At the end of January we had the rare pleasure of hosting a consultation weekend for all our trustees and half a dozen people representing each of Othona's two centres. It wasn't a crisis meeting in any sense, but it was a time when some issues emerged that had long been bubbling beneath the surface.
Here's a letter issued afterwards on behalf of the trustees to put everybody who cares about Othona in the picture. As Sheila Maxey, our excellent and tireless chair of trustees, said in her covering note: "If you would like to know more, please ask someone who was there." (Participants are listed below.)
Othona
2010: taking stock and moving forward
Over
the weekend of 29 - 31 January 2010 twenty two members of the Othona Community
met for 36 hours at Burton Bradstock. This was the culmination of a process of
discernment initiated by the trustees in June 2009. The Trustees retained the services of a
facilitator and guide called Sharon Usher. During the Autumn Sharon met with
the trustees and with the committees of both centres. Over Christmas and New Year she offered the
whole community three questions for contemplation. All this preparation meant that the
twenty-two of us came together with great seriousness and with Othona written
on our hearts. A list of those attending
is at the end of this report.
Under
Sharon's expert and sensitive guidance we were able, bit by
bit, to be more honest and loving with each other. We uncovered, listened to and worked through
a number of painful issues regarding the relationships between the two centres
and between the centres and the Trustees. Some of these were already known, others
took courage to voice. As a result we now
feel able to move forward together with renewed energy for both centres and the
Community as a whole. We have a firmer foundation for continuing to build more
trusting, honest and respectful relationships, releasing our energy outwards to
serve the people who come to us.
Taking stock
Both
centres are in good heart. Trustees
recognised more clearly the different characters, strengths and needs of each
centre. Going forward trustees will endeavour to be more flexible in the different
kind of support and encouragement they give to each centre. Each centre has its own evolving
expression of the Othona vision. To clarify and strengthen that expression
Bradwell currently needs more support and engagement from Trustees; Burton
Bradstock needs more freedom and independence to develop its life and work.
Moving forward
Trustees
will work with Burton Bradstock over the coming year to consider how best to encourage
and facilitate greater autonomy. We will
also work with Bradwell in the coming year to help build up its strength in
terms of spiritual leadership, forming a stronger ‘Core' community, creating
more effective working between the Warden and the Committee, and improving external
communications particularly through the website.
The
significance of this meeting, and this process, cannot easily be captured in
words. It will emerge gradually. What is
perfectly clear is that Othona is alive and well and on the move.
Sheila
Maxey – Chair
of Trustees – 2 February 2010
Trustees:
Rupert
Bragg, Louise Heatley, Margaret Lydamore, Janet Marshall, Sheila Maxey, Phil
Melling, Pat Price-Tomes, John Watters, Bob Whorton.
Bradwell: Jonney
Aldridge, Gail Dell, Matthew Dell, Ann Froggatt, Chris Jones, Rosie
Sinden-Evans
Burton Bradstock: Mandy Addenbrooke, Andy Davey,
Tony Jaques, Elizabeth Sayers, Ali Tebbs, Jan de Vulder
