We stand on the shoulders of others

You stand out in the crowd only because you have these many, many carrying you on their shoulders. Desmond Tutu 

I met Bishop Tutu once. I was asked to drive him from General Seminary to our diocesan convention in Connecticut. He had just won the Nobel Peace Prize. In interviews he spoke about standing on the shoulders of others. Two things took place on that drive that had never happened to me before. The bishop said Evening Prayer in the back seat as I drove and Linda navigated; then he slept on my grandmother's quilted pillow. And when we arrived at the hotel the police looked under my car for bombs. Standing on the shoulders of others might best be done with humility and prayer. And it can come with some risk.

Michelle Heyne, OA, and I had a rich, fascinating time on Monday working with a team from the Diocese of New Jersey. The diocese sent the congregational development staff person, parish rectors and a couple of standing committee members. Truth be told, we were a bit intimidated. What did they think we could offer that made a trip to Seattle worth such an investment?

It was a wonderful day. 

In the course of the work Michelle and I drew upon the wisdom of Martin Thornton (ascetical theology and practice), Edgar Schein (organizational culture and process consultation), Chris Argyris (intervention theory), and Loren Mead (parish development). We even called upon Pope Francis.

We spoke of the history of organization development and how the early adapters were the military, teacher unions, Esso, and the Episcopal Church. We related Argyris' work on successful interventions (internal commitment grounded in valid and useful information and free choice) to Bob Gallagher's "Congregational Options" model. We explored the relationship between commitment and competence. On and on.

After the team headed home I found myself reflecting on all the ways in which my life and work have rested on the life and work of others. How I have stood upon the shoulders of others. It's true for all of us. Accepting it is directly related to our spiritual health -- to our gratitude and humility, to our dreams and longings, to our capacity for persistence and courage.

I thought about programs such as the Church Development Institute, the College for Congregational Development and Shaping the Parish. Whose shoulders do they rest upon? I can personally trace it back as far as the 1970's work of Loren Mead and Project Test Pattern and the Organization Development training program of MATC. And of course, Loren Mead and MATC rested upon the shoulders of others.

I will take some time in the coming weeks to meditate further on all that. Maybe write something.

Whose shoulders are you standing upon?  Do you acknowledge it or hide it?

Whose shoulders does your parish rest upon? Do you acknowledge it or hide it?

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