[Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical

Mon Jun 4 15:04:09 PDT 2012

Hi Dear Colleagues,

I have been reading the postings under the above topic for many days now,
but with a bit of growing discomfort.  

I have loved the panoply of beloved colleagues' names that all of our
offerings have brought to my consciousness, and especially the wondrous
tapestry of Robert Shropshire's full and unrepeatable life.

My concern is that all this "naming," although I believe it is offered in
authentic love, prayer and appreciation of "Black colleagues"  in our
Order, seems to be subtly suggesting (even representing) the racial
separation that is still present in our collective consciousness, and
therefore in our society.  Perhaps this is one thread of what the UMC has
named "white western privilege."

To my knowledge we have not sparked a conversation anything like "Being
Indian in the OE," for example, when Mali Balm, or Desmond Balm, or
Shakuntala Jadhav or countless other colleagues died.

I'm not negating the good and positive memories we have collectively
generated because of Robert Shropshire's sudden and sad passing.  I'm
just thinking Shop would perhaps be singing to us -- "we are the red man,
we are the black man, we are brown man, we are the yellow man, we are the
tan man, we are the white man......"

Just my two cents, offered in love to you all.

Marilyn

On Mon, 4 Jun 2012 13:11:40 -0700 (PDT) R Williams <rcwmbw at yahoo.com>
writes:
I'm not sure but I think it was Carlos Ollison.

"Listen to what is emerging from yourself to the course of being in the
world; not to be supported by it, but to bring it to reality as it
desires."
-Martin Buber (adapted)

From: David Walters <walters at alaweb.com>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> 
Sent: Monday, June 4, 2012 3:05 PM
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical

In 1971 Robert Shorpshire, larry Ward another fellow whose name wscapes
me were sent out on a coast to cost trip vistiting black churches. They
came back and gave a long presentation on their findings. Does anyone
remember who the other man was?

-David Walters

--- hfgreene at mindspring.com wrote:

From: "Herman Greene" <hfgreene at mindspring.com>
To: "'Order Ecumenical Community'" <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical
Date: Mon, 4 Jun 2012 15:55:24 -0400

I thought of Gene Beazely (sp?). How memorable he was

From: oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net
[mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Lynda Cock
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 2:41 PM
To: 'Order Ecumenical Community'
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical

Christine Harris and Melanie were with us in the 5th City House.  I also
remember James Mosely from the Milwaukee Region and Debra Mosely who was
with us in the Washington DC House.  

From: oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net
[mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of Mary Hampton
Sent: Monday, June 04, 2012 8:33 AM
To: Order Ecumenical Community
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical 
 In /Summer 70 and the following year I remember James Patterson and
Michael Ware. 

mary h

On Jun 3, 2012, at 6:23 PM, "Ann Shafer" <asgoodasitgets at hughes.net>
wrote: 
And there is my beautiful daughter, Tabitha, who is now living in
Baltimore soon to move to Denver, a successful government worker. She
graduated from Kindergarten at the local school while we lived on
Westside. Ann Shafer 
From: oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net
[mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of McCabe, Diann A
Sent: Sunday, June 03, 2012 1:09 PM
To: Order Ecumenical Community
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical 
Realize I left Marcella off the list I sent earlier—She was a force of
beauty, strength, and humor in the Atlanta House in 74 or so. Went to
Nairobi after that and returned to live in D.C. Is married and has
beautiful daughters.--Diann McCabe 
From: Paula Philbrook <paula.philbrook at gmail.com>
Reply-To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical 
She was my roommate in 1969.   
On Sat, Jun 2, 2012 at 11:54 AM, R Williams <rcwmbw at yahoo.com> wrote: 
I have a name in my head that I can't quite put a face with.  Does the
name Marcella Buchanan, or something like that, ring a bell with anyone? 
Randy 
"Listen to what is emerging from yourself to the course of being in the
world; not to be supported by it, but to bring it to reality as it
desires."
-Martin Buber (adapted) 
From: James Wiegel <jfwiegel at yahoo.com>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> 
Cc: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> 
Sent: Saturday, June 2, 2012 12:03 PM
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical 

You sang on the bus all the way to the Bahamas ?  Wow.

