Winter 2008 Servant Leader Center of Toledo Newsletter

8/8/2019 Winter 2008 Servant Leader Center of Toledo Newsletter

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1618 W. Sylvania Ave + Toledo, OH 43612 + 419-476-0941 + www.servantleader.org

The Servant Leadership Center

A note from Sr. Nancy

Whats New?

Leadership: Threshold to a

Life Transformed. In Lent wewill begin a six weeks process,Servant Leadership: Overviewto Living the Gospel Life. Inaddition we are excited abouttwo new areas of development.We are in conversation withthe Catholic High Schools tooffer retreats/workshops for

Juniors and Seniors. Secondlyin March we will offer a threeday workshop, The Authentic

Leader. This workshoputilizes the Leadership CircleInventory developed by BobAnderson.

As always we want to thank allof you for your encouragementand support. Because of youour work continues.

Each Monday evening weremember you and yourintentions at our prayermeeting. Why not join ussome Monday evening at7 p.m.? You would be mostwelcome.

Who is the enemy? Who is

holding back more rapid

movement to the better society

that is reasonable and possible

with available resources?

Who is responsible for the

mediocre performance of our

institutions? Who is standing

in the way of a larger

consensus on the definition of

the better society and paths toreaching it? Evil, stupidity,

apathy, the system are not

the enemy even though society

building forces will be

contending with them all the

timeThe real enemy is fuzzy

thinking on the part of good,

intelligent, vital people and

their failure to lead, and to

follow servants as leaders

There is too much intellectual

wheel spinningtoo little

disposition to see theproblem as residing in here

and not out there. In short,

the enemy is strong natural

servants who have the

potential to lead but do not

lead, or who choose to follow

a non-servant.

Robert Greenleafs challenge isat the heart of our work at theCenter. We believe that all ofus are potential ServantLeadersthat all have thec a p a c i t y t o m a k e adifferencethat all have giftsgiven for the common good.Our work is to encourageothers to use that potential, to

nurture and share those gifts, to be committed to the commongood for all.

The depth of sharing continuesto develop among our groups.The conversations of Us asGods Beloved, of GodsDream for Us, of OurPassion and Gifts havegenerated healing, growth, andinspiration. The energy here istangible. Sometimes its as

though the very walls of theCenter vibrate with thatenergy.

We currently have sevengroups (several groups justcompleted the process) in theten month process Servant

Special points of interest:

Reflections on Living

the Life of the Beloved

6 Week Lenten Series:

Servant Leadership an

Overview

Reminders and

Announcements

January 2008

Volume 1, Issue 3

Center Staff:

Barb Aranyosi

Administrative Assistant

[email protected]

!"

Erin Battistoni

Director of Outreach [email protected]

!"

Nancy Westmeyer, OSF

Executive Director

[email protected]

Informational Ministry Briefings

How to Mobilize Your CommunityEspecially for pastors and pastoral/church staffs and leaders.

Please accept this invitation to join us at theServant Leadership Center for breakfast.Please RSVP to 419 476-0941 . We look forward tomeeting you, and sharing with you our vision of

becoming a resource to assist in the mobilization of

people in your community.

Thursday, February 21: 8:30am

Tuesday, February 26: 8:30am

Tuesday, March 4: 8:30amOr by Appointment

Each briefing is the same. We are hosting several dates to make

it easier for you to fit us in your busy schedule.

6 Week Lenten Series:

Servant Leadership:An overview to living the gospel life

Tuesdays during Lent

Begins February 5, 2008

6:30 PM 8:30 PM

You can download the brochure from our Website

www.servantleader.orgLent is a time to quiet ourselves and see how the Spirit iscalling us. What better time than Lent to reflect on theultimate example of Servanthood Jesus washing the feetof the disciples.

Cost: $100.00,$35 Special introductory rate for Students


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Page 2Volume 1, Issue 3

Throughout our next several issues of the Servant Leadership Newsletter, we will share with you reflections on the

various principles and themes that are integral to living as a Servant Leader.

You will have the opportunity to read the reflections from both current and past participants. Its an opportunity for

you to experience a glimpse of what the Servant Leadership: Threshold to a Life Transformed 10 month processand what The Servant Leadership Center are all about.

What does the word beloved mean to you? According to the dictionary, it means, greatly loved; dear tothe heart or a person who is greatly loved. Synonyms include: cherished, precious; sweet, darling. Itis a word that we do not often hear in everyday conversation; and when we do, it is usually paired witheither a patriotic image, or an intimate one. The word conveys such emotion and sentiment that it is mostoften reserved to describe feelings about a countrys flag or other symbolsof national identity, or to describe a relationship with a lover or a child.

The word conveys a connotation of specialness, and of a certain priorityor status bestowed: to be beloved is to be held in high regard, and insome ways, the very definition depends upon a comparison to others.

Our countrys flag is beloved because it is ours and we relate to it as asymbol of our national identity. A spouse and children are belovedbecause they are the closest and most intimate people. A pet, a favorite childhood toy, a best friend who

understands us like no other all of these may also be beloved, in part because they help define who we are, and there-fore, are set apart from all others. What we hold beloved is a reflection of who we are.

