CORPORATE DISCERNMENT: The Key to Becoming a Blessed Church

Transcription

1 CORPORATE DISCERNMENT: The Key to Becoming a Blessed Church

2 EXPERIENCES WITH DISCERNMENT Discerning and not knowing it Realizing that most people don t discern, they figure out WHY DO WE HAVE SUCH A HARD TIME WITH COMMUNAL DISCERNMENT? Our Rationalism, aided by our American Individualism, which leads to Functionalism,

3 THE INDIVIDUALISM DILEMMA We are more aware and open to spirituality and discernment in every denomination than we were 20 years ago (well... at least to some extent), but we are still limited by our individualism, which treats spiritual practices as largely personal & private practices THE INDIVIDUAL DISCERNMENT DILEMMA We ve ripped spirituality out of community: We ve moved spiritual formation out of the congregational and the communal context of the early church, the monastic movement, and the reform movement. We ve created a context in which people become spiritual but not religious We ve created a context in which discernment becomes personal, not communal

4 WE RE MEANT TO DISCERN WITH OTHERS Our ignorance, laziness and vanity are such that we need a great deal of help to bring us to living faith. We also need to grow in that faith. So God has made sure we have enough encouragement by entrusting his Gospel to the Church... Because we are confined in a body and haver not yet reached angelic status, God has kindly made a way for us, who are so far removed from him, to draw near to him. John Calvin, The Institutes of Christian Religion WE RE MEANT TO DISCERN WITH OTHERS All Friends everywhere, meet together, and in the measure of God s spirit wait, that with it all your minds may be guided up to God and to receive wisdom from God... And Friends meet together,... and know one another in that which is eternal, in the Light, which was before the world was... And if ye turn from this Light, ye grow strange; and so neglecting your meetings, ye grow cold, and your minds run into the earth, and grow weary and slothful and careless, and heavy and sottish, and dull and dead. George Fox, Epistle 149

5 HOW DO WE RESTORE COMMUNAL DISCERNMENT TO OUR CONGREGATIONS By recreating a mystical context, culture, and ethos of prayer and discernment within our congregations WHAT IS A MYSTICAL CONTEXT? EVELYN UNDERHILL, LIFE AS PRAYER! So the beginning of the answer to the question, What is mysticism? must be this: Mysticism is the passionate longing of the soul for God, the Unseen Reality, loved, sought and adored in Himself for Himself alone A mystic is not a person who practices unusual forms of prayer, but a person whose life is ruled by this thirst. He feels and responds to the overwhelming attraction of God, is sensitive to that attraction; perhaps a little in the same way an artist is sensitive to the mysterious attraction of visible beauty, and the musician to the mysterious attraction of harmonized sound so the mystic, because of that loving and devoted attention which we call contemplation... comes to know a spiritual reality to which we are deaf and blind. He knows it, but he cannot describe it; as we know but cannot describe the atmosphere of our own country, our own home.

6 How does "# relate to $ Church? We need to focus on recapturing spiritual vibrancy in our churches~a way of churching that nurtures passionate longing of the soul for God~ rather than continuing the emphasis on the functional and dysfunctional that persists in too many mainline churches, and that distrusts those who long. How does "# relate to $ Church? This means creating a structure that encourages prayer, discernment, faithfilled risk-taking, and opportunities for ministry and mission.

7 THE SPIRITUALLY VIBRANT CHURCH Spiritual Vibrancy Strong sense of following the Creator s purpose Strong sense of Christ s presence in ministry and mission Deep openness to the power of the Holy Spirit Passionately moving in God s direction with faith and courage.

8 SLIPPING INTO FUNCTIONALITY Spiritual Vibrancy Strong sense of following the Creator s purpose Strong sense of Christ s presence in ministry and mission Deep openness to the power of the Holy Spirit Passionately moving in God s direction with faith and courage Functionality Purpose becomes maintaining church, membership, and status quo Indifferent to Christ s presence Indifferent to the power of Holy Spirit Functioning, but without passion. WHAT LEADS TO FUNCTIONALITY? Emphasizing Functionality over Spirituality Emphasizing Information over Formation

9 WHAT IS THE FUNCTIONAL Approaching life in a way that: Emphasizes human thinking over spiritual inspirations (God gave us brains) Emphasizes rational analysis over prayerful discernment (God s too busy) Emphasizes security over faith (what if we fail or it doesn t work?} Emphasizes what s worked over what s possible (we ve always done it this way!) Inverting Proverbs 3:5-6 from Trust in the Lord with a& your heart, and do not rely on your own insights. In a& your ways acknowledge God, and God wi& make straight your paths to Trust in your own insights over the Lord with a& your heart. In a& your ways take charge, and you wi& make straight your paths. We live in a largely functional culture, so functionality is our default way WHAT IS THE SPIRITUAL? Approaching life in a way that: Recognizes God s presence everywhere Emphasizes prayerful discernment in seeking the Creator s purpose and calling in all events; seeing Christ s incarnation in everything; sensing and serving the Spirit s activity everywhere. Letting the functional serve the spiritual Living a life in which we allow the spiritual to permeate everything, allowing everything to become transformed and reformed, especially the church.

