Gathering of Leaders offers a community–not just for validation–but for bold exploration. At the April retreat, we were invited to explore our leadership roles through examples of ministry, fellowship with other leaders, and selections of Scripture. One of my biggest takeaways from this retreat was the opportunity to step back and see the dynamically fluid…
When I arrive at my first-ever Gathering of Leaders at St. Columba Episcopal Camp and Conference Center in Memphis, Tennessee last month, I do so with my eyes shut. In many ways, I know this place. I live in Memphis and serve the Diocese of West Tennessee, and St. Columba is an essential part of…
Nephesh & Hope I’ve learned that each Gathering develops its own identity. Its own spirit. Its own feeling. April’s Lay Leader Gathering discussed Mission in the New Reality and it resonated with “experimentation.” No question was too daring, and no conversation was off limits. We began with Rachel Toombs introducing us to nephesh, the vital…
Read the entire issue here. Now the green blade riseth Easter is one of my favorite seasons each year, filled with beautiful hymns, meaningful liturgy, and most of all, hope. Hope that love does triumph in the end, that death is not the end of the story. We’ve launched our newest series, #magnifyhope, and thanks…
Read the full issue here. #Magnifying Hope Last fall the GOL Board of Directors approved an open inquiry process for leaders across the church to learn more about GOL and inquire to join the network. For the last 16 years GOL has only received new persons via nomination from current participants. Relationships, peer-learning, and…
A time to stretch As many of you may already know, the name of the season of Lent derives from the Old English word ‘lencten’, a word related to our own English word of ‘lengthen.’ Whether this is to note that for many of us the days are beginning to grow longer, with a just…
GOL in the New Reality Our theme for this year’s Gatherings is “Mission in the New Reality” and just like life in the church, life at GOL continues to be flexible and nimble. The concept of dynamic stability came up at this past week’s Annual Board Meeting and I haven’t been able to get it…
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald sank in Lake Superior in November of 1975, amid a stormy gale, and all souls on board were lost. Here in the mid-west we refer to these as the Gales of November, a heavy wind that whips up the Great Lakes. But I’ve been working to reimagine what else fresh winds…
The Seasons Turn After a long and busy summer for our family, I’m hoping to sort of slow down and breathe as we approach the season of Autumn. We live in West Michigan, and the days here are starting to cool from summer highs. The nights are downright chilly, and the leaves on the trees…
David Hoover attended our Lay Gathering Chicago in the Spring of 2023 and offers this excellent reflection on his experience: A priest friend invited me. I had never heard of the Gathering of Leaders. She said this was something that I would love and was eligible for since lay people were now also gathering. I…