Our Learning

The Odyssey is a story of an epic voyage home. It’s an adventure worth telling.

The Odyssey Group was formed to lead us through unchartered waters of change. The result of their 17-month exploration is a 17-page document (with supporting videos) on navigating in the open sea (reinventing presbytery.) It’s worth reading.

But pouring over its words is only the beginning of learning its message. The power of The Odyssey Report lies in the providing of “open space” for ongoing discovery.

In olden days, ships had thick operating manuals. Studying it though was not how the unschooled sailors learned to sail. The way the tome was turned into practice was through stories. The crew shared their experiences of how to run a clipper.

In the past, learning at meetings was reduced to a manual. “Follow the policies and procedures. It’s required.” End of story.

In our new gatherings, we will share around tables. If you listen to the stories you will learn the ways of the ship and the ways of the sea as they have been learned by those who are doing it, from those who serve beside you.

Along with the exchanging of information, storytelling creates a sense of belonging, an esprit de corps. It fires passion and stirs the imagination.

You invite one or two friends to talk more over espresso and an urban-suburban partnership is born. Or you start a Facebook group to discuss ways to use the internet for evangelism.

This will be our new presbytery actively learning to become missional. It’s a journey worth taking.

Next