10 THE FUNCTIONAL CAN SERVE THE SPIRITUAL, BUT THE SPIRITUAL CANNOT SERVE THE FUNCTIONAL... WHAT KEEPS CHURCHES FUNCTIONAL IS RELIANCE ON AN INFORMATIONAL APPROACH TO FAITH, RATHER THAN A FORMATIONAL APPROACH.

11 WHAT IS AN INFORMATIONAL APPROACH? Focusing on information about a subject (especially religion and faith) rather than engaging in it in a way that shapes and forms our lives. Informational thinking stresses facts, data, and the basics of a topic that support the intellectual sphere, but fails to connect it with practical life. Our Mainline churches have largely developed an informational approach to faith in Preaching Teaching Decision-making Information by itself does not lead to transformation. It may be highly interesting and entertaining, but it fails to transform because it allows us to think about God without engaging with God. WHAT IS A FORMATIONAL APPROACH? Approaching life in a transformative way by combining logic, emotion, & intuition, with scripture, reflection, and discernment. Using information in a way that applies it to life so that people will be transformed in the process of learning it. Inviting people to spiritually reflect on events, information, and life in order to allow the Spirit to speak through it and guide our lives. Asking, What does this experience say to me about my life? How is God speaking to me through this? How is God calling me to change my life? How do I apply this to my life in a practical way?

12 INFORMATION CAN SERVE FORMATION, BUT FORMATION CANNOT SERVE INFORMATION... FALLING INTO DYSFUNCTIONALITY Spiritual Vibrancy Functionality Purpose becomes maintaining church, membership, and status quo Indifferent to Christ s presence Indifferent to the power of Holy Spirit Functioning, but without passion. Dysfunctionality Conflict and sniping regarding direction and ministry Division in the body over petty matters Closed to the power of the Holy Spirit Deep sense of pain and captivity to dysfunctional patterns. Fearful leadership and anxiety about future

13 Spiritual Vibrancy Functionality DYING IN DISFUNCTION Dysfunctionality Conflict and sniping regarding direction and ministry Division in the body over petty matters Closed to the power of the Holy Spirit Deep sense of pain and captivity to dysfunctional patterns Fearful leadership and anxiety about future Disfunction Purpose is to comfort each other Little or no ministry or mission Sense of powerlessness over fate Acceptance of congregation s looming death Spiritual Vibrancy Strong sense of following the Creator s purpose Strong sense of Christ s presence in ministry and mission Deep openness to the power of the Holy Spirit Passionately moving in God s direction Functionality Purpose becomes maintaining church, membership, and status quo Indifferent to Christ s presence Apathetic to the power of Holy Spirit Functioning, but without passion. Dysfunctionality Conflict and sniping regarding purpose, direction, and ministry Division in the body of Christ over petty matters Closed to the power of the Holy Spirit Deep sense of pain and captivity to dysfunctional patterns Disfunction Purpose is to comfort each other Little or no ministry or mission Sense of powerlessness over fate Acceptance of congregation s looming death

14 HOW DO WE RESTORE VIBRANCY? 1. By creating a system that encourages discernment. 2. By engaging in processes that engage people in prayerful discernment 3. By calling forth leaders who care about discernment (see Becoming a Blessed Church). 4. By being leaders who practice personal discernment (others wi& talk about this). 1. CREATING A SPIRITUAL BASIS FOR CHURCH MEETINGS Structure matters: Does the structure you set encourage discernment or analysis? Process matters: Does your process seek the Spirit s guidance or conventional human wisdom?

15 BRINGING THE SPIRITUAL AND FORMATIONAL INTO MEETINGS: Create a structure that encourages prayer Offer times of reflection and prayer in meetings that teaches a more formational, spiritual way of thinking Emphasize the question, All who sense this is God s will for us say aye. CREATE A STRUCTURE THAT ENCOURAGES PRAYER: THE GENEVA WORSHIP SERVICE Assemble in God s Name Call to Worship / Hymn of Praise / Confession and Pardon / Passing of the Peace Proclaim God s Word Scripture Readings / Children s Sermon / Sermon Give Thanks to God Offering / Lord s Supper / Pastoral Prayer / Lord s Prayer Go in God s Name Hymn / Charge and Blessing / Go Forth

