9. Interview with Gwen Riedl (Part 2)

Return to Gwen Part 1

FF: Sounds like you're involved in the programmatic side?

Yes, but I'd rather not be. I'm trying to set up infrastructure so we don't lose the history and the flavor of events every time the board changes. I'm trying to create a more sustainable organization. I'm trying to get the board to think strategically; about how everything is connected rather than just individual events - so I have to be involved on a more detailed level to help with that - I'm trying to get people to keep records. It's hard to find your way around the Basilica if you're new - so we want to help people get a jump on a maneuvering in the system. When it takes too long people get frustrated and it isn't good customer service (to use a term from business), so we need to get a better infrastructure in place. But in the midst of all that it's really working well. New people to the Cities hear about it and call me wanting to get involved. For long time members, this is their life, this is where their deep friendships are.

FF: The classic church structure for mainline is that until you get married and have a kid parishes don't know what to do with them which creates a sense of isolation both individually and corporately. My bias is that the church has lost a lot of energy not having connecting places for these people in parish life.. the BSM is doing that with this 25-40 age group in a not age level ministry way. The church needs some help discovering what's working…

So as it matures what do I see?

FF: What do you see two years from now about how it might grow?

In the past 3-4 years there's been total turn over, start from scratch and build up. The only way to mature is to keep going rather than starting over every time. I'm hoping our spiritual and social activities will become more integrated - that social activities will have a clear purpose to them. Avenues events have not had a clear purpose in the past, partly because it grew so quickly from 50 people expanded because of a charismatic leader, but didn't have a lot of foundation. I'd like to see more integration.

As for the board, I'm hoping to create "traditions." For instance, in March we has a strategic planning retreat. In October, we'll have a volunteer appreciation party to thank the board and any volunteers that hosted events. We are asking board members for a six-month commitment. At the appreciation event, we can honor people who are rotating off the board and welcome new people. By having these "markers" we can keep people from simply disappearing and provide continuity on the board to keep processes alive. These seem like important anchors to recognize the contributions of the board and create a strong direction for the organization.

FF: So the social has more potential paths to conversation around spirituality and service.

We've had conversation about the outer ring of lightweight social activities to bring people in, and then, as they move toward the core, we enter into deeper conversations about faith. We've done a good job bringing people in, but not in deepening the conversation. I've found that kind of dialogue in other places in the BSM, but not in Avenues.

FF: Is there a close connection between avenues and the RCIA?

About ½ of avenues people are BSM members, and regular churchgoers. Some that don't belong to the Basilica but attend mass there.

FF: People are coming in and finding other avenues to get connected in the parish?

I know I went on a bike trip to Ireland and people I didn't see at mass before I saw at mass after -so it did build a bond there.

FF: Reflect on the block party and the role it's played in the area of young adult ministry?

As a parishioner, I think its really helped make the BSM a hip place to be. I've talked to Father Michael a little bit about it - people identify the church with what they've done there. If you were having a conversation with someone it might go, "I go to the BSM," "oh what do you do there?" "I volunteer at the Block Party." "What kind of Avenues things do you do?" "I do restaurant of the month, etc." So, to them that's what the BSM is and what the Block Party is. As a Block Party volunteer you don't have to work very hard - I've done it. However, my perception is that the Block Party committee is tough to get on, you have to audition and understudy someone for a couple years before you can take charge. That's what I want for Avenues. Block Party is hip, really cool - even picking up garbage there is cool. Last year I noticed a high level employee from my corporation was at the Block Party picking up garbage - he was a choir member and the choir got called in to help which goes to show that everybody helps with everything. It generates a lot of internal enthusiasm and outside interest. Plus, there's the drinking beer on the church lawn - it makes the church not such a scary place.

FF: Difficulty in finding volunteers - is that because of the transitory nature of the population?

It's easy to find volunteers, hard to find leaders, get them oriented and what not. I talk to other members in other ministries and say we have this transitory nature because of our age… but I don't think it's that unique. Young parents with young kids, retired folks are all hard to pin down. However, Because of the life tasks in this age group, people do have personal traumas to handle, so in some ways this group is challenging. Also, if you're a single person there are fewer places to interface in the church (generally you're not connected to multiple ministries such as kid's school, etc.) so you can drop out and people might not know.

FF: So providing pastoral care to these folks is hard

And to be flexible to allow people to give what they can give on their terms.

FF: What's the draw for you - why are you involved so deeply with Avenues?

Two things. I took this position as a leadership development opportunity. In my work as an organizational development consultant I'm always the advisor, never the leader. I'm not responsible for outcomes. This was a chance to practice what I preach. Also, I am committed to this organization because I've developed a lot of friendships there, that's what keeps me involved.

FF: [restate.] Then you are changing the organization to preserve history, is there a need for that in the broader organization of the BSM?

Yes, there's tremendous need all over the place, but I'm not sure how to do it. When one relies so much on volunteer help… it's hard to do.

FF: The transitory nature of staffs makes a need to re-create things… so I affirm your observation that there needs to be some historical piece that keeps the memory - so I'm thinking it needs to be broader - some strategic way of mapping out a history would be invaluable.

Yes, it's important to keep things going on the big scale, but also ministry is about the tiniest details. For example, having hosts at First Friday is new in the last year to Avenues - and we hope to incorporate that in all the Avenues events. Greeters have a specific job - it is to welcome people into our space who are hesitant about crossing that threshold. We have to constantly remind the hosts that this is their mission and not have them just sit at the table taking names. We really want this to be about reaching out - a living example of Christian hospitality.

People say that you'll never find enough volunteers - but if you make the job description clear enough people will want to do it. There are people who are out there who are dying to be our First Friday greeters - to be the first ones to get their eyes on the newcomers. We need them in the greeting spot. I get tons of calls from people who want to get involved, but it requires energy to figure out a place to use them. It's exciting!

FF: Genius? Make sure we see… what?

No profound thoughts… the only common thread I see is from my experience and what has kept me in it is that in the BSM mission statement, the word hospitality appears twice and it's the only word that does. The BSM has always made me feel welcome, and other people also say, "no matter what's going on in your life you will always be welcome here." I hear from members and volunteers from many ministries that they have this same experience.

FF: How is that experienced? People? Presence of the place?

All of what I've said and in every person, both volunteers and staff, people create a feeling of so much welcome. For example, there's a special mass for blessing your pets and you can actually bring your pet - this place even welcomes animals. Father Dale, when he was serving at the BSM, he had a pug named Max and he would do mass with Max at the altar, on a leash, of course. The message is consistently, "Come as you are". Bring your pet. Bring everything about you, both the good and the bad. (I didn't see it but I heard they had an elephant once.)