SE Minnesota, Cohort 2, Seminar B. LEAD Learning Seminar B THE. Practicing Spiritual Leadership

Transcription

1 SE Minnesota, Cohort 2, Seminar B THE LEAD Learning Seminar B Practicing Spiritual Leadership

2 Permission to Reproduce This guide may be reproduced for use in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod with covenanted congregations that are part of the LEAD Journey. All other reproduction is a violation of LEAD s intellectual property. 2

3 THE LEAD Learning Seminar B Day / Time Cohort 2 Seminar B Cohort 1 Seminar D Friday 5:00p Welcome & Intros all Welcome & Intros all 5:30 Sacred Meal all Sacred Meal all 6:30 1. Storytelling Sharing Jane 1. Faithful Metrics Rozella 7:15 2. Spiritual Leadership Rozella 2. Storytelling Sharing Jane 8:00 Spiritual Pilgrims Jim Spiritual Pilgrims Jim 8:30 Rest Rest Saturday 9:00a Spiritual Pilgrims Jane Spiritual Pilgrims Jane 9:30 3. Personal Spiritual Type Rozella 3. Deepening Faith Formation Jim 10:45 4. The Tune In Process, Steps 5-7 Rozella 4. Individual Congregational Coaching 12:00 Lunch Lunch 12:30 Workshop Sessions Workshop Sessions 1:15 5. Listening & Mapping Practices Rozella 5. Individual Congregational Coaching 2:15 6. Next Steps Jane 6. Next Steps Jim 3:00 Spiritual Pilgrims Rozella Spiritual Pilgrims Rozella 3:30 Buen Camino Buen Camino We ve noticed a pattern. Ministries often look like their leaders. Growing ministries are led by growing leaders. Generous ministries are led by generous leaders. Prayerful ministries are led by prayerful leaders. You get the picture. As leaders, we often feel like our attitudes are effected by our ministry. I m stressed because there is conflict in the ministry. I m relaxed because things are going well. I m tired because there is too much going on. But what if the opposite is true? What if we find our attitude first and that then shapes our ministry? Hold on to that thought for a minute. We hear throughout Scripture that the Christian life is marked by joy. And if that is true, one would expect that Christian leadership would also be marked by joy. As we have listened to leaders, we know that many of you are tired. This year, we want to help you rediscover your joy. Real joy. Your joy. A joy that isn t dependent on whether your board meeting goes well or poorly, on whether you meet your budget numbers or not, on what last Sunday s attendance was. Because when you find your joy, you will lead with joy. When you lead with joy, it will infect your ministry with joy. When your ministry is joyful, the people you minister with are more likely to experience joy. And joyful people transform communities. Behold, I bring you good news of great joy! 3

4 LEAD Learning Seminar B Descriptions The Sacred Meal We are part of a movement of Christian leaders This meal is a LEAD ritual used to begin all of our Learning Seminars. This experience connects us to each other using practices similar to those of the early church who gathered for a meal and to remember Jesus. Session 1: Storytelling How s it going? Using resources from Conversational Intelligence, this session provides space to hear stories and learn from peers in the cohort. Session 2: Spiritual Leadership We are leading in a time of sacred change How do you describe Spiritual Leadership? What does it mean to be joining in God s mission? We are in a new missional era that invites us to lean into a deeply curious faith as we listen to God in new ways. Friday Night: Spiritual Pilgrims Praying together We are people that pray. Prayers take many forms. We will use the ancient practice of the Examen. Communications Workshops Choose one of these opportunities to increase your capacity as a communicator: Conversational Intelligence A trained coach will draw on the work of Judith Glaser in her book Conversational Intelligence to introduce you to your 5 blind spots and give you tools for your own Conversational Dashboard. Telling Our Stories Learn and practice an effective pattern for sharing your faith story with anyone. This session will build your confidence for talking about God moving in your life. Sharing your faith is easier than you think. Session 5: Mapping the Neighborhood Literally make a map, noticing places ripe for listening as you strategically consider the neighborhood around the church. Make a plan that fits your context as you head out to listen. Learn more about your neighborhood. Consider questions, practice listening and discovering themes. Session 3: What is your Spiritual Type? Learn more about your personal spirituality after taking the Spiritual Type Index. Discover faith practices that will help you wake up to God moving in your own life. Session 4: The Tune In Process, Steps 5-7 Focus on synthesizing congregational learning and listening in the neighborhood. This practical session will build your confidence for the next six months. Session 6: Next Steps Set your goals, build a calendar and to do list for the next six months. Leave this event with an action plan that sets your congregation up for success. Saturday Afternoon: Spiritual Pilgrims Consequential Faith The courage to lead grows out of a faith that matters. 4