Jim Wiegel
Jfwiegel at yahoo.com

I can't say as I was ever lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.
 Daniel Boone

On Jun 1, 2012, at 18:25, "Ann Shafer" <asgoodasitgets at hughes.net> wrote:

> And I so enjoyed working with everyone in Fifth City but most
especially
> Velma Brocks who is my daughter, Catherine's, godmother. Velma could
say so
> much without saying anything. She and I handled the Fifth City payroll
for
> awhile. Plus David and I had a wonderful time on the Fifth City to the
World
> trip to the Bahamas so beautifully enabled and spiritized by Alice and
Jim
> Baumbach. Remember Peggy who led the singing on our bus all the way
there
> and back? I know the Fifth Citizens were not O:E but they were our
> colleagues and mentors. Ann Stewart Shafer
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net
> [mailto:oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of David Scott
> Sent: Friday, June 01, 2012 10:23 AM
> To: Order Ecumenical Community
> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical
> 
> Phylis Christmas
> 
> On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 8:55 AM, Nancy Lanphear <nancy at songaia.com>
wrote:
>> Dear Ones,
>> 
>> Our common memory is such a gift.  Each of us can let go of some of 
>> our worry about loosing our own.  Thanks for sharing your memories
with
> me.
>> 
>> Love,
>> 
>> Nancy
>> 
>> 
>> On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 7:48 AM, E B <marosel2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Who can forget Dawn Lingo and Lynette Shanklin?
>>> 
>>> ________________________________
>>> From: Mary Laura Jones <mljones2022 at gmail.com>
>>> To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
>>> Sent: Friday, June 1, 2012 9:37 AM
>>> Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Being Black in the Order Ecumenical
>>> 
>>> I learned so much from Lois Reeves and Emma Melton in the Cleveland 
>>> Region. I am so grateful for their presence in our lives. Many things

>>> they said still make me smile. Their wisdom and leadership were very 
>>> important in the ICA's work.
>>> 
>>> Mary Laura Jones
>>> 
>>> On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 9:12 AM, McCabe, Diann A <dm14 at txstate.edu>
wrote:
>>> 
>>> Sharon Turner stands out for me. Vincent Scott and Mary. And deep 
>>> colleague in Mississippi, the late Ruth Wilson.
>>> 
>>> Diann McCabe
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On 6/1/12 8:17 AM, "Nancy Lanphear" <nancy at songaia.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Dear Randy,
>>> 
>>> I, too would appreciate hearing some of the stories about what it was

>>> like to be black in the Order.  I remember Phoebe Reynolds, Christine

>>> Harris, and some of the children  .... Tad and Todd Mueller, Eric 
>>> Shropshire, Adam and Kaira Lingo, Emanuel Ward, Kevin Woodward  ... 
>>> I am sorry , who are the others who have slipped through my memory 
>>> ...?  Thank you Joyce and Randy
>>> 
>>> Nancy
>>> 
>>> On Fri, Jun 1, 2012 at 3:55 AM, R Williams <rcwmbw at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Joyce,
>>> 
>>> Your brief comment, in remembering Robert Shropshire, about what it 
>>> was like to be black and to have been in the O:E has me wanting to 
>>> hear more about what that experience was like, and trying to recall 
>>> our black Order colleagues prior to our being dispersed around the 
>>> globe, embracing cultures of color everywhere.
>>> 
>>> In addition to you, Carlos and Shropshire, I remember Larry Ward, 
>>> Nadine Ward, Harold Williams and Richard whose last name was, I
think,
> Epson.
>>> Other faces are pictured in my mind's eye whose names I cannot 
>>> recall.  Who were they?
>>> 
>>> My interest is peaked by the fact that the white majority, in the U.S

>>> at least, is shrinking and will likely soon no longer exist, combined

>>> with the fact that there is a glimmer of indication that cultural 
>>> diversity of all kinds is coming to be not only tolerated but 
>>> embraced by more and more people.
>>> 
>>> On behalf of the future, with an eye toward how all people may live 
>>> together in peace on this flat, increasingly diverse and crowded 
>>> planet, I would love to hear more of your reflections, as well as 
>>> those of others, on what it was like then to be black and in the O:E 
>>> and what, with
>>> 50 years of experience behind us, we all have learned.
>>> 
>>> A conversation like this could be a fitting tribute to Robert, 
>>> Nadine, Harold and others now departed who have impacted our 
>>> community and consciousness over the years.
>>> 
>>> Randy
>>> 
>>> "Listen to what is emerging from yourself to the course of being in 
>>> the world; not to be supported by it, but to bring it to reality as
it
> desires."
>>> -Martin Buber (adapted)
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> OE mailing list
>>> OE at lists.wedgeblade.net
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> 
>>> 
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>>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
> 
> 
> 
> --
> Margaret and David Scott
> Flathead Valley College
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-- 
Paula  

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into
enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order,
confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a
home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings
peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. 
Melody Beattie 
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Dr. Marilyn R. Crocker
123 Sanborn Road
West Newfield, ME 04095
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