<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.23588">
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial>Dear John,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial> The Grows say a loud
AMEN and look forward to further communication in a week or two when Bill
gets out of the hospital. In the meantime, in our ancient and limited way
we continue to be the Order, wear the ring, etc.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial> G&P, Nan
Grow</FONT> </DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE
style="BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; PADDING-LEFT: 5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-RIGHT: 0px">
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="FONT: 10pt arial; BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=oe@lists.wedgeblade.net href="mailto:oe@lists.wedgeblade.net">John
Epps via OE</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=oe@wedgeblade.net
href="mailto:oe@wedgeblade.net">Order Ecumenical Community</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, June 14, 2017 5:57
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> [Oe List ...] The Order and
Oaxtapec</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV dir=ltr>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>It has long been claimed that
at the Oaxtapec gathering, the Order was called out of being. That assertion
has long troubled me, and it seems time to clear the
air.<BR><BR><SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>IMHO, the statement is both
sociologically and theologically inaccurate. A more accurate formulation of
what happened in Mexico was that we went from a structured to a dispersed
form. Something was definitely dissolved at Oaxtapec, but it was not the
Order, only a particular form of the Order.<BR><BR><SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>On the sociological side, there
is still a lively “we” that once went under the name “Order Ecumenical.” This
list-serve and the archives workshops represent some manifestations, but more
significant are the personal collegial relationships that persist despite
great demographic, cultural, and geographic differences. “We” continue to
communicate and to celebrate the life milestones of each other.
<BR><BR><SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>“We” continue to engage in the
mission of catalyzing and caring for those who care – in multiple sectors and
with far greater impact than a single organization could have managed. Some
examples include the ToP Network, the IAF, ICA community development work in
India, Nepal, Australia, and South America, and environmental preservation
efforts in the USA. “We” have published a good number of books making insights
available to a wide audience. Colleagues could fill out the list.
<BR><BR><SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>Theologically, the Order is a
historical dynamic that we’ve been privileged to participate in. It is not
something we can disband, even if we wanted to. Just as Niebuhr described the
Church as the “sensitive and responsive ones…” that takes many forms, so also
is the Order composed of those awakened and catalytic ones who care for those
who care. The notion that some of us could dissolve that dynamic confuses the
form from the content (the baby from the bathwater to use a less abstract
metaphor). I’ve come (reluctantly) to see that we were led to dissolve a
particular structure so that the historical dynamic might continue in an
enhanced fashion. <BR><BR><SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>Why does this matter? Is it
simply a verbal difference having little to do with anything except the
neurosis of an old theologian? <BR><BR><SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>It matters because thinking
that there is no longer an Order prevents us from wrestling with pertinent
questions: How can we remain in touch with the Profound Mystery? How can we
continue to access our common insights? What rites and celebrations are
appropriate to a dispersed body? How can we account to each other and support
each other? How can we stay on the religious and secular edge? What (if any)
forms are appropriate for the global and diverse participants in this
historical dynamic? In a time when hatred and fear of differences is so
rampant, what new experiments might make a difference? What might we learn
from <U>Journey to the East</U>?<BR><BR><SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>Collegial comments,
clarifications, corrections, and additions are most welcome.<SPAN></SPAN></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal><BR></P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>Thanks for reading this.</P>
<P style="LINE-HEIGHT: normal" class=MsoNormal>John Epps</P></DIV>
<P>
<HR>
<P></P>_______________________________________________<BR>OE mailing
list<BR>OE@lists.wedgeblade.net<BR>http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></BODY></HTML>