“Perhaps objectivity is gained not through detachment from the setting but through deep
involvement in and reflection about the setting.” (Coombe, 1997) This quote from our reading
supported me in thinking about describing a community-based group in which I currently
participate. We have many opportunities to learn about new issues, new programs, and new
projects. With this assignment, I took the opportunity to further develop my new knowledge
with a group with which I have been involve, to varying depths, for five years.
St. Paul’s United Methodist Church is located in the museum district, the heart of inner
city Houston. “To build a community of faith centered in love” (SPUMC, 2006) is an excerpt
from the mission statement. Using Fellin’s 2001 definition of community, as based on shared
interest (Minkler, 2005), and parts of Hunter’s 1975 definition, which describes communities
as units of patterned social interaction and symbolic units of collective identity (Minkler, 2005),
I have set about examining this community.
Prior Unity
Dear Folks -
As I mentioned this past week my brother, who lives in Tennessee,
is gravely ill. I am on my way to spend time with him.
I have asked one of the most popular speakers we have ever had to
return to the Ordinary Life Gather to speak with you this week.
Michael Butera, a former Roman Catholic priest and currently a
practicing psychotherapist, will talk with you about -
Prior Unity
He gave me this sentence to describe what he plans to say: "A new
kind of consciousness is required based on the working assumption of
prior unity and on the understanding of the indivisibility of the
single world in which everyone is living."
Mike's spiritual journey and story is fascinating. His insights
and understandings reflect the kind of non-dualistic thinking we have
been talking about. I hope you will do yourself a favor and come to
hear him.
Thank you for your understanding, prayers and support.
Much love,
Bill Kerley
Read moreThe spiritual basis of nonviolent communication
Dear Folks -
As you may know I am talking in my Ordinary Life Talks about how
we cause ourselves suffering by trying to be "one up" on life. There
are many ways this "one-upmanship" shows up in our lives. One of them
is in a failure to recognize our own pain and take responsibility for
it. Exclusionist thinking (this is the thinking of the dualistic
mind) always creates violent people. That is to say, if we don't
transform our pain, which is most often unrecognized by us, we will
always transmit it. Our world is full of such violence. This violence
may come in a velvet glove. It may be absolutely unrecognized but it
is and will be present.
This week in Ordinary Life we are going to be privileged to have
Jori and Jim Manske from Albuquerque, New Mexico, speak to us. They
will be focusing on the spiritual basis of nonviolent communication
and the role that this type of communication can play in supporting
personal self-awareness and transformation as well as life-enriching
social change. You will have an opportunity to learn through a
dynamic and fun learning process to designed to help us transform the
way we hear criticism and blame.
Much love,
Bill Kerley
Read moreitscool2care.org - Brooke Summers-Perry
This week you are going to hear an amazing story in Ordinary Life
about how one person, Brooke Summers-Perry, has acted on these truths
and brought something into being in working to gain clarity about, as
she puts it, "who I am, why I am here, and what I think I am meant to
do." She will share with you a synchronicity of connections,
especially with young people, that will not only encourage you about
"how things are" but also will demonstrate how compassion and
gratitude are contagious.
Please check out her web site for itscool2care and download the audio file below to listen to this Sundays Ordinary Life class.
Read more