DOTAC Board - representing the 12 communities/associations of DOTAC, met via Zoom in the week of November 16-20. They all agreed that it was not the same as meeting in person but as a second-best meeting via Zoom enabled them to connect, make some decisions and stay safe.
Some highlights:
The representatives from the region's 12 communities and associations shared updates about the effects of COVID for their groups. Nine projects related to the region have been funded by special DIAKAID grants; everything from food security pressures to addictions recovery support, from educational technology to sick bay construction, from resilency training to mental health first aid, from an on-line women's community to aid for migrant workers.
In preparation for Advent worship and check in times focused on Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.
A new Social Justice Committee is being initiated. And for one of the sessions Board members attended the second Racial Justice learning and discussion group with almost 30 participants.
A task group to examine and imagine the future of DOTAC was commissioned. The Board hopes to have a final report with ideas and concrete recommendations by July 2021.
DOTAC Monthly Prayer gathering has been happening on the first of every month since June. Other ideas were shared and considered for supporting the spiritual practices of our communities.
The Board brainstormed in the area of the Theology and Scholarship of Diakonia, Diaconal Formation and Membership Connections
Gathering God,
you call the DOTAC Board members
from their individual lives and their separate communities
to be your people meeting online.
May your Spirit presence refresh and renew them.
Affirm in each one the good that you have created in them.
Remove all those things that seek to distract from the tasks at hand.
In all the tasks before them,
enable them to listen to each other,
that they may discern your leading,
and thus join in your transforming mission in the world.
May all they do be in response to your challenge:
to 'love God, and to love your neighbour as yourself'.
This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
