Learning Communities
It seems appropriate to begin this blog as I participate in the second “Leap of Faith” conference, designed by the Unitarian Universalist Association to place vital congregations in learning relationships with one another.
The whole concept of “learning communities” is one that is not unfamiliar to Unitarian Universalists — we’ve always held the philosophy of believing that the capacity for growth and change is within us and among us. What is different lately is that we are asking communities to “learn out loud” — to risk the prospect that they may not know the answer and may have to make mistakes along the way to living their call.
It is sometimes surprising to me to see how attached liberal folk can be to their own expertise. After all we’re supposed to recognize that there is not a “T” truth. But of course knowing and living a belief are two different things. Especially for people who believe in their own capability to change the world. Okay, okay, I will stop using the distancing language of “they” and admit it: I am attached to my own expertise! I’ve worked hard to learn what I have and to develop the skills I have nurtured and certainly want to put them to good use.
And yet when I look at the situations in which I’ve been able to participate in something of lasting impact, I have to admit that it didn’t come about because of my contribution alone. Real transformation has to be a community effort if it is to benefit anyone but ourselves alone. Does that mean our skills and expertise don’t matter? I certainly hope not. What it means to me is that I have to deliberately hold myself in a place of letting things unfold, emerge, develop naturally in way which invites all voices and questions to the common enterprise. Its a lot harder than it sounds.
There is a great deal more to this concept than can be explored in this first brief post, but I start here because this is what I hope this blog space will be: a learning community in which big new ideas can be explored without trying to drive them to an early conclusion. This space is not at all about my ideas alone, but a sharing of those things that spark me to explore, to learn more, to engage with new partners in conversation.
I invite your thoughts and ideas to create a vital conversation in which we can “learn out loud”.
Great first post, Terasa! Looking forward to more….
Our penchant for both perfectionism and technical competence work against us when we try to form learning communities. The idea of listening and learning, of waiting for things to unfold, and having faith in one another comes hard for us.
Thanks for starting the conversation!
Now HERE’S a blog I want to follow! Thanks for creating it.
My experience working with what is now 28 Breakthrough Congregations (BTC) is that one key to their growth is a willingness to be vulnerabile and seek help from others – and not just the “experts”. While most acknowledge the help they have received from district or national staff, more share stories of learning from other congregations. It’s no accident BTC grow at six times the historical 1% rate of our Association as a whole.
I have two thoughts running through my mind: Emerson’s admonition to not fear the fall (failure), to get dust and mud on one’s idea clothing, and then up again for more.
And then LaoTse’s query, “Who as the patience to wait for the mud to settle.”
In this uncertain, even turbulent times, we need fewer certain answers and ever better questions. For it our curiosity and willingness to try things that leads to new wisdom.
Thank you, Terasa, for this post. I am looking forward to reading your blog entries.
Your entry made me think about the fact that I generally hate faculty meetings. Individually, faculty members are like all others – some tolerable, some wonderful, others not so much. But often when one gathers a bunch of them around a conference table it seems that many have a need to “share their expertise” at length and then some! So in the meetings I run…I work really hard to lay out a specific agenda and stay on task and get in and out.
Over time, I’ve come to believe that this approach is not always the best. My agenda and my definition of the task and problem is limited by my own world-view and experiences (what did Anais Nin say…”we don’t see things as they are, we see things as we are”). I (like you stated above) have come to admit that my contribution alone is far weaker than a collective set of informed opinions/options/solutions/points-of-view. I have found that the end product or solution is far stronger if I will take a deep breathe – slow down – listen – and let the richness and wisdom of the community inform the discussion.
Again, I enjoyed reading this entry and am looking forward to more!
I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.
Your friend,
Bob
Great discussion! A related trend I’ve noticed is how we often cling to the thought of one answer to a given question. But sometimes there’s a continuum of possible answers, or a combination of responses. And often we won’t find that answer unless we try each one, learn from the experience, and move on.