Taking Council: An Update on the Council of Anthroposophical Organizations

by John Bloom

Imagine bringing together leaders from associations of anthroposophical organizations from across the United States. Imagine the conversations that might take place, the shared learning from those in the on-the-ground activities such as Waldorf schools, biodynamic agriculture, Camphills, publishers, anthroposophical medicine, social finance, eurythmy and speech, the youth section, and biography and the social arts, and the Anthroposophical Society itself. The full life and scope of anthroposophical organizations are present, along with their successes and challenges. Of note, the US Society is the only national society worldwide with such a Council.

The Council of Anthroposophical Organizations [CAO] is the singular group in all anthroposophical activity that can collectively focus on organizational life across the movement. Organizations cannot operate outside the social realities of culture, the world of rights and law, and economic pressure. This presence is felt, shared, and informs much of the conversation. In listening to the emerging needs across the multiple fields of work, the CAO is developing programs that will have common benefit for all the organizations and their member organizations. One identified need is to look at how we are communicating anthroposophy to the public whether that is a prospective parent at a school, potential biodynamic farmer, or the press shows up at the front door because of some hot button issue. These threads are different, the skills are a bit different, but the capacity to speak out of one’s own experience in a way that can be grasped is core to both.

In November, the CAO hosted a pilot program called “Finding Our Voice” in Chestnut Ridge, New York. The event was framed by these questions: • Are you regularly faced with the challenge of representing anthroposophical ideas and methods to the wider public? • Are you wondering how to find common cause and collaborate effectively with the many like-minded groups and organizations in our midst? • Is your organization struggling with how to stay true to its founding mission, principles, and history in the context of present day needs, pressures, and demands?

CAO members gathered in November 2017 at Elderberries Café in Los Angeles.

Attended by twenty plus leaders, we practiced authentic speaking, first from a personal standpoint and then more form an organizational view. And some adventurous leaders sat in a fishbowl and fielded intensive and sometimes judgmental questions from the “press” or other role-played “authorities” as colleagues witnessed and provided helpful feedback. It was agreed that such a gathering can be helpful to many organizations and leaders in anthroposophical institutions, and there is a carrying group from the CAO to plan more of them in different regions. This is one example of cross-collaboration in service to anthroposophy. We also are developing a plan to share communications across our many platforms and varied readership on topics common to all.

The CAO is a committee of the General Council of the Anthroposophical Society in America and operates under its auspices. Each of the CAO member organizations makes an annual contribution in support of CAO activities and also compensates the ASA for the time and expenses incurred in carrying the CAO work. When possible the CAO also provides additional financial support to the Society and as part of the Michael Support Circle. Ultimately, there is great value in the camaraderie of leaders both for the movement and for those on the front lines of anthroposophical work in public life.

John Bloom is ASA General Secretary and a member of the CAO.