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Path Forward Conversation link Sunday 11 May
by Don Bushman 09 May '25

09 May '25

Greetings Colleagues After last Sunday's meeting, Karen wanted to know: "But what can I do now?" Our response has arises from Bill's reflection about the Oklahoma Human Community Network's effort to convene a statewide congress. *A successful congress in Oklahoma would be an extraordinary accomplishment. BUT what is needed to impact our nation, would be statewide congresses in all purple states, and probably the other red states as well.* To provide an opportunity to consider Bill's challenge, I invite you to join us this coming Sunday. Maybe you have a different answer to Karen's question. 📄 Download the Bill's narrative and supporting document links. <https://email.reply.donbushman.com/c/eJxsU01zozgU_DVwSwrEh-Cggx1C4kmIxxOv7Z…> We will gather Sunday 11 May, at: 1:30 p Pac 2:30 p Mtn 3:30 p Cen 4:30 p Est 📄 Zoom link for Path Forward Conversation Sunday <https://email.reply.donbushman.com/c/eJxsU81yozgQfhpxSwoESHDQwQ7B9kxI1hNP7M…> Rob asked that the following be shared: *Ken Gillgren just made me aware of this upcoming series on strengthening networks: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/networksfestival2025?srch=&date=&sort=s… <https://www.tickettailor.com/events/networksfestival2025?srch=&date=&sort=s…> I think that Bill and our group would be interested in it. Can you please share it with the group?* And *Would you please share this important article with our group: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/13/end-times-fa… <https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/apr/13/end-times-fa…>* For the Path Forward Triad, (Bill Parker, Sunny Walker, Don Bushman) Don Bushman 828-292-9696

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Jo, I just refound, on my iPad, "Prescient thoughts of John Epps on the mood of the times", You mentioned several reflections from Wayne that were in or near the same file folder. I would like to see them, if possible.
by James Wiegel 01 May '25

01 May '25

Jim Wiegel “We are all time travelers journeying into the future. But let us make that future a place we want to visit. “ Stephen Hawking

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"Order Kid" David Marshall's New Book: IRON BOY: Searching for Freedom Inside a Family Religious Order
by K & D Marshall 01 May '25

01 May '25

Twenty years in germination, I am finally ready to publish my memoir about my experiences in the Order, Ecumenical Institute, and Institute of Cultural Affairs: *IRON BOY: Searching for Freedom Inside a Family Religious Order*. It covers twelve years, starting when I was six years old in 1962 as my family joined a several other minister families in a big house in Evanston, Illinois, followed by the next five years on the Chicago West Side campus until the historical fires after MLK Jr’s death drove us out, and then six years of youth deployment in Iowa, New York City, Kuala Lumpur, Denver, and San Jose CA. Finally, a 40-year-old self weighs in. The story is told in my boy’s voice, with limited vocabulary and awareness at first, which matures as I become more knowledgeable and conscious in my teenage years and beyond. *Who is it for?* IRON BOY is primarily for former members of these three extraordinary organizations and their extended families. It is for the remaining “Order Adults” and “Order Kids,” but also for ICA folks who never lived the monastic Order life. It is for “Spirit Movement” people who never become interns and priors. It is for the Order Kids’ partners and their children, like my own two kids, who only heard about these revolutionary times second hand. It is for my cousin Randy, whom I visited every summer in Oklahoma in the 1960s during my brief respites from Order life, who recently told me, “The 'normal' of your childhood was always unfathomable to me.” In a broader sense, it is for anyone struggling with "group think" and "us vs. them." Long from now, it is for my children’s children. *What is it about?* Having spent 16 years in the book publishing business, we always asked prospective authors, “What’s the Big Idea of your book?” If they could not say it in a couple of sentences, we asked them to return to the drawing board. IRON BOY is about FREEDOM of the human spirit in the way we taught it in RS-1 on Saturday afternoon with the Freedom Lecture and the Bonhoeffer paper, followed by the *Requiem for a Heavyweight *movie that evening. It deconstructs my first RS-1 in the West Side chapel at eleven years old. But if you are looking for a black and white treatment of the Order, EI, and ICA, this book is not for you. It is neither a blanket indictment of these three organizations nor a love fest about them. In my opinion, it is a nuanced view that may make some readers cheer and others recoil. But it is an honest portrayal of a boy’s rite of passage from darkness to spirit freedom. *When and where can I read it?* It will be published on June 15, 2025 on Amazon. You can pre-order the e-book now <https://www.amazon.com/IRON-BOY-Search-Freedom-Religious-ebook/dp/B0F3Y36V8…>, but you must wait until the publication date to order the paperback (Amazon’s rules, not mine). The e-book costs U.S. $9.99 and the paperback costs U.S. $19.99. For those of you who are my Facebook friends, or follow me on other social media sites, I have been doing a 10-week countdown every Sunday starting earlier this month. I usually share several photos and something about the book. You can see the weekly countdown on my Marshall Books blog <https://marshallbooks.wordpress.com/>. David Marshall, Moraga, California Link: Iron Boy Pre-Order: https://www.amazon.com/IRON-BOY-Search-Freedom-Religious-ebook/dp/B0F3Y36V8… Link: 10-Week Book Launch Countdown: https://marshallbooks.wordpress.com/ -- www.marshallbooks.net

