Visioning Retreat 2023: “Growing into the Future”

Thirteen members of the Minnesota Conference United Women in Faith Executive Team gathered at Koronis Retreat Center August 12 and 13 and joined with Marian Hansen and Jomyla Choate on Zoom to clarify our “why” and “what” and to envision our “how” so we can grow our sisterhood with faith and action. 

 

Top Row: Linda Kotschevar (Program Coordinator), Joyce Prudden (COSROW Rep), Janet Ewing (Nominations), Mary Jane Reetz (Nominations Chair), Linda Oberg (Treasurer) Elizabeth Everitt (NCJ Officer)

Bottom Row: Melinda Kohrt (TC President), Catherine Williams (MNO), Christie Brown (Spiritual Growth), Myrna Kuehl (BW President), Linda Brinster (Secretary), Cindy Saufferer (Conf. President)

Not pictured but present: Jomyla Coates (Directory Project Leader), Marian Hansen (North Star Rep), Shirley Durr (Social Action)

Dreams and Actions

 

The gathering started around 1 pm revisiting the Dreams list generated at the 2022 Retreat and sharing what dreams were realized since last August or are on their way to being realized. For example, Twin Cities District realized a Sacred Site Tour for their Spring Gathering 2023.

 

After that, President Cindy Saufferer asked, “What is our why?” The answer can be found here in this UWFaith statement: “We believe love in action can change the world.” 

 

The Executive Team also built a new list of dreams and actions to take to start realizing some of those dreams. At the top of the list is to “create an organization” that is “flexible, simple, doable, purposeful” that “we can be excited about” with specific details of how to achieve this dream, including nourishing our spiritual growth with soul care.

 

Connected to this dream, the Team brainstorm a list of specific actions to “develop the ability [to] see the needs of the community and serve that need” including re-imagining Mission u and taking time for fun and bonding as well as learning.

 

Among other actions brainstormed were various ways to connect with members, with diverse generations and affinity groups beyond our members, and with other organizations that share our UWFaith values. But the first action on which all others are based is to remember our faith is linked to our actions; remember to pray.

 

Reports and 2024 Calendar

 

After Worship on Sunday morning, led by Christie Brown (Spiritual Growth Coordinator), the gathered officers met to hear and accept reports (detailed in this newsletter) and to plot a Calendar for next year. A more complete Calendar, still in progress as the Conference and the Districts plan their 2024 meetings and gatherings, will appear in the 2024 Directory.

 

Before leaving Koronis, Executive Team members signed up to work on one of three teams: Mission u, Communications, and Soul Care. And took a little time to enjoy the views.