BSOW Council 8 April 2024
Started at 10:13 AM via Zoom
Present: Bros. Julian, Bill, Marsh, Jerry Fuss, John MacD, Patricia
5th Century Opening Prayer by Bro Julian asking deliverance from fears.
Minutes approved unanimously
Treasurer’s. 2,218 in checking; CD the same as it was
Bro Jim on his way retiring! Bro Jerry Fritz retiring in June
Work on the proposed revision of the BSOW Rule:
PROPOSED LANGUAGE FOR RULE ONE OF THE BSOW RULE Draft revised 4/8/24
(underlined passages to be incorporated in older version) Edited by discussion in the Council
Every Member is expected to make an Annual Retreat. The traditional in-person, on-site Retreats compriseat least three full days in fellowship with other Members. This Retreat shall include daily morning and evening one-hour periods of reading without comment from books approved by the Librarian or the Retreat Master and prayer; a two-hour daily period of strict silence; a one-hour daily period devoted to sacred music; and a regular daily service of Holy Communion. Each Member shall serve in menial work in turn. The Retreat must last for three full days. This is called the Annual Rule or Obligation.
In recognition of changing times, both as to the age and mobility of retired Members and the professional pressures, part-time ministries, bi-vocational careers and other contemporary conditions, as well as the availability of electronic technologies such as Zoom, Retreats designated as Virtual may be held and authorized as fulfillment of the Annual Obligation. Such Virtual Retreats must occur over a span of three days; must include four periods of reading and prayer, two periods of silence, two periods for music, and two services of Holy Communion. Retreats may include discussions.
To Be Reviewed in May:
The experience of spiritual nurture and supportive fellowship may be offered in the form of monthly one-hour virtual “Mini Retreats” in which conversation, reading, discussion, and prayer are incorporated.
Option One: These retreats do not fulfill the Annual obligation but are recognized as significant fulfillment of the Order’s general purpose: “the cultivation of a fellowship built on the principle of love, the deepening of the religious life of its members, and the sustaining of those serving in pastoral ministry.”
Option Two: A Member participating in six (?) or more of such Mini-Retreats in a year will fulfill the Annual Obligation
ADDENDUM re discussions
…a period for reaction or discussion. This idea is justified by our experience with the Mini Retreats of permitting such; the fact that we are not reading our person al writings as Bro. John expressly forbade; the fact that Chaplains often comment on their choices of readings, albeit briefly, at the beginning; and the fact that we all benefit from interaction with others, especially those mutually engaged in, committed to, and possessing rich experience in pastoral ministry. I might also comment that the opportunity or custom of periods of prayer at the end of reading hours is being exercised less and less in my experience. There is also the temptation of all preachers to express their reaction or response to something they have heard as they phrase their prayers, which suggests (Horrors!) that we are not actually at prayer so much as in a preaching mode.
Closing prayer by Bro John
Next Meeting May 13th at 10 AM
Started at 10:13 AM via Zoom
Present: Bros. Julian, Bill, Marsh, Jerry Fuss, John MacD
Opening Prayer by Bro Julian selected from Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrims by Edward Hayes
Minutes of the last meeting passed unanimously.
Bro. Jerry presented our financial report: Unchanged except monthly fee of $3. $ 2,221.30 in checking $2,442.43 in CD Bro Jerry will explore various CD rates in May before renewals.
Accepted unanimously.
Discussion included numerous topics as follows:
During in-person retreats we save some time at the end of the reading to allow for silent and audible prayer but we have saved discussions of the reading for other times.
During Online and mini-retreats responses to readings are often a rich blessing immediately following the reading.
A mini retreat COULD make an agreement to save at least 30 minutes for the reading and response. Similarly, a monthly group might extend the time of their gathering(s) to provide for reading and discussion particularly if the time of sharing became more extended. We will aim to listen to the Spirit’s leading about sharing each month, seeking to allow at least minimal response to sharing by a member. especially if they are undergoing a big challenge, while also working to be good stewards of our limited time together. The Monday group appoints a facilitator to help guide this process at our gatherings, while the Thursday group does not prefer to have a facilitator.
It is a growing practice for all retreats to pray by name for our siblings on the prayer list for that day.
Have we made a focused attempt to appeal to sisters and brothers who are not participating able to joining in-person retreats to participate in virtual retreats? (particularly members who are at a great distance from physical retreats or are not able to travel)
Groups may want to clarify if they are open to any member or closed (namely that people are not invited until the group has approved an invitation)
If the number of participants in a group grow too large for their well-being we might start new groups to be sure to have opportunities for all members to share and be heard.
Virtual Retreats may not need to be at a particular spiritual season like lent or advent. There is interest in a retreat focused on readings from a particular book
Bro. John had submitted, at Council's request last meeting, a proposal for revising of Number One of the BSOW RULES, dealing with the obligation of annual retreat participation. It is suggested that participation in 6 mini-retreats could meet the obligation of Rule #1.
In April the Council will go step by step through Bro John’s proposal.
Then the Council will seek input from the wider circle of the entire order.
After the April meeting of the Council we will send that draft to the entire order and
ask our two mini-retreats to extend the May or June mini-retreat by 15 minutes to collect input on these.
Next, the Council will host an open-ended discussion of the proposals through a Zoom meeting of all members of the order.
We will invite retreat leaders to the next Council meeting to widen the circle of discussion.
Bro Julian has been reaching out to a group called Friends of Silence that do have retreat sites In different parts of the country. The may be happy to make spaces available for us to use for retreats.
Bro John led us in closing prayer
Next Meeting: April 8th at 10 AM. We will focus on Bro John’s proposal.
BSOW Council 8 January 2024
Started at 10: AM via Zoom
Present: Bros. Julian, Bill, Marsh, & Gerry F, John MacD
Brief Sharing.
Bro Julian shared a Reading from the UCC Daily Devotions. The Title was "You Too’ BY Vince Amlin.
Minutes were approved as corrected.
We discussed criteria for retreats that would count toward membership status and consecration. Bro John will draft revised bylaws for next meeting accordingly.
Bro. Abbot Julian would like the next planning meeting to occur before Ash Wed. and would offer six possible dates
Bro Julian has continued to explore other retreat locations
Treasurer’s report 2,227.30 checking. $2,142.65 CD in May.
Bro Jerry will check rates before renewal in May.
Sr. Bev is retiring January 28th. She will also pin the chalice on Sr. Casey on that day. Our former sister, Carolyn Roberts, will be preaching that day.
Bro. John spoke of the Maine retreat house -Alcyon- as a great place for retreat.
Registration forms. Marsh asked for fresh photos for FB and Website and both.
Bro Bill is wanting people who are ready to step in for any of us when we can’t. He would like someone else to share the leadership of one of our virtual retreats.
Bro Julian was hoping to learn more about sharing music on Zoom for our virtual retreats.
Next Meeting: March 11th at 10 AM
Bro. Bill will get will arrange Zoom for that meeting as he has for so many meetings! Thank you!
Notes by Bro Marsh.
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