Witherspoon Conference Septembe

Witherspoon Conference
September 16 - 19, 2007
Odds & Ends

For an index to all our reports on the conference

"Open Space Technology" -- time (and space) for do-it-yourself small group discussions
[10-4-07]

One open space group at work.

Tuesday afternoon, following Roberto Jordan’s challenging discussion of the Accra Confession and the new "Covenanting for Justice in the Economy and the Earth" program, we made use of the Open Space Technology method for creating small group conversations about a variety of topics that were announced and led by conference participants.

A number of discussions centered on possible overtures to the 2008 General Assembly, including one dealing with fair trade purchasing, one to challenge the U.S. system of providing international food aid, and one calling for a study of how the church can speak to our nation’s current state of disarray. Other groups discussed the Young Adult Volunteer program (with those who’ve been a part of it), our calling to be "friends with the Earth," and other topics.

Wednesday morning we took time to hear brief reports from all of the small groups, with more comments and ideas being offered.

A number of people expressed appreciation for that loose style of arranging for discussion – some expressing surprise that it worked so well, and affirming that it was a good chance to hear one another’s concerns and ideas.

Closing worship – commissioned for justice
[10-4-07]

Closing worship, again led by David Gambrel, was designed as a service of commissioning, with the readings based mainly on the Accra Confession which had been the centerpiece of our time together and now provided a direction for our going forth.

The Call to Worship drew us together with these words from Accra:

We believe that we are called in the Spirit
to account for the hope that is within us through Jesus Christ.
We believe that justice shall prevail and peace shall reign.

We commit ourselves to seek a global covenant for justice
in the economy, in the earth, and in the household of God.
We join in praise to God, Creator, Redeemer, Spirit,
who has "brought down the mighty from their thrones,
lifted up the lowly, filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away with empty hands."

Don Beisswenger receives anointment from Kathy Lancaster

The commissioning itself was symbolized by an act of anointing. David Gambrel had prepared a small vessel of oil, and as each of us walked forward, we received a touch of oil on our foreheads, then turned to give the same anointment to the one following us – a nice acting out of the receiving and giving of grace. We were invited to say as we applied the oil, "The Spirit of God is with you. Seek the peace and justice of Christ."

The service closed with words taken again from the Accra Confession, this time as a "Covenant of Solidarity and Commitment" –

By confessing our faith together, we covenant
in obedience to God’s will as an act of faithfulness
in mutual solidarity and in accountable relationships.
This binds us together to work for justice
in the economy and the earth
both in our common global context
as well as our various regional and local settings.

Now we proclaim with passion:
that we will commit ourselves, our time, and our energy,
to changing, renewing, and restoring the economy and the earth,
choosing life, so that we and our descendants might live.

We were sent forth, then, with the words of hope and commitment from the Canto de Esperanza, the Song of Hope (# 432 in the Presbyterian Hymnal):

May the God of hope go with us every day,
filling all our lives with love and joy and peace.
May the God of justice speed us on our way,
bringing light and hope to every land and race.

Praying, let us work for peace;
singing, share our joy with all;
working for a world that’s new,
faithful when we hear Christ’s call.