ECC Community — Relationship — Inclusivity

Community is where fellowship and men supporting men happens. It's ALL about relationship -- becoming better a creating relationships, deepening them, and using inevitable constraints and conflicts as part of our inner work. Inclusivity is an attitude, a posture, a way of being that commits to accepting all men as they are.

A true sense of community creates a strong sense of individual personhood…. True individuals create true community. And true community creates true individuals. They are not conflicting. Because we’ve so often experienced bad community and individualism instead of true personhood, we see them as somehow in conflict.

The life of the Spirit is a life of relatedness and relationship. The prophet leads us into that life of relationship to be in union with nature, the moment, the person, the prayer, the community. As soon as those moments of relationship are cut off, we cut off the possibility of community, and we cut off the possibility of being a people of any real depth.
Richard Rohr

Relationship

A human is a relational being. To become more fully human is to develop our levels of relationality and being. This requires community.

Individualism has become a primary value in US culture. Community balances individualism and is a place to develop relational capability. We believe all transformation is relational. We must each do our inner work, but we develop best in community.

Community

Illuman communities emerge organically: in local areas, online virtually, around particular interests, and for specific purposes.

We participate in national as well as international Illuman communities.

We practice and develop relationship by “walking shoulder-to-shoulder with other men.”

Conversation

Dialogue is essential for relationship and community. This requires capability for both listening and expressing. We practice deep listening “from the heart,” and authentic sharing that is occasionally quite vulnerable.

Small Groups — The Practice of Council

To support these intentions Illuman has developed a practice of Council. It is based on methods of small group circle conversation and the art of convening. Our methods create safe “containers” for sharing and regularly produces deep connection and empowering experiences. (See Practices page for more explanation)

Interest and Topic-based Communities

We participate in various “Passion Circles” that involve men from across the country and the world. Local groups emerge for wilderness walks, more extensive hiking, camping, kayaking excursions, to support local community, social activity, and other events.

A Community of Two — The Practice of Walking Shoulder-to-Shoulder

We encourage men to connect with other men with whom they can develop a deeper, one-to-one relationship.

Inclusivity

The men of Illuman are committed to radical inclusivity as a way of being and for all our activities. We want all men to feel accepted and that they can belong.

We address feelings or experiences of conflict or exclusion that may arise, intentionally, with open minds, hearts and will. Our Council is an important practice for this work. This feeds our individual as well as collective development.

If you have particular questions about community, relationship or inclusivity, we look forward to hearing them. Let’s talk.
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