Letter from Dick Busch - SLSchool, Washington DC
Transcription of hand-written letter to Rob Graham (Pastor of Levi's Table) from Dick Busch of the Servant Leadership School (an expression of the Church of the Saviour, Washington, D.C.) in regard to starting the 10 month course here in St. Louis.
March 26, 2002
Dick Busch
THE FESTIVAL CENTER
SERVANT LEADERSHIP SCHOOL
1640 Columbia Road, NW
Washington, D.C. 20009
(202) 328-7312
Dear Rob,
What a treat is was to talk with you yesterday and learn something of your interest in exploring the possibility of a 10-month local leadership training program out in the St. Louis area. From the sound of things you have been praying and talking with a local group about their hungers and yearnings.
As we seek to understand our work and our vision - we are trying to provide an opportunity for a group
to grow in their capacity to put on the mind of Christ and then to act out of the new understandings that this offers. Obviously, the Scriptures address this theme in many places, such as in Isaiah 55 - "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways. This is the very word of the Lord."
In the letter to the Romans, Paul instructs us "adapt yourselves no longer to the pattern of this present world but let your minds be made/remade and your whole nature thus transformed".
Not only do we need to try to see life from God's perspective, but we also need to try to hold on to this vision - the fruit of our deepening understanding and belonging will be a whole new cadre of leadership, rooted in the transcendent realities of God. Servant leaders are to be people of hope, holding firm to the Biblical promise at the same time as recognizing the cost of discipleship. With a critical mass of people serving the vision of the Kingdom, there will be a new and tangible culture reaching out to the poorest in society and creating open and hospitable space for others to explore the meaning and freedom of belonging to Jesus.
As you can see - we are talking about serious stuff - and a serious commitment. Clearly, the 10 month program is just a beginning, but it is a beginning. The transformation we are talking about is an inside-outside job. Our focus will be upon the inward change within each of us that will lead to a significant outside change in our faith, values, behaviors and witness.
Since this inner work is so important, we need to be part of a community that is on a similar pilgrimage and that will provide both support/encouragement and challenge. As I told you over the phone, we want to have an ecumenical group as well as an inter-racial group. The cross-fertilization that results from such a constituency is awesome. The richness comes to life as we engage in our various topics - and reflect on our attempts to integrate what we are learning, with our personal life experience. Allowing for this kind of sharing means that we all are learners - and we are all teachers = (and as you can imagine) this creates an altogether fresh and vibrant small group experience.
What is being asked for is a commitment to be part of such a venture for 10 months. Your gang will be in small groups that agree to meet weekly - and then the whole number gathers for a Friday evening and Saturday morning and part of a Saturday afternoon once a month. Someone from the School would come out from Washington to teach/lead/facilitate the monthly gatherings.
Clearly, I have told you more than you might want to know at this early stage. Please know there is more, much more. So as you meet, talk, share with others keep tabs on their questions. Hopefully, we can address these over the phone.
Keep praying - and keep sharing with local folk. Let's talk again. God Bless.
Faithfully -
Dick
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