 Members of the Trialogue task forces and steering committee gathered for the first time in person Saturday, January 14, in Stevens Point to hear a presentation on adaptive leadership and change by the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, bishop of the Diocese of Northwest Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of the Diocese of Western New York, followed by a round-table discussion on their respective work so far and the challenges and opportunities ahead. Hosting the gathering was the Beloved Community, the joint Episcopal/Lutheran ministry of Episcopal Church of the Intercession and Redeemer Lutheran Church pastored by the Rev. Jane Johnson.
Bishop Rowe noted that exploring the reunification of three dioceses is a major adaptive challenge, one that requires stakeholders—the people of the dioceses—to identify the nature of the challenge and its solution. Adaptive problems, he said, are distinct from technical problems, which are challenges we understand clearly and know how to solve, even if the solution is complicated. Heart surgery, he said, is a technical problem; although it is complicated, a heart surgeon has the required expertise. But discerning the role of the institutional church in the 21st century is adaptive: no expert has the answer, so we have to figure it out together. |