From CDF to ATC in an Instant

Happily, an Area Teaching Committee (ATC) has been appointed for our cluster in advance of our upcoming A-stage status as of April. I am excited about the possibilities of an ATC as I've always felt a little unreliable as the Cluster Development Facilitator.

While I was appointed secretary of the ATC, which means that many of my responsibilities remain the same, I will be glad to have the two additional people to hound me about getting done what I said I'd get done. I'm a procrastinator and it helps to have others to keep me on-task. Even if I don't get something done because I need to, oftentimes, I will manage to get it done when I know there is someone ready to pick up the phone and take me to task for my inaction. It is not an ideal existence but I recognize it and am working to make improvements

Like a prescient confirmation of our new status, I came across a quote from the Universal House of Justice, “…there is little need for lengthy and frequent consultations to set direction and devise and rethink fundamental plans" (Turning Point, p. 255). Yea!

That said, we will have to meet soon to make plans for our first official IPG and it will take concentrated effort to generate support and enthusiasm for our new status and we will spend a little too much time going round and round on some over-wrought plans. At the same time, it means that the extent to which we refine and systematize our consultations will reflect on our ability to meet less and put more time into action in the field.

To all those clusters scheduled for A-stage status by Ridvan 2009... Keep working! It is an amazing and historic time that will regarded by history as a turning point in the fortunes of the Faith.

And I'll keep working on my procrastination issues. :)

(The book Turning Point published by Palabra is a wonderful collection of messages and supplementary material from the World Centre.)