Minutes of the Seekers Stewards Meeting
October 5, 2008
Present – Peter Bankson, Ken Burton, Jeannine Caracciolo, Pat Conover, Kate Cudlipp, Cynthia
Dahlin, Jane Engle, Sue Johnson, Muriel Lipp, Dave Lloyd (moderator), Aeren Martinez
(worship leader), Sandra Miller, Trish Nemore (recorder/angel), Brenda Seat, Keith Seat,
Margreta Silverstone, Deborah Sokolove (angel).
Absent – Marjory Bankson, Lewise Busch
Worship – Aeren created and led worship inspired Reinhold Niebuhr
Housekeeping – The next Stewards meeting will be November 2, starting at 5:00 p.m. Ken will
moderate, Jane will record, Sandra will lead worship, and Brenda and Keith will serve as
dinner angels.
Thanksgiving Baskets: Covenant Community is requesting donations for its Thanksgiving
boxes; we do not give money from the budget, but individuals should contribute if they wish.
Make checks to Covenant Christian Community and leave them in the appropriate mail slot on
the first floor.
Christmas offering: Stewards approved the SLT’s recommendation to commit $1200 of the
Christmas offering for our most current SSIHC family which is expecting a new baby. The
money will be given to SSIHC. We will decide later about allocation of the rest of the
offering. (Last year’s total offering was $3,491.)
Shepherding in Stewards’ meetings: In small groups, we worked with the questions:
When someone in our meetings displays strong emotions or is visibly upset, I react by
_______.
Because I react in this way, I need a shepherd or the circle to help me _____________, in
order to stay present.”
Comments reported back to the whole group included:
If I am the one who is upset, I want a good listener to hear me out at the latest very soon
after the meeting, to listen until I can figure out what’s real and what’s going on for
me.
We need to stop the action, slow the exchange in a prayerful manner: stop and invite
prayer, shared breathing, laying on of hands, as appropriate, on the one who is upset.
We need help identifying elements of the exchange either inside or outside the circle. If
inside, who decides whether to put aside the agenda to address the concern raised.
We need care of the individuals engaged in the issue and care of the whole group.
We need communilogue-style mirroring with those in the midst of the issue.
This should not be the moderator’s job.
We need guidance through the emotional minefield.
We need to pay attention to those who are withdrawing, not merely those who are visibly
upset.
SLT will consider the ideas from small groups and report further at a future meeting.
Recommitment. Everyone present, as well as Marjory, intends to recommit. We did not know
about Lewise.
We should work with these questions:
1. What am I being called to offer to God and God’s creation?
2. How can being a part of Seekers Church support my response to God’s call?
3. What do I need from and through this community in order to deepen my commitment to
Christ?
Working with those who “come to our door.” The sporadic presence of Lonnie and Annie/Grace
in our midst, as well as others who show up from time to time, offers us concrete opportunities to practice being in solidarity with people in need.
We have strong connections to organizations (SSIHC, CCHFP, N Street) working with homeless
people from which we can draw resources to help us better understand a spirit-based
engagement of these and other folks. Eyes to See mission group agreed to consider whether
it is willing to help the community develop next steps in this work.
Report on the building at 2025 Massachusetts Avenue. The Ecumenical Council has voted to
put the building up for sale; Kate Cudlipp is heading the group to find a realtor. Kayla
McClurg will remain as “the face of CofS” in space at Festival Center for next year. Gordon
will also have an office at FC. 2025 will be heated while we look for a buyer. There may
be a shortfall for money to pay Kayla and heating in 2009, with possible requests to the
faith communities to help financially.
In early December, there will be a celebration of the building with the possible sneaking in
of a celebration of Gordon’s leadership of CofS.
On the question of Wellspring, Keith reported that the mission group, which had put down the
running of Wellspring as its mission, had found new energy and was not putting it down.
Marjory has communication with the Wellspring mission group; ideas Seekers have to
rejuvenate Wellspring could go, informally, through Marjory, or, more formally, through Kip
Landon who is Dayspring’s Ecumenical Council representative.
Soul Talk. We shared among ourselves about our lives.
Meeting adjourned.
