[Oe List ...] Adding to the conversation

[w.schlesinger at pvida.net]

I’m not sure my comments will be helpful; we left when our children were younger, having declined to place them in the care of others when we went to Guatemala, but finding that we could not keep them healthy in the village – parasites.  

 

I came to the order a bit disillusioned with the institutional church (as many of us were), having seen the Methodist system for ‘fast-tracking’ and how those who weren’t fast tracked were told that it was ‘God’s will’ for them to be placed in smaller, poor paying churches.  Once I spoke with JWM about staying in the Order; his response stayed with me.  “There are two ways to live, in the order and out of the order.  The only thing you have to do in the order is obey God.  The only thing you have to do out of the order is obey God.  Obey God.”  

 

I found that releasing at the time; Carol and I benefitted from the methods and processes we learned, and employed them (with variations) in our work after leaving the Institute.  We still use them.  

 

I found your comments absolutely valid and correct.  I also grieve the abuse, the trauma and the loss that those decisions entailed.  And I’ve found most organizations – sadly – have those dynamics in them as well. 

 

I appreciate your journey of care – and your transforming your own trauma and pain into insight and support for others.  If we can be helpful in this journey, we are here.

 

FWIW

 

Bill Schlesinger

(915) 490-6148

 

From: OE <oe-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> On Behalf Of Marsha Hahn via OE
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2025 8:46 AM
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net>
Cc: Marsha Hahn <mhahn013 at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: [Oe List ...] Adding to the conversation

 

For several months, I have been doing some writing, the intention of which was to spur some self-critical reflection about the Order. I had been thinking I might send it to the archives, but the last couple of days, as David, Shelley, and others have raised challenging but important topics, made me decide to go ahead and share it in this forum. If memory serves, one of the original purposes of this listserv was to create a space for inter-generational dialogue. There hasn't been a lot of that, but here we are.

 

 It's a little too long to include in the body of an email, so I'm attaching a PDF.

 

Hoping it's a helpful contribution to this conversation. 

 

In love and respect,

 

Marsha

 


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