[TSSF-studies] A Reflection on Community & Communication

[Nancy Adams]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This reflection was written at Alnmouth recently.  Having consulted  
with the others on the TSSF Studies Steering Group, who felt it  
reflected the Group's thoughts as well, it was passed on to those who  
hold office in TSSF by Adrian Noble, the convener of the Steering  
Group.  However it was thought that it might be helpful to  share it  
with all of the people on the TSSF Studies list.


  " In Community.  In Communication: a reflection from Alnmouth"

For me, being 'in community' means 'being in communication with'.   
For us, as Franciscans, this can take any number of forms:

in silence- in prayerful communication where the spoken word is not  
necessary
spoken directly- in person; by telephone; or by a tape recording
in writing-  the more traditional method of using pen and paper or  
the printed word or more recently, using a computer

Not all of these means are available to all of us in Community all of  
the time.  But most are, at least some of the time!  And depending on  
the circumstances, we tend to use the means of communication that we  
are most comfortable with, and which fits the need.  However choosing  
to use one form  (say visiting someone) is not ever intended to  
exclude all other members of the community who are not there at that  
particular time.  The same goes for a telephone conversation, or an e- 
mail conversation.  Whatever passes between the particular members of  
Community in that conversation can easily be passed on to other  
members of the Community using any of the means noted above.

Community is about inclusion; so is communication, whatever form we use.

TSSF, in an effort to enhance communication  between all of its  
members, no matter where they are  physically, uses all of the means  
of communication  available to its members.  And where one form is  
not available universally, another form is used instead.  No should  
ever feel excluded by distance, age, financial means, or disability.

A TSSF-Studies Steering Group was set up under the convenership of  
Adrian Noble, to encourage a sharing of ideas about particular topics  
in a prayerful and thoughtful way.  This has followed on from the  
Third Order Study Initiative which had, informally, organized a few  
Study Weeks at Alnmouth Friary over the past few years. TON 24  
touched on this, explaining the rationale behind it, and some of the  
ways that these conversations could be facilitated in our small local  
groups, and more broadly across the province, by computer. The first  
'conversation' which the Steering Group has initiated is 'the nature  
of the local group'. There are a few papers offered to begin the  
conversation which  can be accessed by computer and/or downloaded by  
going to the Studies Page of the TSSF website http:// 
orders.anglican.org/tssf/studies/

It is hoped that the majority of local groups will have at least one  
member who has access to a computer who might volunteer to print the  
papers off for those who might wish to join in the conversation.

As with all communication, it sometimes suffers from paucity or  
excess! Those members with e-mail access experienced the latter early  
in January!  The Steering Group apologises for this.  However, the  
initial teething problems have been addressed (with grateful thanks  
to Andrew Dotchin) and for those who wish to participate in the  
conversation using this method, it seems to be meeting the need of  
(and sparking the imagination of!) dozens of tertiaries, some of  
whom, for one reason or another, have felt isolated in the past and  
have welcomed  being 'in touch' with other Brothers and Sisters right  
across the Province, whose only contact until now has been through  
prayer using the Intercession List.

There are many ways of being 'in communication' with our Community.   
Let us use whatever means are available to each of us to strengthen  
the bonds which, being part of a Community, are so important to us.   
This can be done whilst ensuring that no one ever feels excluded.

Pax et bonum,
Nancy

nancy at newbigging.org


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