To assist in building a global movement, the Ecumenical Institute annually hosted four quarterly meetings in Chicago: a Global Research Assembly (GRA) each summer beginning in 1965 and continental meetings the other three quarters. The GRA was a way for a network of colleagues to focus the models, methods and spirit of the movement. In 1966 Global Councils were held immediately following the GRAs to formalize decisions on directions and allocation of resources. In addition Guardians meetings were held twice a year between 1972 and 1982. Other gatherings helped sustain momentum globally, including multiple training schools, problem solving units and retreats.
Movement Global Research Assemblies and Councils, 1965 – 1979
“But the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us, this is the end of all stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them, it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story; which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.” ~~ Richard J. Foster — the closing paragraph from the final book of The Chronicles of Narnia