Saturday: Goldilocks, the Clump and Polarities

On Saturday, August 2nd, the Chapter considered the proposal for the election of new leaders recommended by the Chapter Planning Committee. Specifically, the proposal would:

• extend the terms of the current leaders to May 1, 2009
• reconvene the Chapter in January 2009
• set the date of transition for May 1, 2009

Co-facilitator Jean Alvarez shared the CPC’s description of this as the “Goldilocks” proposal: not too fast, not too slow, but just right. She invited us to return to our Italian Piazza for conversation. We then formed a “human continuum” by standing in different parts of the room depending on our preference: “too slow” on one end, “too fast” on the other end, and “just right” in the middle. Jean described the mass of Chapter attendees in the middle of the room as a “human clump,” indicating a clear preference for the Goldilocks proposal. After some group discussion, Chapter participants voted unanimously to approve the proposed timeline.

The "clump"

Facilitator Joyce DeShano remarked that the proposal “contains some hidden generosity” in terms of the women who have agreed to “put their lives on hold.” Our current elected leaders who have agreed to continue serving until new Congregational leadership is in place were then invited on the stage and blessed by the Chapter body in a spirit of gratitude.

The rest of the day was devoted to the question of who would attend the January Chapter session: only those required (delegates, alternates, nominees who are not delegates, and staff) or those required plus 10 sisters and 2 associates from each region chosen by lottery. Several values and questions were raised in our discussions, including the values of inclusion and participation, the financial cost and carbon footprint of bringing people to New Jersey, the importance of a participatory CSG process prior to January, and the possibility of video-conferencing. The Chapter body was fairly split on the issue in our first two leanings,
with these various values held in tension.

Jean shared some thoughts with us on “polarity management,” as a framework for reflection when you are caught “betwixt and between” two competing values. We then took a third leaning, and it was clear that there was movement towards continuing the Chapter for Elections in January with only the required attendees. In a formal vote, the delegates unanimously decided that only the required attendees - again, delegates, alternates, nominees, and staff - will gather at the January session. Joyce suggested that we share with those at home that we “truly tried to discern this issue and spent a lot of time on the question.” The process for surfacing names, sharing information about potential Congregational leaders, and receiving comments from all in the Congregation will be designed in Gathering Two of the Chapter, August 5-8.