208. Curious Mind, Open Heart — A Conversation with Bill Turnbull and Kathy Clayton
Mar 23, 2024
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Listen to Kathy Clayton and Bill Turnbull discuss the power of curiosity and open hearts in creating unity within a diverse church community. They share personal experiences of learning to love unexpected individuals and embracing differences for connection. The conversation highlights the transformative effects of curiosity and understanding in fostering unity despite disagreements.
Embracing diverse perspectives fosters curiosity and connection within church settings.
Approaching conflicts with a heart-centered focus promotes unity and personal growth.
Valuing individual contributions and embracing diversity cultivates a sense of belonging and collective growth.
Deep dives
Diverse Perspectives on Unity and Belonging
The podcast episode delves into the concept of unity in a diverse church setting, as discussed by Kathy Kip Clayton and Bill Turnbull. They emphasize the importance of embracing diverse perspectives, even in uncomfortable situations within the church, to foster curiosity and connection with others. The episode highlights personal experiences of learning to love those with differing views and finding unity through shared experiences, despite differences. It underscores the value of open-mindedness and curiosity in navigating challenges within church communities.
Importance of Heart-Centered Approaches in Building Unity
The discussion shifts towards the significance of approaching conflicts with a heart-centered focus to promote unity within church settings. The speakers stress the need for personal introspection and ensuring one's heart is in the right place before engaging in resolving conflicts or differences of opinions. They highlight the transformative power of aligning actions with a genuine sense of love and compassion, suggesting that personal growth and acceptance play pivotal roles in fostering unity.
Embracing Diversity and Individual Contributions in Church Communities
The episode touches upon the value of embracing diversity and individual contributions within church congregations. Anecdotes are shared about accepting individuals' unique expressions, whether loud or unconventional, within a choir setting as a metaphor for church unity. By creating an inclusive and supportive environment that values each person's distinct voice and perspective without judgment, the episode advocates for fostering a sense of belonging and unity that transcends differences and promotes collective growth.
Embracing Differences Through Music
The podcast episode explores a story where the speaker recounts a musical experience with a quartet, highlighting the importance of respecting each member's unique contribution. Despite initial tensions over singing parts, the speaker found harmony by branching out to find another complimentary note. This anecdote underscores the value of accommodating and appreciating diverse perspectives within a group dynamic.
Building Unity Through Curiosity and Questions
In another segment, the conversation shifts towards fostering unity through curiosity and questioning in the face of differing opinions. The speakers emphasize the power of questioning with an open heart and engaging with diverse viewpoints to promote understanding and empathy. By reframing judgments into inquiries and seeking a broader understanding through diverse sources of information, individuals can cultivate a more inclusive and welcoming community.
This week we sat down with Kathy Kipp Clayton and Bill Turnbull to talk about the fascinating chapters they contributed to a new book entitled No Division among You: Creating Unity in a Diverse Church. Bill, and his wife Susan, are two of Faith Matters’ co-founders. Kathy and her husband Whitney have served around the world on Church assignments for the past two decades. Whitney served in the presidency of the Seventy until his release in 2020. They now help supervise and often travel the world with the Tabernacle Choir. Kathy is an author and an education innovator.
In their essays, Kathy and Bill share how the everyday, sometimes uncomfortable situations we find ourselves in at Church can be a profound opportunity to get curious about what others are seeing, especially when we don’t see eye to eye with them. They talk through their own experiences learning to love people they didn’t expect to love, and finding ways to open themselves to questions rather than fear — to look at differences or aberrations from the norm as ways to connect.
At a time when in-person gatherings, clubs, and associations are in decline across society, these experiences we have with others at Church might be increasingly rare. We really hope you enjoy this conversation.
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