Ray's Ramblin' Reflections

OBDOG: 

Covenant Readings / Individual Projects / Celtic Studies / Book List Page

Photo Gallery  What's New  In Progress
 

The late Mz Prisz, the oddest dog of all

OBDOG is a clergy peer learning group operating under a grant from the Center for Ministry, Millsaps College, Jackson, Mississippi. The overall clergy peer learning project is funded by a grant from the Lilly Endowment. (For more information on these Pastoral Excellence Grants, go to www.centerforministry.com) 

    Our particular group was originally composed of four United Methodist, one PCUS, and one Episcopalian pastors from southwest Mississippi and neighboring Louisiana. Our “One Body, Diversity of Gifts” is focused on two things: first, the development and maintenance of a covenant clergy peer learning group that is intentional about its learning opportunities, both individual and group-related, and subsequent sharing of our varied interests and gifts, and the group’s  mutual support possibilities; and secondly, the possible uses of technology to enhance and maintain this group over distance.

    This section consists of three parts: reflections on our “covenant readings”, those readings related to individual projects which are then shared with the group, and the Celtic studies engendered by our exploration of Celtic Christianity.

Covenant readings: Every two months one of our number selects a book for reading by the whole group. When we meet, we reflect on the book. (See Book List) 

Individual projects (there are five of these for me!)

 Please note that with the exception of the first project, the reading lists for these projects are fairly long. I have therefore listed only the books I have finished. If you would like to see the list of books funded by OBDOG for these projects, as well as related ones I am investigating, please go to the Book List Page.

 --- “A Sense of Place”: the creation of confirmation material tied to a specific church and relating it to the larger denominational history. In this case, the specific church is Woodville United Methodist. In addition, I hope to write a pamphlet describing how to develop “A Sense of Place” in other congregations.

 --- Searching the Spirit: Ignatian Spirituality for United Methodists: investigating the Ignatian spirituality of the Exercises toward an up-to-date application for those in the Wesleyan tradition

--- Only One Way? Thinking as Christians about the Diversity of Religions Ultimate goal is a useable discussion guide on Christian interaction with other faiths in a pluralistic society.

 --- Spiritual Autobiography/Journaling. The goal of this project will be to encourage congregational members to investigate for themselves the spiritual growth possibilities of these disciplines. Hopefully, at the conclusion, a congregational guide will be written. 

 --- Southern Religion and Race. The goal of this project will be to exam the role of southern religion, particularly the southern evangelical Christian culture, in formulating and interacting with southern racism. A discussion guide leading the local congregation in examing racism in context will be produced.

Celtic Christianity: As part of the OBDOG grant, the group undertook a study of Celtic Christianity culminating in a pilgrimage to the Northumbria Community in Northumberland, England, and the island of Lindisfarne. At the Open Gate Retreat Center on Lindisfarne, OBDOG participated in a seminar led by Rev Mr. Ray Simpson, Guardian of the Society of Sts Aidan and Hilda. Scenes of the pilgrimage can be viewed on the Celtic photo gallery.

Covenant Readings / Individual Projects / Celtic Studies / Book List Page