Talk:Spokane Conference
Rob wrote: Fri, May 18, 2012 at 9:51 AM
Is there anyone who can describe basic details of the Spokane Conference such as where it was held, who attended i.e. what groups were represented and its focus? If not, the record will stand on the merits of the lessons received.
Do you recall how in study groups when questions were asked, so often, the next page read answered it. So it seems with this study.
enc: On Wednesday, July 13, 1994, a gathering occurred of some of the early arrivals to the conference. People from Pennsylvania, Florida, Hawaii, Texas, California, Oregon, Idaho, and Washington were present. A TR session was held, most of which is included here.
Gerdean wrote: Fri, May 18, 2012 at 12:24 PM
The Spokane Conference is known to many of us as the Cheney, Washington, Conference. Cheney is a college town outside of Spokane, and many of us met there for what is called the first Teaching Mission gathering. Seems to me it was facilitated by Bob Devine.
It was like a culling of the troops. We came from far and wide. It was a pretty good sized group. Around 100, I'd guess. We met on the campus, stayed in dorms, walked to the cafeteria and the rooms where our meetings were held, one of which was a big auditorium-like room, a conference room, where we sat on the floor. I remember it as having red carpet, or perhaps that is simply how it felt -- that the universe had rolled out the red carpet for us. I remember dancing. I remember seeing Jada and Jael dancing. That is where I met Allene Vick. Michael Palmer. Bill and Eugenia Bryan. Jim Cleveland.
My first impression was how motley we were. In the parking lot, newer cars mingled with beat-up trucks and old Volvos. Little children and romping dogs were part of the retinue. A small grove of trees provided a shady oasis right next to the dorm where registration was held. Our rooms were spartan; women shared a central bath on one floor, guys showered on another.
The dorms were on a higher plateau than the meeting rooms, so each morning we descended and each night we had to climb the hill back up to our rooms. Some of the rooms had balconies and some people met on the balconies late at night to pass a doobie and talk about our experience.
There was an opening meeting in which Nancy Kelly impressed us with how it was that we were making history. Daniel Megow read his story about how he encountered the Teaching Mission, "I don't think so." Hal Bynum and his wife Rebecca were there.
Hal amused us one night reciting his music; he managed to offend some ladies who were jabbering gaily in the wings, by announcing his displeasure ... told them he would not continue his act until they were quiet. They got quiet, alright. I wonder if they have spoken well of him since.
One of the highlights was an extended meeting in which we, under Michael Palmer's direction, kind of mapped out what a Melchizedek University campus and/or classroom would look like. We were all excited to realize that we had been creating a morontia classroom all weekend. Still, many of us wanted to build one, brick and mortar.
We wondered what our invisible friends would look like if they materialized. Roland wanted the Magisterial Son to be a seven foot tall black woman. I remember a box lunch in a park-like setting, where we gathered in small enclaves, getting to know each other, feeling so thrilled to be included in this great new development on our world.
Eric the Wook ended the conference with a rendition of his song "Give me a Hug" which started an avalanche of outpoured affections. The die was cast. We were established. We were witnesses to our own faith in the reality of the heavenly helpers' ability to contact us and guide us into our eternal destiny.
Jim Cleveland wrote: Fri, May 18, 2012 at 3:52 PM
Hi, I have a printed 1994 program, recenty discovered, and maybe a few transmissions. Have some photos, some to be included in history book and some not.
I have a t-shirt with Daniel Megow's pix of his wooden hands sculpture. I connected with the celestial artisans there and started transmitting in rhyme.
Afterwards, I did a lone backpacking adventure, three days in Glacier National Park.
So are you coming down before we leave, or when we get back in late August?
jim
Rob wrote: Fri, May 18, 2012 at 7:20 PM
Jim,
I would like to come down before you leave. If I arrived on the 3rd, would that allow enough time and still avoid interfering in preparations for leaving?
Thanks,
Rob
