respond to the questions asked of the candidates yesterday:
Carolyn: thinks the past 5 years on the LT have been grace-filled, and she would bring that experience. She is a good listener, to others and to herself, and tries to live in discernment. Carolyn has zeal for the charism and mission, and a deep desire for union in our broken world. She has deep love for the congregation and has a sense of our history, is open to learn. Her head and heart are integrated. As an introvert, Carolyn believes a team needs least one introvert to slow the pace when things go quickly. She continues to grow in relationships, and is practical. While she is supportive to those with deeper vision, she herself stays in the present. On the Meyers-Briggs, her profile is ISFJ on Meyer-Briggs; accordingly, she is reflective, attentive to detail, compassionate towards others and self, and likes to bring closure and order.
A limitation she recognizes is having fallen into the trap of comparing herself to others. Although she is not a spontaneous public speaker, she does OK. Previously she was concerned about her mother’s need for care. God intervened with her mother’s death. Now attention to the grief work might be an obstacle.
Carolyn enjoys people, and tries to affirm their abilities. She is flexible and is able to address and work through conflict. She can confront or, as she says, “care-front,” when necessary, and is not afraid to ask questions. She thinks she can work collaboratively, and could not enter into this process without a solid relationship with God. She also does not think she micro-manages.
This morning someone asked Carolyn if her heart would really be in the process. Now it is. Months ago, that was not so much the case. The discernment has brought her to a place of freedom, and the possibility of leadership is not a burden to her.
Questions from the floor:
From our commitments, what sets your heart on fire?
C: The conversation about the charism does this mostly. So does care of the members. Everything sets her heart on fire.
Mary Jo – Question to nominees: Where are you in the process, and are you staying in the process?
Nominees: Each one declared she will remain in the process, and each one said she appreciated the sharing of this morning.
Mary Jo to deliberative members - Do you accept these women as nominees for elected leadership?
Assembly – applause
Mary Jo: The nominees will remain in the room but will not be part of the table process.
Deliberative members will share at the tables, naming which nominees they are considering and giving reasons. Each one will speak regarding 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 candidates. At the end of sharing, there may be clarifying or informational questions, or a member may say she has a different experience.
There will be three rounds, with table changes for each of the 3 conversations. This process is a sharing of wisdom from our own discernment.
- Sharing –
Mary Jo: Does anyone need more information? Do you fell ready to vote tomorrow?
For this evening, take quiet time, with no discussing of the election.
When you consider the women who might be elected, where do you experience peace? Where is there restlessness or confusion?
Evaluations may be handed in tomorrow or mailed within a week.
Meet in chapel tomorrow. There will be no discussing between voting. Votes will be for the 4 team members, and then for the moderator, with no formal break. Voting will continue until everything is concluded. Sit 4 in each pew, starting at front of chapel.
After lunch, return to chapel for the closing ritual.
Closing prayer -Examen