On September 29 to October 4, 2013, at the Dawn of InterSpirituality Conference at the Cascadia Center in Washington State, a group of about 25 of us met to consider the possibility of an InterSpiritual Association. We met each day for about an hour. On Monday, we discussed the need for an association and offered words that described the need. On Tuesday, we offered our vision for the world we’d like to see and how an association might help create that world. On Wednesday, we offered words and phrases into the circle that that described our vision. On Thursday, we reviewed a draft of the vision and offered words into the circle to define the mission. On Friday, we reported back to the full conference on the results of our sessions.
We agreed to continue the association formation process by using this InterSpiritual Blog. Gradually, over the coming months let’s see if we can keep gradually working step by step on the following topics:
1. The Need
2. The Vision
3. The Mission
4. The Purpose
5. The Programs
6. The Committees
7. The Organization and Membership
Just as “InterSpirituality” is a grand experiment, so will be the formation of an association. Just by agreeing to associate with each other, we are co-creating an association. Let’s see how we can consciously build it together.
I will post topics on this blog pertaining to each step in the formation process. Please comment on these as they are posted.
Thanks for this important leadership vision and initiative. I hope to hear more about it. My current Interspiritual project — the “Interspirit Alliance” — is continuing to slowly expand — building up more participants, embracing a wider span of conversation — and considering these critical issues of organization.
I’ve been wondering about basic project design questions. Do we design and build and somehow agree on an intentional conscious stipulative kind of approach — where we posit some kind of agenda — collectively validate and authenticate it in every collaborative/co-creative way we can manage — and do what we can to move it proactively?
I have thought that maybe an “alliance” model might take this kind of approach: come up with a shared thesis, nail it to the door, and push it forward.
An “association” on the other hand — might take a gentler and somewhat more free-associative approach — with less commitment to a common core — and maybe (?) an emphasis on marketing individual projects — where the common ground is more loosely defined, maybe in terms of individual success and the notion that “a rising tide lifts all boats”.
As an internet person — I’d like to see some of this discussed in writing — maybe look at some individual proposals —
Thanks so much,
– Bruce Schuman
http://interspirit.net