What, then, does it mean to say that we are the Beloved of God? Certainly, we are claimed by God. And if we are created in Godsimage, it is also fair to say that we, as beloved, are a reflection of the one who holds us dear. At first, it may seem paradoxical tosay that we are all equally beloved by God. After all, if all of us are special, how can any of us be? But Gods love for us is infinite;it isnt a scarce commodity, with only so much to go around. And being Gods beloved isnt a status reserved only for an elite few.

When we realize this, we can begin to examine the ramifications of seeing not only ourselves but everyone else in this context. Weare already commanded to love thy neighbor as thyself. But it is, perhaps, more difficult to comprehend loving each other as Godloves each of us. This includes people that we find it difficult to like; nations whose cultures we find it difficult to comprehend.Only when we start to see all people as Beloved can we begin the work of living out theDream of God.

~ Christina Howard,Perrysburg Group Participant 2007-2008

Living the Life of the Beloved

Up until the day God pulled my weary

and war torn spirit through the door of

Servant Leadership , I never

appreciated or understood what it

meant to be chosen. I grew up with

the teachings that I was chosen

specifically by God. I looked at others

and accepted it to be true for all of

them, but not for me.

Before that glorious day when I was

welcomed by my new family with

l o v i n g

a n d

o p e n

arms, I

f e l t

that I

was of

no use

to anyone, the world, or even myself. I

had given up and felt worthless, all

the while knowing down deep that

there was something I needed to do to

make things better; not just for me,

but for those I love.

The closer I come to

God; I know in my

heart that I only

survived earlier life

experiences through

His grace. This grace realization

changed me forever. I feel better about

myself each and every day and am

finding that all I want and need to do

is to engage in all things that are

worthy. My life is becoming brighter

and it finally has meaning. I now

believe I can make a difference in

changing the world.

Knowing that I am Gods beloved is the

most wonderful spiritual find of my life.

The Spirit guided me to my new circle of

friends who have opened their souls for

me and passionately I, with them, to help

me to become what I was created to be.

There is no greater experience than

feeling so unconditionally loved by those

around you, except when you know that

you are Gods beloved.

The dark days are gone. Today I am a

new person. I am chosen. My soul opens

wider with each new sunrise. In the end

my lifes significance will be in how I

lived my life for others, for this is what

being Gods beloved means to me.

~ Rich Schmidt,

Servant Leadership, 07-08 Participant.

There is no greater

experience than feeling so

unconditionally loved by

those around you, except

when you know that you are

Gods beloved.

Only when we start to see

all people as Beloved can

we begin the work of

living out the Dream of

God.


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Great Shalom and Salaam to each of you trying to begood Servant Leaders.

I have been here in Hebron, West Bank now for about twoweeks and consider myself a kindergartener in learning aboutthe Palestinian-Israeli conflict. As a Christian PeacemakerTeam Member (CPT) I have a wonderful opportunity here todo a lot of street activity in school and street patrols to seehow the Israeli military conducts itself with the Palestinianpeople, how the people have to live with daily harassment in

their merchant shops, on their way to the mosque, in theirefforts just to get home across the streetsometimes. "Security" is so high in the mind of Israel that thesimple people have to suffer 30x's (it is said) when somethinghappens to an Israeli soldier or a settler (Jewish people wholive in illegal settlements here in the West Bank).

Yesterday I was out on street patrol and the military werereally shooting the tear gas, rubber bullets, etc. The Shabab(Palestinian youth who are full of energy and anger for theoppression and harassment they experience through theOccupation) were responding with lots of stone throwing. Itwas a bit dangerous being out there, but we CPTer's were out

there, observing, documenting, walking people across the roadto protect them from the military. The stone throwing isfrom teens; the gun fire is from 18-21 yr. olds too. It is a bitof a "game" between youth, but not very funny.

This most recent street activity all began when 19 Palestinianswere killed in the Gaza this past Tuesday and the Palestiniansdecided in solidarity to go on a three day strike. Then theretaliation began from the Israeli military. Thus simple peoplesuffer all the way around: physically, emotionally withchildren and elders becoming more and more frightened livingin the midst of conflict, and truly they suffer financially with

their shops all closed---if not willingly then by themilitary. Some people think this is the beginning of a thirdIntifada----rebellion by the Palestinian people in response to allthe hardship and cruelty imposed upon them. .

I also visit families; so yesterday a fluent Arabic speaking teammember and I went to two families who live right adjacent tothe Jewish settlement: Kiryat Arba- -one of the many illegalsettlements established since 1967 when the United Nationsestablished the legal borders for Palestine and Israel. Thesetwo families have experienced assaults, house destruction,olive tree destruction, daily harassment from the settlers who

want them to move so they can expand their settlement. ThePalestinians will not move even though they are offered millionsof dollars because these are ancestral homes and therefore somuch more important than all the money in the world. The onehome where we were invited inside had nothing but blankets andrugs on the floor, one bed for Mr. Jabbir--the 85 yr. old man whoowned the land--and a TV. These simple people refuse money fora more "pleasant" life in order to hold true to their deep valuesand relationships.

