Religious Leadership in a Time of Transition. As First Church moves through its most important institutional transition in nearly twenty years, everyone will agree that effective leadership is critical. Do we have a shared understanting of this often-invoked value? Is a leader someone unusually accomplished in the work at hand, or are the qualities necessary for excellenet leadership distinct from job competence per se? If religious leadership is different from what the world at large means by leadership, what is the essence of the difference? Incumbent and aspiring church leaders are invited to an exploration of this exxential ingredient in the life of our spiritual community. Facilitators: Rev. Preston Moore - is a First Church Minister in Residence. Katie Radditz - is the Director of Adult Programs for First Church.
About 5 round tables, with about 35 people. We introduce ourselves, most of the people brought some kind of an object. I brought myself, as guest from the partner church. Lecture of Rev. Preston Moore. Writing questions and answers: what is important in the case of a leader.
Afterwards exercise. We are distributed papers: description of three cases. We have to imagine ourselves in the role of a leader, who has to bring decision.
It was an interesting experience. I had an idea what the leadership of a UU church was like, how they handled some issues. Now I understood why they said UUs liked to discuss, debate, and also realized how interested they were in psychological issues. Priority in one of the exercises didn't seem to have dying Martha but her pessimistic leader, whose likely death-complex they thought needed urgent treatment.
This was indeed a good day. I appreciated Preston's opinion: small groups are important, where new members can share their problems and they can be discussed, thus facilitating their integration into the community.
Afterwards I had a long walk in SE Portland. Checked out Next Adventure, recommended by John. Indeed, there are two kinds of socks: "perfect" and "slightly imperfect" ones. Perfect ones are $10-12, slightly imperfect ones: $7-8.
Halloween. Pumpkins all over the city, people in funny and morbid costumes. Homes clad in lamps. During the night kids came to ask for candies like during Easter in Transylvania. Lajos is advancing with the revision of my translation. We agreed that I would have to write a commentary. And an article about my stay.
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