Beck

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July, 2000 - Vol. XXIX No. 2
Continuing Education: Some Ways and Some Means

"Attending a Conference"
by Anita Beck

A friend of mine asked me to look over a description of a conference she was interested in and asked if I would be interested in going with her. I took the pamphlet home and it was about the "Healing Leaves" conference sponsored by CDSP^* in Berkeley, California.

The titles of the workshops sounded fascinating, and I had a book written by one of the presenters that I’d been meaning to read. Here was an opportunity for learning and spiritual growth, and a chance to hear some speakers who might not come again for a while.

But it seemed extravagant to attend a conference that would require airfare... And how much work would it be to reschedule commitments?... And I’d miss my family... And would the conference be intelligible to me?

My family encouraged the trip. I wanted to go. Our vicar at St. Edward’s was supportive and expressed the opinion that Ann and I should have some financial help. We approached the BAC with information about the conference and our plans to go. The BAC was 100% behind us and committed to helping with expenses. The ECW also volunteered to help with expenses.

So, registrations accomplished, reservations made, and accommodations arranged, Ann and I were set. We had a couple of months to do some preparatory reading and arrange our lives for four days away from work and families.

Checking in at the conference was accompanied with some concern. I wouldn’t be singled out and asked questions, would I?

The conference was terrific. The first night we celebrated Eucharist together – it was joyful! There was Morning Prayer each day of the conference. The speakers were exciting and thought-provoking. In workshops, we had opportunities to discuss and share opinions with the other attendees, from all parts of the U.S. – even Hawaii and the east coast. I wasn’t ready for the conference to end. It was better than I had hoped.

Throughout the conference two questions were intertwined among what I heard and experienced; "What am I taking back to St. Edward’s?" "How do I go back and share this?"

On our return, Ann and I were asked to speak at coffee hour, after the church service. We did, trying to repeat most of what we’d heard the speakers discuss. And that was a little intimidating because we imagined that some people in Silverton might not even have heard of things that had been hot topics of discussion in Berkeley. I felt somewhat guilty, that I had been able to go away and return feeling refueled and energized.

But time has shown that because I came back with news of sights and sounds from a different place, I’ve been able to give more of myself and am more supportive of others. I was able to offer an introduction to issues we may not hear about through our regular sources of news, because those issues are geographically far away. Being in community with the diverse group from all parts of the U.S., and the Archbishop of Cape Town, helps us remember to care about and stay in touch with the larger church community and not isolate ourselves. I know of more resources to offer. And I came back with a renewed appreciation for what I love about St. Edward’s.

Going to conferences, retreats, and classes may not be vital to our lives, but they can very much enhance the quality of our life and contribute to our growth.

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*Church Divinity School of the Pacific - the Episcopal Seminary of the Pacific Rim.

Anita Beck is a parishioner at St. Edward’s in Silverton, as well as a member of the Department of Christian Education in the Diocese of Oregon. You can reach her at tbeck@teleport.com