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Sunday, July 1, 2012

Lessons From Justice GA



Most folks agree that Justice GA was a resounding success.  I heard from more than one veteran GA attendee that this was the best GA they had been to.  They reported that this GA seemed more focused and purposeful.  Workshops and worship were aligned and we were able to go deeper with each experience and event.  One attendee stated they felt less overwhelmed than they usually did at the end of GA.  Another said they were energized to go home and make a difference in their own community.
I am exhilarated by the sense of possibility that was cultivated by our time together in Phoenix.  I am looking forward with great anticipation to hearing how we take back our learnings and experiences from Justice GA.
I am also intrigued by what we learned about creating community, working for justice as religious people, and build capacity for action. These process lessons may be as important as any content we learned.  
Among what I take back to my own congregation are these three things: 
Preparation
Our folks on the ground worked for years to nurture relationships and arrange the logistics for our service work.  Thought was also given to the communication provided to attendees prior to GA.  I poured over the pre GA information and was full of anticipation for events to begin.  What type of preparation would better prepare members and friends to show up ready and engaged for each justice, fellowship, and worship event in our congregations?  Our experience in Phoenix would suggest we need a longer trajectory than our church year. 
Purpose
Our tolerance and encouragement for folks having their own paths can mean that we struggle to focus collectively on a singular purpose. Yet, when we gather with a clear and focused purpose we feel the strength and power of our love magnified, we experience connection and community, and we are transformed.  What spiritual work needs to be done for us to do this better and more often? 
Purple Shirts
Well trained leaders in purple shirts provided spiritual focus, comfort, attention.  They were visible.  They called us to our best selves.  There was a Purple Shirt on every bus.  Who are the Purple Shirts in our congregations?  Can we ensure that there is a Purple Shirt on every “bus” or at every event to attend to our spirits and call us to our best selves?  
Preparation, focused purpose, and visible and attentive leadership helped ensure that Justice GA was religious, effective and meaningful.   These are things we can take home to build community, commitment and capacity in our own congregations.

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