David Ostler

FRI, SEP 8, 2023   |  7:30-9:00 pm MDT

Let’s talk about and learn how we can peacefully and productively engage with others who believe differently.

IN-PERSON GATHERING:

THE CONVERSATION:

Contention and polarization is increasing and dividing us at home, at church, and in our communities. But, there are things we can do besides moving to bubbles of agreements or avoiding talking about potentially divisive issues. Indeed, these are the very issues that are most important for us to discuss and engage with. We will briefly talk about the challenges and then discuss and practices some approaches that help us heal our divides.

ABOUT DAVID:

David B. Ostler has lived and served on four continents as a bishop, stake president, mission president, and director of a Church historical site and visitors’ center. He has a BA in quantitative methods from the University of Utah and an MBA from Dartmouth College. He retired from a thirty-year career managing domestic and international businesses focused on improving health care through data analytics, consulting, software, and business services. Married to Rachelle, they have six wonderful children, who have a wide range of different religious and political beliefs. They split their time between homes in Northern Virginia and Midway, Utah. His first book is Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question.

EXPLORE BEFORE WE MEET:

From Dave:

• A New NGA chair Utah Gov. Spencer Cox wants Americans to “disagree better” 
• UVU Study measures political polarization in Utah
• One Woman is holding politicians accountable for nasty speech. It’s changing politics
• How Minds Change by David McRaney
• Author discussion with Alex Zamalin, discussing his book Against Civility: The Hidden Racism in Our Obsession With Civility – on Fireside with Blair Hodges
• Moving from tolerance to pluralism
• Difference and Dignity

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RECORDED ZOOM CONVERSATION

• Click on the Zoom link above for either last month’s recorded conversation (if the event date has passed) or the live conversation now. If you are participating in the live conversation keep reading.
• When you are connected you will either be waiting in a lobby and will let be in shortly or you will immediately be able to see other participants. Please make sure that you muted and that your video is on if you choose to have it on. (Love to see and hear you live, but we’ll take curious lurkers also.)
• If you can’t hear the host, me, or others, find your settings and make sure you have a working microphone and speaker selected. Also, make sure you have your volume up. OR tell me or others to speak up!

ZOOM ETIQUETTE: 

• Please mute your microphone before entering and when you are not speaking so noises are not heard by everyone else.
• Rather than have the whole group watch you try to get your camera or screen positioned, or play with funky green screen backgrounds, feel free to get that figured out prior to when we meet.
• Resist the urge to multitask—be with us fully if at all possible. But we’ll be grateful for whatever presence you are able to offer. Just knowing you are there is nice.
• If you are going to multitask, or wander around a lot, please turn off your video and make sure you are muted. No one wants to be distracted by you eating or using the loo.
• If you are having difficulty with the technology, don’t hold up the meeting by distracting other participants for solutions. Try Googling your problem. I do that with most of life’s problems.
• Speaking of distractions—just as when we used to meet in person in the good old days, let’s be cautious about using the chat for side conversations that may distract others. You can always ask for people’s contact info and continue your conversation—I’d love that to happen. Or, let me know, and I’ll do my darndest to give you a chance to share to the group.
• Please share air time and follow the guidelines under “Intentions” on this website.