Message from the ICCD President
Summer 2010

It iIt is a new moment for the Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue (ICCD). These past years ICCD's flagship program, Engaging Impasse: Circles of Contemplation and Dialogue® has invited persons to face into the impasses we experience living in such chaotic times. The process assumed that if we would engage the impasse through a process of communal contemplation and dialogue we would respond in ways unimagined. By listening and speaking to each other from a contemplative heart we would generate the possibility of allowing the new to emerge.

And it happened. Over and over the participants shared that they experienced a greater capacity to hold paradox and ambiguity; a greater interconnectedness of reality; and they moved beyond an either/or worldview toward a both/and worldview where commonality is more important than difference. They desired to see the truth emerging from various perspectives so that together through communal contemplation and deepening conversations a richer understanding of what to do, how to be, could emerge.

These experiences enhanced our understanding that the issues that confront us as a planetary community can no longer be addressed within our current systems and from our current world view. Our shared experiences have taught us that an approach rooted in communal contemplation is a significant way to explore difficult issues which are facing us. It is also a proven way to develop one's consciousness so as to evolve to the next stage of complexity. It frees oneself to live with more integrity, to live as an evolutionary being in an evolving world.

These insights are confirmed and enhanced by the many reflections on our web site-insights related to the ideas of the new cosmology, quantum physics, morphogenic field, faith and the evolutionary process, conflict resolution, deep conversations and dialogue, unitive consciousness, the power of meditation and contemplation, and the transformation of consciousness. Many of us who have taken the journey along the Engaging Impasse path have transformed these insights into an integral part of our lives. And we draw energy and strength from our Engaging Impasse experience as we continue this journey in our lives and work.

With many contemporary thinkers ICCD believes that we have arrived at the cusp of a new evolutionary era calling for a transformation of consciousness-a transformation that many of us already have begun to experience. We believe that the Engaging Impasse community-its insights, energy, and strength-has a vital contribution to make at this moment in the life of the universe. So, even as we continue to engage the impasses of our times, we look forward to a future we have only begun to imagine.

Recent Happenings at ICCD

New Format

Engaging Impasse: Circles of Contemplation and Dialogue®

ICCD continues to invite participation in what we call the “flagship” program, Engaging Impasse: Circles of Contemplation and Dialogue®. There have been 25 Circles and all but two of these were held over three weekends.

In 2009 we offered an 8-day Engaging Impasse (EI) Circle and found that to be a very rich experience inviting the participants into a similar place as the traditional three-weekend format. Now we know both formats work and because of the increasing limits on financial resources available to persons to do these types of programs, we are offering only the 8-day format in 2011. Our hope is that it will make the cost of the program more feasible.

ICCD Goes International

1st Canadian Circle

An exciting development is that in 2011 we are crossing our northern border and offering a Circle in Canada. So please spread the word if you have friends or members of your congregation in Canada.

Click here to see the 2011 Circles schedule and locations.

Congregational Corporate Pre-Chapter Retreat

In 2008 the Sisters of Providence from Montreal contracted with ICCD to develop and implement a corporate retreat for all of their sisters based on the principles and processes of the engaging impasse process. As part of their chapter preparation this 5-day experience was held in their provinces. It has been well received by their French speaking province in Montreal, their Spanish speaking province in Santiago and their English speaking provinces in Edmonton, Manila and Spokane. If you are interested in something similar don't hesitate to contact us in care of nsylvester@aol.com.

Special Programs

In August 2009, ICCD held the first Training Seminar. Eleven former Circle participants completed the 5-day training process. These women are continuing to integrate the methods and insights of EI into their lives and work in congregations, pastoral and retreat ministries, and university settings.

When the Apostolic Visitation was announced ICCD knew that it had something to offer to elected leaders facing this impasse. From September 2009 through April 2010, ICCD conducted a special Elected Leaders Program in five locations which focused on engaging the impasse of the Apostolic Visitation. The process invited the leaders into a safe space to explore together their fears and their desires of how to approach the Visitation. The sense of solidarity among the leaders was palpable as they grew in trust of each other and of the larger morphogenic field that is growing among them.

In addition, ICCD has designed 1 and 2 day processes for LCWR regions as well as keynote addresses with integrated processes for a variety of congregational Assemblies and Chapters. Contact nsylvester@aol.com.

New Programs

ICCD has developed two other new programs. Living in a Time of Impasse is a 6-day program which integrates some of the Engaging Impasse processes with the insights of the Quantum Leap Conference. A shorter 2-day process - Deepening Conversations from a Contemplative Heart - focuses on listening and speaking from a contemplative heart.

Click here to see the upcoming schedule of these new programs.

Issue Focus Process

Engaging the Impasse of Immigration-an ICCD Program

As the country prepares for changes in our immigration policies ICCD has developed a special program entitled, “Engaging the Impasse of Immigration.” The process is designed for people who are concerned about or involved with the Immigration issue, including police officers, human resource directors at a plant, workers, or parishioners. The goal is to change the civil discourse around the Immigration issue. Throughout the rest of 2010 and into 2011 ICCD is offering the Engaging the Impasse of Immigration Program for local and regional areas. If you are interested please contact ICCD at nsylvester@aol.com.

ICCD is excited about this new moment in its history and continues to develop programs designed to make a vital contribution to the transformation of consciousness required at this moment in the life of the universe.

This message from the ICCD President and the website are updated on a regular basis to keep you informed of what is happening and how you can extend the work of Engaging Impasse.

Written by Nancy Sylvester, IHM
© 2010 Institute for Communal Contemplation and Dialogue

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