Rebirth and Renewal: A Team's Experience of Genesis II
by the team at St. Peter's, Bettendorf
The Genesis II team members at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Bettendorf agree that Genesis II has been instrumental in deepening understanding of what it might mean to “do church” in a world that often does not embrace organized religion. Genesis II is a process that helps congregations re-vision, try on new behaviors, and connect in new ways to their neighborhoods. The cohort facilitators have provided many ideas, in a wide variety of formats, to stimulate and challenge our thinking.
St. Peter’s team members describe Genesis II as an endeavor that:
helps us deepen our faith, build and sustain relationships among us and prepares us with skills to serve our neighbors and build relationships with them.
is a rebirth of our potential, redefining our abilities and looking at future goals; is a way of finding God within us and discovering how we can spread the word.
gives us language that fosters renewal in the ways we think about ourselves, our church and our community; has two components that are equal in importance and emphasis: building relationships, and acquiring skills and tools for renewal.
The team at St. Peter’s found the spiritual autobiography activity particularly useful and meaningful. Four of the five team members shared their autobiographies with the group. This proved to be a profound experience, and one that strengthened the relationships among group members.
While the facilitators have offered many activities and approaches, they have also encouraged us to tailor Genesis II to the needs of our congregation. St. Peter’s is a moderate sized congregation in an urban area. All team members are also on the vestry. The most challenging aspect of our work has been engaging the congregation as a whole. We expect that our efforts over the next six months will focus on bringing the whole community of St. Peter’s along on this pilgrimage, and we hope to continue deepening our faith and relationships as we journey through this process together.