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Pope Francis, "Laudate Si'," "Laudate Deum"
by Ellie Stock 28 Apr '25

28 Apr '25

Dear Friends, Like so many across the world, we were sorry to hear the news of Pope Francis' death. Pope Francis, the People's Pope", from Argentina, was the first Franciscan and non-European Pope, who chose the name Francis from St. Francis, who gave up a life a luxury, left his comfortable surrounding and chose a life of poverty and simplicity to serve God. Pope Francis eschewed the fancy trappings of the Papacy and chose to live a life as simply as possible and to serve by example, sharing a message of universal love and peace, speaking truth to power, lifting up the poor, marginalized, forgotten, the migrant, refugee and imprisoned--saying that "we are all Children of God and called ostentatious displays an osteoporosis of the soul." Pope Francis was a bold and unrelenting advocate for caring for God's Creation, and his ground-breaking Encyclical on caring for God's Creation, Laudato Si' has been read, studied and used by millions who are trying to address issues of Earth's environmental devastation and climate change. In 2023, Pope Francis followed-up Laudate Si' with his Apostolic Exhortation "Laudate Deum", proclaiming once again the environmental/ climate crisis that is upon us. Links to both of these documents are below and are well worth taking the time to read in these critical times that call us to care for Earth and all that is in it. Pope Francis said he wanted to die on the battlefield and. still recovering from pneumonia, he appeared to greet people at the Vatican on Maundy Thursday, greeting prisoners on Good Friday, making visits on Holy Saturday, and sharing a message and blessing on Easter Sunday. He lived as a resurrected person and, timely enough, died between Easter and Earth Day. We remember and give thanks for an incredible life of faith, compassion, humility, and servanthood. Grace and peace~ Ellie Laudato si' (24 May 2015) | Francis - Vatican www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/.. May 24, 2015 · “LAUDATO SI’, mi’ Signore” – “Praise be to you, my Lord”. In the words of this beautiful canticle, Saint Francis of Assisi reminds us that our common home is like a sister with whom we share our life and a beautiful mother who opens her arms to embrace us. Videos for Laudato Si - - | | | | | | | | | | | Laudato Si' animation | CAFOD | | | "Laudate Deum": Apostolic Exhortation to all people of good ... | | | | | | | | | | | "Laudate Deum": Apostolic Exhortation to all people of good will on the ... Laudate Deum: Apostolic Exhortation to all people of good will on the climate crisis, 4 October 2023 | | | www.vatican.va/.../20231004-laudate-deum.html Oct 4, 2023 · “Praise God for all his creatures”. This was the message that Saint Francis of Assisi proclaimed by his life, his canticles and all his actions.

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Heather Cox Richardson - How Trump's Greed, Grift and Racism ....
by Ken Fisher 18 Apr '25

18 Apr '25

Colleagues, This teach-in yesterday had 34,000 attendees. As many of you already know, Heather Cox Richardson is one of America’s foremost historians. For decades we have said that the economic owns the political and cultural. Her words illuminate that now. Going back to America’s beginnings, I found much of this analysis original. All can be found on https://substack.com/home Much of this is free. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/subscribe Subscribe to Letters from an American heathercoxrichardson.substack.com Courage and hope are contagious. Ken How Trump's Greed, Grift and Racism Are Collapsing America's Democratic Experiment Historian Heather Cox Richardson joins The Left Hook to discuss how the Trump Administration reflects America's tradition of the aristocracy abusing capitalism and racism to exploit the masses. <https://substack.com/@thelefthook> <https://substack.com/@heathercoxrichardson> THE LEFT HOOK WITH WAJAHAT ALI <https://substack.com/@thelefthook> AND HEATHER COX RICHARDSON <https://substack.com/@heathercoxrichardson> APR 16, 2025 https://thelefthook.substack.com/p/how-trumps-greed-grift-and-racism?utm_so… HOW TRUMP'S GREED, GRIFT AND RACISM ARE COLLAPSING AMERICA'S DEMOCRATIC EXPERIMENT THELEFTHOOK.SUBSTACK.COM

