The first Indaba followed on from the Bible Study which today consisted of only five of us, a Bishop from Connecticut, North America, who is our facilitator, and three Indian bishops. It was a good experience, in which I was encouraged to participate fully. It was humbling to hear the answer to the question – set in the context of the story of Jesus walking on the water and saying to the disciples in the boat, ”˜I am, do not be afraid’ ”“ what are the things that bring fear to Christians in your own context? ”˜Waiting for the church to be burnt for the third time’, ”˜Waiting for an excuse to be attacked.’ And not just for being a minority religion, but for being linked to the West. For these brothers from India expressing faith in ”˜I am’ rather than living in fear was inspiring.
And the Indaba group? Well, so far, it’s what it said on the packing. We set some ground rules and then in quietness answered three questions. We then moved into two conversations in different pairs and then formed a group of five in which we explored in more detail the question, ”˜Who am I as an Anglican bishop?’ At this point I might have felt left out, but not only was I was fully included but the group immediately offered to ordain me to the episcopacy there and then, and were already improvising for a bishop’s staff and Episcopal ring! Of course I resisted. What followed was not significantly different to the conversation I might have with my Team Leader colleagues, or indeed all Regional Ministers.
We then took our one sentence back and with the other small groups within the larger group, shared findings noting points of convergence and divergence.
An excellent description of the process which shows that the time allowed for discussion is pitifully inadequate and that group statement is limited to one sentence. How wonderful for the processors. It will be very easy to massage to achieve the probably already written “reflections” document. Just insert the proper entences where they are already placed and attibute them. Sentences not previously written may easily be ignored, eh? “Oh, that doesn’t fit!” “Well, just leave it out, good fellow.”
If Mr. Colmer was in a meeting with a Bishop from Connecticut he may want to return to his room and check the lock.
His next blog post is more illuminating concerning the effectiveness of their implementation of indaba:
http://geoffcolmer.blogspot.com/2008/07/indaba-group-mother-teresa-stories-and.html
“… already the Indaba Group isn’t doing what it’s meant to do, and there were many voices of concern that it feels process-driven without the time to do what Indaba is meant to do.”