16 CREATE A STRUCTURE THAT ENCOURAGES PRAYER: THE CALVIN SESSION AGENDA Assemble in God s Name Lighting of the Candle and Centering / Prayer of Blessing / Chant / Prayer of Praise / Time of Sharing Proclaim God s Word Time of Study: Bible Study / Readings / Books / Articles Give Thanks to God Work of the Session / Time of Prayer Go in God s Name Blessing and Benediction CALVIN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Zelienople, Pennsylvania Session Agenda for August 19, 2008 Lighting of the Candle and Time of Centering Prayer of Blessing Holy God, bless us this evening so that we will be doing your will in everything we do. Help us to put aside our pride and ego that seeks only what we want, so that we can be filled with your Spirit that leads us to want what you want. Hear us in silence as we center ourselves and ask you to guide us this evening Gathering Chant Prayer of Praise Eternal God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: You have called us to be spiritual leaders of your body, this church. Help us to surrender our hearts and minds to you; To humbly seek your voice; To boldly do your will; To compassionately share your love; To faithfully be your servants; And to reverently lead your people Bless all that we do, So that we can do what you bless. In Christ s name we pray. Amen. Time of Sharing Time of Reflection Committee Study Receptions, Approvals, and Special Concerns Clerk Concerns. Committee Concerns Staff and Pastoral Concerns Please note the RSI campaign schedule Votes of reception and approval: Approve minutes from the June session meeting. Reception of the Financial Report for June & July. That the following Special Mission Project funds be approved:!to be meeting Prayerful Consideration of Session Matters: Nursery School: no recommendations Building and Property: Recommendation to strip the wall of the vestibule under the bell tower of all plaster, and sealing the underlying brick wall. Worship and Arts: no recommendations Personnel and Finance Hire Sheldon Weiher as the supplemental custodian. Adopt the program director/associate pastor timeline offered in the minutes Committee recommends paying $120,000 toward mortgage. This would lower monthly payment from $7,580 to approximately $6,720. Youth Formation: no recommendations Spiritual Nurture: no recommendations Mission: no recommendations Nominations: no recommendations Clerk and Staff: no recommendations Other actions: Remove names from rolls of the members on the inactive list (see list)

17 A Time of Prayer Prayers for the Church, Members, Session, and Personal Concerns The Lord s Prayer Blessing and Benediction Next Session meeting: Regular Session meeting: Tuesday, September 7:30 p.m. Calvin Presbyterian Church Session Agenda August 19, 2008 OFFER TIMES OF REFLECTION AND PRAYER IN MEETINGS MAY, 2009 COMMITTEE STUDY Paul Tillich, The Eternal Now For downloadable copies, go to cannot be wisdom without an encounter with the holy, with that which creates awe, and shakes the ordinary way of life and thought. Without the experience of awe in the face of the mystery of life, there is no wisdom. Most removed from wisdom are not those who are driven for desire or power, but those brilliant minds who have never encountered the holy, who are without awe and know nothing sacred, but who are able to conceal their ultimate emptiness by the brilliant performances of their intellect... He who has encountered the mystery of life has reached the source of wisdom... He experiences the limits of his being, his finitude in the face of the infinite. He learns that acceptance of limits is the decisive step towards wisdom. The fool rebels against the limits set by his finitude. He wants to be unlimited in power and knowledge. He who is wise accepts his finitude. He knows that he is not God. PRAYER: Eternal God! Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: You have called us! to be spiritual leaders!! of your body, this church. Help us to surrender! our hearts and minds to you; To humbly seek your voice;!! To boldly do your will;!! To compassionately!!! share your love;!! To faithfully be your servants;!! To reverently lead your people Bless all that we do,! So that we can do what you bless. In Christ s name we pray.! Amen. QUESTIONS: What does this passage say about how we come to know God? What role does awe play in leading a church?

18 I KNOW WHAT YOU RE THINKING... HOW LONG DO THESE MEETINGS LAST? Limitation Limitation & Delegation Limit the issues coming to the board Limitation the size of the board Delegation Delegate authority to committees and task forces, while also engaging them in a discernment structure. Delegate trust to groups and individuals beyond the board ENGAGE IN A SPIRITUAL PROCESS THAT LEADS TO DISCERNMENT Structure matters: Does the structure you set encourage discernment or analysis? Process matters: Does your process seek the Spirit s guidance or conventional human wisdom?

19 A Dialectical Process Antithesis Thesis Clash Antithesis Antithesis Synthesis (new possibility) New Antitheses New Synthesis (new possibility) A Spiritual Dialectical Process God Antithesis God Thesis Clash Antithesis God Antithesis God Synthesis (new possibility) New Antitheses God New Synthesis (new possibility)

20 Principles of Communal Discernment 1. God can speak through everyone-- do we listen for God in everyone? 2. Allow everyone to speak their opinion and try to look for what s positive and possible in it. 3. Encourage the group to discern in each other s ideas what may or may not be from God. 4. Seek a discerning consensus. 5. Where there is disagreement, seek more prayer.