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My question in the researching was: “Bud Tillinghast asked: "Are there presently resources out there, especially in books, that would point us toward what the FutureChurch would look like or need to be?”
by James Wiegel 15 Apr '25

15 Apr '25

Good question. What have you found out so far about Christianity's decline? And why more so in what was formerly known as the West? 1. My attention was drawn to the book "The Not Yet God" I liked the "not yet" part and asked AI for a summary but did not really understand it. Here is the description from Amazon: "We are a species between axial periods. Thus, our religious myths are struggling to find new connections in a global, ecological order. Delio proposes the new myth of relational holism; that is, the search for a new connection to divinity in an age of quantum physics, evolution, and pluralism. The idea of relational holism is one that is rooted in the God-world relationship, beginning with the Book of Genesis, but finds its real meaning in quantum physics and the renewed relationship between mind and matter. Our story, therefore, will traverse across the fields of science, scripture, theology, history, culture and psychology. Our guides for a new myth of relational holism are the psychoanalyst Carl Jung, and the Jesuit scientist-theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin. The complex human can no longer be simplified to one view or another: one must see the whole of our existence or one does not see at all.2. John Amandola's book, No Harbor. This from Amazon: You have left or are considering leaving evangelicalism. You have experienced hurt and disillusionment because of Christian nationalism, racism, the marginalization of women and sexual minorities, abuse and acceptance of abuse, and denial of science. You’ve seen authoritarian leaders silence the voices of those who desire change. So, you are finally done with the church. Having left the harbor, you may find yourself in a sea of doubt and confusion without a spiritual home. You long for community. But leaving the church does not necessarily mean you want to leave Jesus. No Harbor is a guide for healthy deconstruction in community. We are not trying to reach you or win you back. There are no apologetics within these pages. Instead, we are here to help you move forward. The approach of No Harbor is to deconstruct hurtful and toxic theology that has led to the dysfunctions that have driven so many away from the church. Then, we will make course corrections that recapture the ancient beauty of Christian faith in a way that works in the 21st century. Our goal is to facilitate your healing and to walk with you as you rebuild a more lifegiving and joyful faith than ever before. Jim Wiegel Theunknown is what is. And to be frightened of it is what sends everybodyscurrying around chasing dreams, illusions, wars, peace, love, hate, allthat. Unknown is what is. Accept that it's unknown, and it's plainsailing. John Lennon 401 North Beverly Way, Tolleson, Arizona 85353 623-363-3277 jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com www.partnersinparticipation.com On Monday, April 14, 2025 at 12:41:42 AM MST, rev.bud(a)mac.com <rev.bud(a)mac.com> wrote: Bill, I find this helpful. Can anyone name the "world church meeting” that turned down the Order? I find the paper by John Epps that Jim Wieger sent me to be inciteful. It helps me see that the Order continued theological reflection in and beyond existentialism. To give some clarity as to why I am currently dialoguing with you, let me explain what I have been doing. For the last several years I have been involved in doing a research project. As I am sure no one would deny, the church has been in a long decline, in both membership and in the influencing of its culture. This decline has only been in the West; in the rest of the world the church has been growing. (See The ext Christendom by Jenkins.) People in the Order ought to be aware of this decline. After all, the Order set out with the purpose of renewing the church long ago. My question in the researching was: “Are there presently resources out there, especially in books, that would point us toward what the FutureChurch would look like or need to be?” One issue that has come up in a number of books is the need for the church to change from a model of getting members to developing disciples, in order to fulfil its role in missio Dei (God’s mission in the world. See my blog,Teaching Paper 3 https://budtillinghast4.wordpress.com/2024/12/05/3-mission-as-missio-dei/) It was at this point that I began to recall my time in relation to the Order with its Imaginal Education, especially your disciple-creating tools of Religious and Cultural Studies. And I began to wonder if there are any of those of you on these lists who would be interested in gathering resources for the FutureChurch? After all, it was you folk who taught me that it was better to work corporately rather than individually. Grace and peace, Bud On Sunday, April 13, 2025 at 04:45:14 PM MST, w.schlesinger(a)pvida.net <w.schlesinger(a)pvida.net> wrote: I think Bud says about the turn to the world, “In so doing they decided to emphasize Cultural Studies over Religious Studies”. In my memory it had less to do with studies and more to do with strategy. Joe Mathews came back from a world church meeting that declined to confirm the Order Ecumenical as an entity. That and other dynamics led to a decision to shift from focusing on the local church as the change agent in history (a la HRN) to a direct facilitation method in the community, public and private sectors with LENS and then ICA Facilitation. Along with the Global Demonstration Projects and the ‘whistle points,’ the ICA became a strategic attempt to create a consensus based societal direction. Many of us took those methods and models into a variety of corporate, community and non-profit entities. That in turn involved looking at the dynamics that created and sustained a context that was derived from RS-1 but expressed in non-theological language. Formal Christian language and symbolism had become a restricting dynamic in addressing and engaging a wider audience. My take anyway. And apologies for the wordy rant in my previous response. I get that way sometimes. FWIW Bill Schlesinger On 11 Apr 2025, at 23:39, James Wiegel via Dialogue <dialogue(a)lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote: 1. Did we actually encounter / (re)discover the other world incthe midst of this world (the realities of mystery, consciousness, care and tranquillity as present in our lives and world) or did we just say that?? 2. See below the words for “The Mystery is Everywhere”. Do any of you have a recording of it being sung? I can hear Mary Warren Moffett singing it in my head . Thanks Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver Begin forwarded message:

