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
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@alaweb.com>
To: Order Ecumenical Community
<oe@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@mindspring.com wrote:
From: "Herman Greene"
<hfgreene@mindspring.com>
To: "'Order Ecumenical Community'"
<oe@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@lists.wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces@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@lists.wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces@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@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@lists.wedgeblade.net
[mailto:oe-bounces@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@gmail.com>
Reply-To: Order Ecumenical Community
<oe@lists.wedgeblade.net>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe@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@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@yahoo.com>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net>
Cc: Order Ecumenical
Community <oe@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@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@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@lists.wedgeblade.net
>
[mailto:oe-bounces@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@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@yahoo.com>
wrote:
>>>
>>> Who can forget Dawn Lingo and Lynette
Shanklin?
>>>
>>>
________________________________
>>> From: Mary Laura Jones <mljones2022@gmail.com>
>>>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe@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@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@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@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@lists.wedgeblade.net
>>>
http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
_______________________________________________
>>> OE mailing
list
>>> OE@lists.wedgeblade.net
>>>
http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
_______________________________________________
>>> OE mailing
list
>>> OE@lists.wedgeblade.net
>>>
http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
_______________________________________________
>>> OE mailing
list
>>> OE@lists.wedgeblade.net
>>>
http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
>>>
>>
>>
>>
_______________________________________________
>> OE mailing
list
>> OE@lists.wedgeblade.net
>>
http://lists.wedgeblade.net/listinfo.cgi/oe-wedgeblade.net
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Margaret and David
Scott
> Flathead Valley College
>
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