At a recent community event, we gathered to discuss the meaning and purpose of a church (since we now have one), and how we can define this "organism /organization" to truly represent all of us. We set out to build a church that is culturally relevant, diverse in thought, adaptable, and open to all. Here is some of the rough data on what we gathered.
Q : What does the church mean to you?
A place to gather and sing
To support each other
To connect to spirit and keep spirit present in our lives
To pray
To discover communication of truth seeking
Connecting to ancestry
Practicing ritual
Acknowledging transformation
Conducting Rites of Passage, tradition and expression
Q: What qualities have emerged in churches that we want to avoid?
mind control
shame
limitation
judgement
conformity
exclusion
separating the self from divine
boring
isolation
rule heavy
power games
refusal to change
manipulation
Q: What is our Church's Purpose?
A Place to Gather
Help us find the Keys to Freedom
Sustain our Community
Offer Rites of Passage and Ritual
Celebrate Life
Connect us to Nature
Offer Healing
Offer Vision,
Promote Diversity
Facilitate Life Transitions
Hold each other Accountable
Create Sacred Fun
Be of Service to the Outer Community
Q : What programs or offerings shall we work on / create?
Define our Vision
Coping with Death
Accountability System
Community Expansion
Diversity Outreach
Native Connections / Events
Create support systems outside of Liberty Arising
Offer Communication Tools
Q: What Rites of Passage does our Community Want?
Childbirth
Marriage
Adulthood
Death
Breast feeding
Women’s Cycles (Beginning and Ending)
Leadership Roles and Taking on Social Responsibility
Spiritual rites and rituals
From this point, we will be creating committees to develop these aspects of our church and to grow its ability to serve the community. If you are interested, please email : info@infiniteharmony.org and share your thoughts or how you would like to help.
