| September-October Vol. 4 No. 5 |
| Report on the Corpus Canada
Bragg Creek Gathering
By Chuck McLellan, Bragg Creek, AB The Corpus Canada Conference took place in Kananaskiis which is a native word meaning to be in touch with Nature. Since Corpus Canada members are spread across the country, this kind of meeting keeps us in touch with each other and is the glue that keeps us together. Bragg Creek is an artistic community. Some of this artistry rubbed off on our group, and participants had to be creative when the main process expert was grounded in Ottawa because of the sickening events in the U.S. In the opening remarks, it was stated that a basic principle of open space, and one I can endorse fully, is that everyone takes responsibility for the weekend. I looked over the participants and said to myself “With such diverse creativity and heart, something good has to happen.” And so it did: There was real dialogue; words and visions that seemed dead started to see new life; true friendship was embraced again; a special liturgy was well prepared and celebrated; and, in the course of the evening, we danced; one person with a new hip and all! That is Spirit! People felt that everything went off like clockwork. Everyone knew that this took team-work, for the wine, dine, and recline of it all. I would like to add a special thanks to Arthur Menu who went the extra mile to see that the group process and discussions and the NCT and AGM meetings ran with understanding and integrity. This took great effort on his part. When we needed a quarterback,, he was there. The discussion on the theme of small faith communities ranged from basic practical things about how to go about setting up sfc’s to the more touchy issue of setting them up inside an institutional Church setting or outside of it. We don't need permission from the bishop to pray or to do such things as the corporal works of mercy. A couple of times we heard the expression ‘JUST DO IT’. In the opening welcome, I mentioned that in “Man In Search of Meaning” it says we have inside us something left to do. We still have fire in our gut to do it, to use a modern expression. Corpus Canada will be bringing forth some suggestions that would appeal to different groups in different ways. As Emil K. pointed out, his life has changed since after Tad Guzie's conference he realised he has no indelible mark. He will just have to go and DO IT. The Alberta group (who know that if you don’t strike oil in twenty minutes, you stop boring) had the following summation: 1. Search for like-minded people with the same needs; 2. Choose a focus which may change as the group grows; 3. Allow leadership to arise from within the group by consensus. 4. Allow questions of prayer–liturgy, and worship to evolve; 5. Issues of new members discussed and decided by consensus; 6. Be a thorn in the side of the institutional Church if need be-if there is no Sunday Liturgy, ask why are married priests are not invited to be of service. Thanks to all those who had to travel great distances and who went the extra mile to make this weekend an exciting one. From Corpus Calgary, Thanks. You did it! For pictures of the conference see Bragg
Creek Album
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