[Oe List ...] [Dialogue] Transition Announcement

Tue Aug 5 07:44:39 PDT 2014

Terry,
Your presence, style and vision have been an inspiration to all who worked with you during a very difficult time of transition.  It was an honor and a gift to have worked so closely with you over the past 5 years.  I know that you and the board have worked hard on this next transition in the organization's life and I want to extend my personal thanks for your work and wish you and Pam the best as you take on new challenges.
Douglas and Patricia Druckenmiller

To: bergdall2 at gmail.com; oe at lists.wedgeblade.net
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 2014 09:17:22 -0400
CC: dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] [Oe List ...] Transition Announcement
From: dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net

Terry,

The ICA has been extremely fortunate to have your leadership these last seven years--so much accomplished, plus a whole new spirit.  Thank you for taking the reins and daring to put into action the dreams and objectives you had--on behalf of the world, the Chicago community, GreenRise and all of us connected with the ICA/EI/OE.  We are truly grateful for yours and Pam's commitment, passion, vision, and incredibly excellent work that has positioned the ICA for its next era of adventure.

Carleton and Ellie Stock

-----Original Message-----

From: Terry Bergdall via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>

To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>

Cc: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>

Sent: Tue, Aug 5, 2014 12:33 am

Subject: [Oe List ...] Transition Announcement

At my initiative
last May, I informed the ICA-USA Board of Directors that I thought it was time
for them to begin the process of identifying my replacement as ICA’s executive
officer. Since this listserv represents the community to which I feel
accountable, it is appropriate that I share with you my thoughts about this
decision. It also is my effort to answer questions that I suspect many people
will have when they hear the news.

It was in early January
2007 when I was first presented with the idea of becoming Executive Director of
ICA-USA. My initial response was strongly negative. I was enjoying the fruits
of nearly 20 years, following the disbanding of the Order, as a successful
independent consultant. I considered myself to be an eager and active player in
expanding the reach and impact of the OE community, the “flowering of the Order”
as some have called it, through a wide array of creative activities that were
generally beyond its grasp when it was more tightly bound. Why give that up to
wrestle with the problems, and potential drudgery, of institutional life? 

Despite my initial
“no,” a seed was planted and ideas about ICA’s future continued to grow within
my imagination. The reason for embracing institutional challenges is because
they have a way of outlasting us all. I wanted to ensure that the principles,
perspectives, values, and wisdom that have motivated people during the past 50
years would continue to have a living home. This is manifest in new programs
that give practical form to truths like: (1) everyone has gifts, assets, and
capacities; (2) the external situation is never the problem; (2) people live
out of images and when images change, behavior changes; (4) an emphasis on
cultural dimensions of the social process is the key to addressing economic and
political contradictions. My passion was, and is, to ensure these points, and
others like them, are embedded in the institutional fabric of an organization
that will continue beyond my lifetime. The vision, therefore, is ICA as a branded
vessel for profound insights that inspire people to action.

My commitment when
I took this job involved three objectives:  create innovative new programs built upon the legacy of
ICA’s past while addressing new realities, obtain economic stability, and to pass
on the organization to new leadership looking toward the next 50 years. I feel
very good these days about the dynamic programs for which ICA-USA enjoys a
growing high-profile reputation -- the neighborhood work with “Accelerate 77,”
the emergence of the “GreenRise Learning Laboratory” at 4750, leadership
development of university students through contextual education and civic
engagement, and the spreading of ToP facilitation methods throughout the
country. ICA’s international connectedness is a powerful feature of its work. Economic
stability remains an elusive objective requiring constant diligence but is
never reason for inaction. Based on all of the above, I believe now is the
right time to enable a successful transition to new leadership from among those
who are attracted to ICA’s underlying purpose and in-depth programs.

To that end, I will
post information very soon from the ICA-USA Board of Directors about the
succession process to appoint a new CEO.

_______________________________________________
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