Meetings, meetings, meetings

I have learned that here in the Ecumenical Centre things are done with meetings. We meet and we discuss. Decisions are made. Decisions are postponed. We decide to meet at a later date to decide things. Meetings. I spend a lot of my time in meetings, both official and unofficial.

There are the "official" meetings that are planned weeks, months, or even years in advance. The Ecumenical Centre is also the scene of "unofficial" meetings. We meet and talk and learn and discuss because we all have the same passions, but we all have very different understandings about where these passions derive their meaning. Yet, we are all united under the title "Christian." Today at lunch I sat with two young men, from very different parts of the world, and heard them discuss intelligently the political situations in their respective countries. It was fascinating to listen to them, both relatively well informed about the situation in the others' country, as they really began to learn, as I really began to learn, what is going on in the eyes of a countryman. These are also meetings.

When we have these unofficial meetings we learn from each other. When we have these official meetings we learn from each other. The difference is in the content of our learning. Often the official meetings we learn about people's theological opinions and their organization's official stance. In these unofficial meetings over lunch or coffee or ecumenical drink we learn about their personal background, their personal feelings, their personal beliefs, their personal story. Both of these kinds of meetings are Ecumenical. Both of these kinds of meetings are the work of those of us that choose to live our lives in this way. Those of us that choose to live into existence this Ecumenical Movement that we are creating in the here and now.

Ecumenical General Assembly

Yesterday I attended my very first General Assembly of an Ecumenical Organization: Ecumenical News International. This was a most interesting meeting. I have never been to any other General Assemblies, so I have no idea if this was a "normal" assembly or not. However, I feel that I have a better understanding for how Ecumenical organizations work.

There are politics at play.

There are things that are not being said in words, but are being heard loud and clear. People hear certain things, which may or may not have been said explicitly. There are things that are said that perhaps have different meaning to the one saying them to the ones hearing them. There was a lot of talk. There was a lot of political maneuvering.

We spent a lot of time yesterday talking about the budget. Budget is such an important part of our work as non-profits. We are always looking for new sources of money; we are always afraid that the sources we have will dry up; we are always trying to save everywhere we can. Talk of the budget and talk of the future and talk of the role of key players took up much of the time. Even as we talked of the future we were really talking about the budget and as we talked about key players we were really talking about the future and as we talked openly about the budget we were really talking about the future and the key players. The discussions were never just surface level. There was always a layer to be had underneath. I understood some of the layers, but I am sure that I did not understand all of the complexities. There was a lot of talk. There were politics at play.

I am glad I spent my day understanding how ecumenical organizations really work. I also got to network with some great people. I also got a chance to have 2 meals with these same great people. I really enjoyed getting to know them over the food and wine. Overall, it was a good day.

I am going tonight to see the musical, Chess. My supervisor has a role in it. I am very excited! I love going to see theater and especially Musical Theater. I think I am going to try out for a show if I find out about one happening here in Geneva soon.