What's Going On? What's On Your Mind?
What’s Going On? What’s on Your Mind?– September 25, 2024
A few people made a similar suggestion to me over the summer. I took the idea to the board and staff with the result that we are going to make it happen. The idea is to have a Town Hall meeting or a Listening Event or Open Forum. Whatever we call it, the concept is to have a time when anyone can talk about anything that is on their mind.
Details first. We have chosen Wednesday October 16 and Saturday October 19 as the two dates. There are two times simply to allow more people to participate. You may come to one, both or neither.
The Wednesday evening would have refreshments available at 7 with the formal conversation taking place at 7:30. We would meet in the council room, unless the popularity of the event demands that we move to the pews.
For the Saturday morning, we would begin with continental breakfast at 8:30 and the conversation would begin at 9, again in the council room unless the group size requires more space.
The agenda for these events is whatever people want to talk about. Council and staff have no agenda for this meeting. There is nothing we are trying to accomplish except to hear what is going on in your minds. There will be no decisions made at these meetings. We will gather to learn together what it is that people at Mountainview are talking about.
The only guideline will be that we practice what is being preached. This is a great opportunity to work at speaking the truth in love. It is okay to have ideas and opinions. It is fine to have strong feelings with what you say. However, each of us is responsible to express them in ways that are respectful. We are also called to respond to what is said in a way that would make it feel safe for the next person to speak as well. This will be outlined in more detail at the beginning of each gathering to make sure we know the ground rules.
It would be a great gift for this community to be able to regularly talk about important matters in a way that allows us to deepen our bond to each other instead of dividing us. That is our hope and prayer.
Pastor Erick