Symposium vs. Retreat
By Jana on Sep 29, 2007
In August I attended the Sunstone Symposium. In September I attended the Exponent II Retreat. Both were amazing experiences in their own way. At Sunstone I mingled with old friends, enjoyed intellectual panel discussions, and met people from the Bloggernacle. At the ExII Retreat I stayed up (too) late enjoying the frewheeling talent show, spent hours sitting at the pond’s edge chatting with my blogging sisters, and appreciated the rich history of Mormon feminism. Both were worthwhile. But they call to mind two questions:
1) Why is there the need to augment the everyday church experience with special symposia and retreats? Why are they so important in aupplementing the relgious experience of some Saints?
2) Is there a fundamental difference between the co-ed Sunstone experience and the all-female retreat? If so, why? And why are there only women’s retreats and not similar events for LDS men?
I would like to hear your thoughts on these two questions. My responses:
1) When I first began attending the Sunstone Symposium, I attended as many sessions as possible, hanging on every word, being spiritually moved and uplifted. Craving the stories of like-minded LDS. I’ve found that my experience has changed over time. When I attend the Symposium now, I tend to attend sessions given by friends and I arrange my time to spend as much time as possible socializing. It’s less about the content of the event itself and is more about the opportunity to gather and fraternize. And, I should add, that this last time I did spend much of my time ‘fraternizing’–meaning that I hung out with men fairly frequently. Though I absolutely enjoyed my discussions with Sunstone women, I found that my discussions with men were just as important and as meaningful. Which brings me to my second question…
2) The Exponent retreat had many of the same elements–the socializing often eclipsing the structured events/workshops that were planned. I found that, for me, the chats over meals were often more significant than listening to the speakers (not that the speakers weren’t amazing, just that the personal interactions were more memorable). And while I loved the way that the attendees were so open and vulnerable, I missed that there weren’t any men. While I realize that an all-female environment creates a ’safer’ space for many women, I’m not so sure that I’m at a place in my life where it’s as necessary or as appealing as it used to be for me.
If I could create the ‘ideal’ gathering of intellectual Mormons, I would include the best elements of both of these experiences. I would have it be a retreat environment–in a beautiful outdoor setting (no more unnappealing hotels!). I would include both men and women, with ample opportunities for break-out sessions that were all-male or all-female to meet the needs of those who feel safer in such environments. I would also hold an evening talent show and have cozy places where folks could sit on couches all night and chat. [Note: At my fantasy retreat I would also provide wireless access with the ability for web conferencing, but that’s a bit of a digression…]. It seems to me that a hybrid of the best parts of both the Symposium and the Retreat would be incredibly satisfying.
What do you think? Would you attend such an event as I’ve described above? Or are you satisfied with the current Symposium or Retreat model? Do you think a Co-ed Retreat would succeed or fail?
Hi Jana– you’ve hit on a couple of things I’ve long thought about Sunstone. First, I wouldn’t give up retreats like the Rocky Mountain Retreat, or Ex II, at all. A mixed gender retreat in addition might be cool. But my suggestion to John was to find a much more comfortable place for the SLC symposium– places where people can talk easily in a building that feels less like a dank fortress. One improvement in Sunstone the last few years has been that it’s become a friendlier place– a few years ago a new person could spend several days at the Symposium without another soul trying to be friendly, but it seems to me that that’ s improved, with stuff like the meet and greets. At least I hope it has.
Comment # 1 by Paula | Sep 29, 2007 | Reply
I go to as many symposia and retreats as I can manage. I enjoyed Sunstone this year because it seemed there was a lot of socializing going on. I stayed until the very end of the bloggersnacker and greatly enjoyed meeting all the bloggy friends. I think I agree with Jana that a coed retreat would be wonderful. I think it would be greatly discouraged by the Church, but I would be the first one to show up. Why don’t you organize one, Jana??
I think the appeal of a women’s retreat for me is that it’s more relaxed, less trying to impress anyone (I admit it, with men I’m more likely to spend time on makeup!) and I feel more nurtured.
Comment # 2 by Behind the Infamous Veil (BiV) | Sep 30, 2007 | Reply
The very first question you posed was “Why is there the need to augment the everyday church experience with special symposia and retreats? Why are they so important in aupplementing the relgious experience of some Saints?”
I think that a large part of this need is because of the regulated boundaries of wards and stakes. I’ve always lived in cities large enough - and with high enough concentrations of LDS folks - that there are a lot of different wards. What brings a particular ward together? Geographical location. There are many other Christian denominations that offer much more freedom to move around between different congregations. With this freedom, one can migrate toward a group of people that they spiritually connect with or that share interests and experiences or that communicate particularly well. Without that freedom to move around, symposia and retreats fill the need of finding people to spiritually relate to outside of the geographical boundaries of a ward or stake.
I like your ideal setting, Jana, including the WiFi! The content of the Sunstone symposia is still very important to me, though. I love meeting people and catching up with old friends, but my main purpose in going is still the content of the classes.
Comment # 3 by Elise | Oct 2, 2007 | Reply
Nice post, Jana. As usual, I agree with most of your points.
Like you, the ratio that measures the pleasure I derive from 1.) syposium content vs. 2.) personal interaction with others, has tilted more and more towards the personal interaction with others side of the scales with each successive symposium I attend. As one processes and internalizes beliefs, feelings, and opinions related to whatever, the fire that originally burned so bright during the early, formative stages of discovery, will inevitably settle into a steady pilot-light-like flame. Most LDS have no doubt seen converts make this transition from gung-ho Investigator/Convert to back-bench-sitting, wake-me-when-the-sacrament-comes Members. (I suppose a similar comparison could be made to courtship and marriage.) I see this process happening with me relative to many Sunstone-related issues. Extending the metaphor, (if awkwardly), the opposite phenomenon happens with the flame/fire of friendship. Odd “sparks” of friendship developed here and there at the first symposium I attended have since developed into some very rewarding, uh, campfires… Okay, moving on…
A male-only Retreat? Hmmm… I’m trying to picture it but can’t. Would it be a soul-baring, drum-pounding, get-in-touch-with-our-feminine-sides type of thing, or would it degenerate into a pull-my-finger practical joke fest? I shudder a little thinking of both alternatives. But maybe we’ll just have to organize one and find out?
Love your ideas about a location for the symposium with more places to relax and socialize. I’m also for creating more specific opportunities to socialize, preferably with food and drink available (for purchase even, to keep symposium costs down). Going off-site for lunch and dinner is great if you know people, but it doesn’t help newbies get to know people, and it requires some organization and planning which is difficult when everyone is going every which way during the day.
A Sunstone talent show isn’t a bad idea either. It could be followed by movies, or music, or kareoke, or by group or individually-sponsored parties like the bloggersnacker.
Comment # 4 by Matt Thurston | Oct 2, 2007 | Reply
My favorite Sunstone was the year (or two) that the classes were broadcast over a local radio station and I could listen to the classes while walking around pioneer park. I realize you can do the same thing now with MP3 but I liked not having to sit all day long in classes which was very uncomfortable to the nether regions of my body. With the broadcast I was listening to very compelling talks while getting some exercise and I was in heaven.
I’ve thought about not going to Sunstone and just getting the entire session on MP3 and listening to it at my leisure while walking around the greenway in Idaho Falls, but I do enjoy being around sunstone people even though I must say it is very hard to get to know people at Sunstone.
I whole heartedly agree that a more rural setting for sunstone would be excellent, maybe a nice place where one could go for a walk without enduring all the panhandlers. Whoops, I’ve been unkind, sorry!
Comment # 5 by Gordon Hill | Oct 7, 2007 | Reply