[Dialogue] [Oe List ...] movie conversation

Sun Oct 22 20:11:02 PDT 2017

In the PC(USA), our son's church in the Cleveland, OH area just became a sanctuary church.  PC(USA) church we attend since retirement is an open, welcoming, becoming more diverse congregation, with multifaceted local outreach to the community--racial justice, food justice, environment, transition from prison ministry, girl scouts, fair trade, minimum wage, etc.
Ellie
elliestock at aol.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: George Holcombe via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
To: Mr. Marshall Jones <synergi at yahoo.com>; James Wiegel via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Cc: George Holcombe <geowanda1 at me.com>; ICA Dialogue Dialogue <ica-dialogue at igc.topica.com>
Sent: Sun, Oct 22, 2017 5:45 pm
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] movie conversation

Good go Marshall, should be an interesting and promising event.  My take on the UMC is that it went off the rails a while back by adopting a business model, more members - more money, disguised behind the notion of making disciples.  Unfortunately, few had any real training in what the Xian faith was all about. Fortunately, there are clergy and congregations striving to live the faith.  We have a growing number of reconciling congregations in the Austin area (plus several sanctuary congregations) and some clergy and laity who are making quite a witness. Sadly the Bishops and “leaders” with a few exceptions are lagging and tied to a failing model.  We have a Presbyterian church in our neighborhood, St. Andrews, Jim Rigby, pastor, who currently houses an immigrant family and is inclusive.

Let us know how the conversation comes out.

George Holcombe
geowanda1 at me.com

"Whatever the problem, community is the answer.  There is no power greater than a community discovering what it cares about."  Margaret Wheatley

On Oct 20, 2017, at 12:20 PM, W. J. via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:

Sometimes, even after we're been put out to pasture, the old guard is called upon to teach our tried and true old stuff to a new crowd.
So here's my latest simplified take on how to structure a movie conversation--boiled down from the Golden Pathways, but with a few updates ("Where did you see transformation in the movie?").
Turns out there wasn't anything this simple in the archives that I could find.
So tonight I'm facilitating a planning/screening group that will develop a film discussion series for a local church.
Given that it's a UMC--with all the angst and cultural warfare that's been swamping us--the topic will be 'human sexuality.'
Next Wednesday we kick off the series with a screening of An Act of Love.
Here's the key conversation questions I came up with (for Methodists who are moved to show the film):

What for you was the key human issue in the film? (get a variety of answers from across the group)

What triggered the underlying conflict in this church?
What was this conflict really about? (push for deeper insights here)

How was the conflict handled or not handled by the conference leadership? 

How did you respond emotionally to the film?
What emotions did you notice?
Did you feel sleepy? wide awake? distracted? uncomfortable? upset? bored? relaxed? on the edge of your seat? or what?
What in the film made you feel that way?

Where did you notice the group's emotional response?

How would you be a reconciling presence in Frank Shaefer's church?
Imagine that you are the bishop. As a minister of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18), what would you say to the members of this church who were opposed to Frank Shaefer?
As a bishop, how would you honor a rule in the Discipline with which you fundamentally disagree? (incongruence/paradox/double bind)

Where did you see transformation in the film?
Where did you see hope in the film?
Where did you see Divine Activity (or the work of the Holy Spirit) happening in the film?
What do you see as Frank Shaefer's true calling? What did he discover about God's intention for him?

What have you realized about your true calling?
What has deepened your understanding of your true calling?

An Act of Love Film

"An Act of Love" (2015) is an award-winning documentary about Rev. Frank Schaefer and the divisions in...

Marshall

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