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Re: [Dialogue] 2 questions about the other world in the midst of this world
by James Wiegel 15 Apr '25

15 Apr '25

SO . . .looks like no one has a recording of "The Mys'try is Everywhere" Would anyone be willing to SING it on zoom while I record? SO . . . 2 people responded that we did indeed encounter / (re) discover /map the other world (the phenomena of mystery, consciousness, care and tranquility) in the midst of "this world". ANYONE ELSE?? As to Bud's question, see below some interweaving. <rev.bud(a)mac.com> wrote: Let me be clearer, if I can, of what I’m asking, which is in reference to Jim Wiegel’s question: "Did we actually encounter/(re)discover the other world in the midst of this world (the realities of mystery, consciousness, care and tranquillity as present in our lives and world) or did we just say that?” I’m aware of a lot concerning the beginnings of the Order. Jack Lewis hiring Joe Matthews to be an extraordinary lecturer for the Christian Faith and Life Community in Austin. The development of RSI around a Christian existentialism based on Bultmann, Tillich, and Bonhoeffer in the early 1950s. I think you should include H. Richard Niebuhr . . . | | | | | | | | | | | 24 Joe Slicker Mathews Went Down to be with Jack Lewis | | | I’m aware of what we may call a ’turn to the church’ by part of the CFLC staff with part of them going off to Chicago in Easter 1962 to create E.I. I’m aware of the ’turn to the world’ in the 1970s. In so doing they decided to emphasize Cultural Studies over Religious Studies. | | | | | | | | | | | 41 Joe Slicker Let Me Tell You a Little About Evanston | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 42 Joe Slicker Who Went Up from Austin in that Truck | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 31 Joe Slicker In '62 We Got Run out of Austin | | | This was not a discontinuation of dependence upon an existentialist theology. Though the Order shunned Gene Marshall, he did not shun the thought of Bultmann, Tillich, and Bonhoeffer. I reference his writings where he develops their thought (https://www.realisticliving.org/koob/GreatParagraphs/) It is even clearer his continued reliance on existentialism in his lecture on Consciousness:(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2d5zZB1e5A&t=403s) But I lost contact with the Order and its thought basis after the ’turn to the world'. Was there further theological reflection beyond existentialism? If so, what form did it take? I don't really know enough theology or philosophy in a formal or academic sense to answer your question. Here are some possibilities.What about this little talk about "The Barefoot Jesus" | | | | Untitled | | | I also attach a paper attributed to John Epps "The Jesus Principle" that may be helpful. Peace, Bud On 12 Apr 2025, at 16:34, James Wiegel <jfwiegel(a)yahoo.com> wrote: Bud asked ( and Jim dodged) this question: "How is the claim of "encountering another world” related to the Gospel?" Anyone?? I am still hoping for a recording of “The Mys’try is Everywhere” Anyone? Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver On Apr 12, 2025, at 8:15 AM, rev.bud(a)mac.com wrote: "How is the claim of "encountering another world” related to the Gospel?"

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2 questions about the other world in the midst of this world
by James Wiegel 12 Apr '25

12 Apr '25

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Re: [Dialogue] 2 questions about the other world in the midst of this world
by James Wiegel 12 Apr '25

12 Apr '25

Bud asked ( and Jim dodged) this question: "How is the claim of "encountering another world” related to the Gospel?" Anyone?? I am still hoping for a recording of “The Mys’try is Everywhere” Anyone? Jim Wiegel “…the long work of turning their lives into a celebration is not easy. Come and let us talk“. The Sunflowers. Mary Oliver > On Apr 12, 2025, at 8:15 AM, rev.bud(a)mac.com wrote: > > "How is the claim of "encountering another world” related to the Gospel?"

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Re: [Dialogue] 2 questions about the other world in the midst of this world
by James Wiegel 12 Apr '25

12 Apr '25

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