We do work with other peace groups here---international groupsand ecumenical groups who also try to be out in the public,making friends, protecting the children, getting in "the way ofviolence." An exciting thing that we are talking about is trainingmore and more Palestinians in nonviolence. There are manymany Palestinians who have been trying to live in a nonviolentway. We are just wanting to support and help them form more ofthe youth in this direction.

There is so much more....what can you do as disciples of Jesus? Iwant to truly encourage you to become more and more aware ofthis situation. Read and discuss and come to know somePalestinians if possible. Advocate for them. Question your

legislators just how much they know firsthand about thesituation. Much of the problem is in the U.S. which funds muchof the oppressiveness of Israel toward the Palestinians. (The U.S.sends 11 million dollars daily to Israel, 75% of which must beused to buy weapons, etc. from the U.S.) It is all a huge question,but truly the WALL, the settlements, the huge military presenceof Israel everywhere around Israel are not bringing forth peace.Great blessings to each of you....my love always from the Landwhere Jesus walked. Do pray for us.

Sister Paulette Schroeder, OSF;

Servant Leadership Alum, 2007,

Christian Peacemaker Team Member

Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) arose from a call in 1984 for Christians to devote the same discipline and self-sacrifice to

nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war. Enlisting the whole church in an organized, nonviolent alternative to war,

today CPT places violence-reduction teams in crisis situations and militarized areas around the world at the invitation of local

peace and human rights workers. CPT embraces the vision of unarmed intervention waged by committed peacemakers ready to

risk injury and death in bold attempts to transform lethal conflict through the nonviolent power of Gods truth and love.

To learn more about the Christian Peacemaker Teams go to www.cpt.org


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Up Coming Events and Announcements

Whats the Buzz? Equal Exchange

Fair Trade Coffee, and Cocoa is

available for purchase at the Center. If

you are interested in learning more

a b o u t F a i r T r a d e g o t o

w w w . e q u a l e x c h a n g e . o r g o r

www.globalexchange.org.

Spring 2008 Check out the Erase theHate events that will be held through

out the coming months. For more

i n f o r m a t i o n c h e c k o u t

www.erasethehatetoledo.org. Flyers are

also available at the center.

The Three Kings: An Evening with

the Toledo Symphony in celebration

of Black History Month: Sunday

February, 24 5:00PM at St. Martin De

Porres Church, 1119 W. Bancroft St.

Toledo, OH 43606. General Admission:

15.00

Women of Faith Outreach Ministry

meets the last Wednesday of the month

from 10:30 am11:30 am , and is open

to anyone interested in joining. The

group gathers in prayer as a faith

community, and is working on projects

to outreach women who have been


Non Profit OrgUS Postage PaidToledo OHPermit # 322

1618 W. Sylvania Ave

Toledo, OH 43612

marginalized in our community. If you

are interested in participating in this

outreach ministry email or call Erin at

the Center. All are welcome to

participate.

March is Womens History Month,

The University of Toledo and Bowling

Green State Universitys Womenscenters host a series of Brown Bag

Lunches, discussions, programs and in

February the students will present Eve

E n s l e r s p l a y T h e V a g i n a

Monologues (FEB 8 & 9 at 8pm at

BGSUs Olscamp Hall Rm 101; and

FEB 22 & 23 at UTs Scott Park

Auditorium at 7 pm) as a fundraiser.

Each years proceeds benefit local

sexual assault and domestic violence

programs. For more info and specifice v e n t s c h e c k o u t

womenscen te r .u to ledo . edu and

www.bgsu.edu/offices/women. You can

also find out more info about events in

N W O h i o b y g o i n g t

www.peoplecalledwomen.com: People

Called Women is a locally owned

bookstore located at Cricket West on

Central Ave in Toledo.

Lifes most important and

urgent question is what are

you doing for others

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Monday Night Prayer @ the SLC:

All are welcome to participate in

communal prayer on 7-8:30pm every

Monday night.

Poverty, Prayer and the Power of

FilmA Presentation by author and

filmmaker Gerard Thomas Straub:

Wednesday February, 20 7:00 PM atSt. Ursula Academy, 4025 Indian

Road, Toledo. Free and Open to the

Public.

27th Annual Conference: Practicing

Peace: Creative Responses to

Violence Conference: Sponsored by

the Bennett J. Sims Institute for

Servant Leadership in Hendersonville,

NC. Featured Speakers are Walter

Wink, Author ofThe Powers that Be;

Charles Jenkins, Episcopal Bishop of

Louisiana, and Sr. Helen Prejean, CSJ,

Author of Dead Man Walking.

APRIL 11-13, 2008. If you are

interested in learning more and car-

pooling, contact Sr. Nancy. This is a

unique opportunity. For more info on

the Conference and the full brochure

explaining all of the speakers, go to

www.servleader.org

Documents

Winter 2008 Servant Leader Center of Toledo Newsletter