March 22, 2002 Sangha Meeting on Altar

At the end of these notes is a paragraph describing a short version of the meeting consensus, which hopefully, makes these notes a bit easier to understand.

The meeting began at 2 p.m., ending at approximately 4:15 p.m.

The meeting was attended by: Roann Altman, Dianne Austin, Ann Barden, Carol Blotter, Alice Britt, Cassie Cammann, Corty Cammann, Dottie Coyne, Mary Grannan, Anna Marie Henrich, Susan Klimist, Jack Koepfgen, Martha Zingo.

Notes from the following people were read: Barbara Brodsky, Leslie Desmond, Jackie Deron, Kate Leshock, Phyllis Perry, Brooke Ratliff, Kalindi Trietly, Lou Weir.

Agenda:

• Silence

• Share our own views about the altar and its place in our Center

• Read/report input from others (who could not attend)

• Explore the possibility of a consensus position

• Next steps

• Silence

Objective: 

To explore the possibility that we can come to a consensus about what we should do about the altar.

The meeting began with a sharing of views of those present using a "Worship sharing" format. Each person spoke when they were moved to speak, and silence was maintained between speakers. Each person spoke their own views and people did not answer each other. No notes were kept during this portion of the meeting, but the views varied from "I love it the way it was." to "It doesn't matter what we do." to "Let's have it be beautiful but not offensive to anyone." to "You can't please everyone, so let it reflect who we are."

Next the views of people who had sent in e-mails were read and they showed the same degree of variation.

In the next portion of the meeting, we looked to see if we could develop a consensus position among those present. We began this portion of the meeting with a definition of consensus that we agreed to use:

Consensus means that we can all say:

This decision may not be my first choice, but it is acceptable to me, I will support it, and it is the best decision that we can make as a group ("at this time" was understood).

Discussion:

• Start simple and add to it (the altar) slowly

• Teacher in charge of class be in charge of the altar

• Any group using this space can decorate it for the time they are there

• It is understood that we will all try not to create offense to others

• All groups are responsible for cleaning the space (including the altar)

• All groups are responsible for the effects that they have on others

• Spacious and fluid

• Keep it simple

• People bring to it what their work is for the time they are there.

• We want it to be easy to explain to new people.

• Bring what you want – take it away when the meeting is over.

• This is the space we use and we want it to be alive.

• Examples and ideas

• Neutral altar

• Teacher/session leader led classes could have the teacher set up the main shelf and invite people to bring things for the bottom shelf.

• Sunday morning – everyone bring their own things.

• For classes bringing in things might take focus away from class.

The consensus position we developed was that there are two cases: when a group is using the space and when the space is not being used for a particular purpose.

• The group will determine the use of the altar – holding the intention to do no harm.

• When they leave the space, the group will leave the altar the way it was when they came into the space.

• It was noted that this policy would apply to those persons/organizations renting space from DSC and whatever guidelines established would be applicable to renters as well

When the space is not in use:

• The altar will be kept simple, not cluttered.

• No symbols or icons on the altar

• Have a place to store various items that people might want to have available for use on the altar (we will try the bottom of the new cabinet in the library for this purpose).

• Ideas and Preferences:

  • Live plants are good, but maintenance is an issue.

  • Consider with John Gutoskey (who did the original design and artwork) what to do with the boxes. Keep them? Keep only the bottom boxes? Remove the boxes?

  • Try a bowl that Susan has that could symbolize emptiness and form.

  • Try to find things that will symbolize presence, kindness, freedom, love and non-duality

Next Steps:

• A small altar group meet and work with the guidelines defined today.

• Report out minutes on the web with a note in "Not just sitting around":

  • Include the guidelines in the note.

  • SDG will send the minutes out on e-mail as well.

• It would be useful to post the guidelines on the Web outside the minutes with other DSC Policies.

• Try neutral variations – approved by the altar committee.

• At a sangha meeting in 9 months verify the experience with the altar policy. It would be useful if the altar group kept track of what it does and feedback it receives so it has a frame of reference for this meeting. A decision about whether or not the committee should remain in existence after nine months can be made at that time.

• Susan Klimist, Dianne Austin, and Dotty Coyne agreed to serve as the altar committee and work with John Gutoskey.

A short version of all this is (thanks for the feedback from Dottie and Dianne):

At the meeting we came to consensus to have a "neutral" alter when no one was using the space. The qualities we agreed on were simplicity, aesthetically pleasing and neutral objects, none with religious symbolism.  When a group is using the space they may change the alter as they see fit, leaving it the way they found it.