September 21, 2013 was cool rainy fall day somewhat reminiscent of the rainy July day were it all began at the Men’s Gathering in Bethany in 2012. With much preplanning, and money raising, several hundred men met for the Men’s Gathering in Bethany, West Virginia around the theme “Extreme Faith – Bold Action.” Bethany College received some of that BOLD ACTION as the men began building a prayer labyrinth between the old Campbell Mansion and Alexander’s study. It began in the rain. At the close of the gathering as the final brick was laid in place, Rev. Dr. Sharon Watkins commissioned the labyrinth with these words:
Watching that prayer go in reminds me of one of my favorite ways of thinking about a labyrinth. It is a prayer walk. You come and you go and you twist and you turn and different people are on it at different points. I think of it as a dance with God, a prayer dance with God. The other thing about labyrinths that I think is so perfect for Disciples is that when you are on the Labyrinth, you do twist and turn and go one way and then the other way but you never really get lost. You’re always moving into the center of God’s heart. And as we watched different people on the labyrinth at the same time, it looks like we’re going in different directions, like we’re going against each other or against the traffic, or one’s going one way and one’s going another way and what’s more Disciple than that? And yet, we are all on the path into the heart of God. Each in our own moment, each in our own point along the way, and in some kind of strange, not logical but real way, we are all together. We are all one. We’re all one in God heart and in the hearts of each other. So, this labyrinth, founded on prayer, dancing with God in Prayer, and being at one with each other, what is more perfect than to be at Alexander Campbell’s place in Bethany where Jesus friends dwell.
On September 21, 2013 – This Labyrinth was dedicated with the help of Rev. Dr. Larry Grimes – Chaplain for Bethany College, Dr. Scott Miller – President of Bethany College, Rev. Stephen Bentley – Minister of Disciples Men, and several representatives of the planning team for the Men’s Gathering 2012. Those present were: Rev. Greg Ott, Roger Poage, Robert Dobins, Joel Potts and Rev. David Chafin – Associate Regional Minister of West Virginia. Other members of the planning team include: Archie Jenkins – Past President of Disciple Men, Ray Gryder II, Ralph Wesley, Art Banks, Larry Casey-Allen, Bruce Dobyns, Rob Bernard, Felix Ortiz, Ben Sanders, David Freeman and special recognition to Randal Dawson, whose passion and determination made this labyrinth possible. A plaque now stands at the entrance to the labyrinth reading:
“’Lord, teach us to pray.’ In the spirit of the Disciples stewardship, service and reflection this labyrinth is dedicated on September 21, 2013, with gratitude to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for its inspiration and to Disciples Men for it graceful construction.”
Stephen Bentley
Minister, Disciples Men