5 The Sacred Meal Welcome and Explanation of Meal (Host) The Sacred Meal that is part of our faith does more than connect us to the holy. It connects us to each other. We will practice table fellowship in a way that the early Christians would have gathered in homes, to be together in Christian community. Jesus wanted his disciples, and everyone who came after him, to remember what they had together. What they made together. What it meant to be together. How the things he did could not have been done without them. In this way, we are part of the earliest movements of the Christian faith. Sharing of Peace (Host) The peace is shared by table: Each person shares a portion of their day that has been meaningful to them. It is good to reflect on the question: Where have I experienced God s presence in this day? The table leader leads the table in saying The peace of Christ be with you, the sharer responds by saying and also with you. Sharing of the Bread (Presider) Presider: On the night before Jesus was to die, he gathered together with his friends for dinner. And on that night, he took the bread, broke it, and gave it to them saying, Take and eat, this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And so tonight, we do the same. We take bread, break it, and give it to one another with those sacred words, The body of Christ given for you. Post-Bread Blessing (Presider) Presider: Be strengthened this night by the presence of Christ made known to you in the bread and in one another. Amen. Invitation to Meal (Presider) Instructions about the meal, guided conversation and Bible story is shared An invitation to the meal and explanation of food and family style etiquette is given. We are encouraged to serve each other. The host reads the assigned text for the day and the questions for meal conversation are shared. Post-Meal Prayer (Host) After the meal, the community prays The Lord s Prayer. Sharing of Cup (Presider) Presider: When supper had ended that night, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this as often as you drink in remembrance of me. And so tonight, we take the cup of wine, and we give it to one another with those sacred words, The blood of Christ shed for you. Post-Wine Blessing (Presider) Presider: Now that you have tasted the goodness of God in bread and wine, let us be the body of Christ, blessed and broken for the whole world. Amen. Adapted from The Sacred Meal: The Ancient Practices Series by Nora Gallagher 5

6 LEAD Learning Seminar B Cohort 2 Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8: Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go over to this chariot and join it. 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, Do you understand what you are reading? 31 He replied, How can I, unless someone guides me? And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth. 34 The eunuch asked Philip, About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else? 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized? 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea. Peter and Cornelius Acts 10:1-36 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2 He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3 One afternoon at about three o clock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, Cornelius. 4 He stared at him in terror and said, What is it, Lord? He answered, Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6 he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside. 7 When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him, 8 and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa. 9 About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the heaven opened 6

7 and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 Then he heard a voice saying, Get up, Peter; kill and eat. 14 But Peter said, By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean. 15 The voice said to him again, a second time, What God has made clean, you must not call profane. 16 This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simon s house and were standing by the gate. 18 They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Look, three men are searching for you. 20 Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them. 21 So Peter went down to the men and said, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming? not call anyone profane or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me? 30 Cornelius replied, Four days ago at this very hour, at three o clock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31 He said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. 33 Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say. 34 Then Peter began to speak to them: I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ he is Lord of all. 22 They answered, Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say. 23 So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 On Peter s arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26 But Peter made him get up, saying, Stand up; I am only a mortal. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; 28 and he said to them, You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should 7

8 The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. - Mark 12: NIV LEAD s Four Growth Indicators for Vital Behaviors Each LEAD Journey has a ten-step process that may be accompanied by a professional coach to successfully take on new behaviors for growth in discipleship and to join in God s mission. Loving God with all of our heart calls us to listen The Tune In Process Listen to God in scripture, in prayer, in the congregation, and in the neighborhood Shift from inward to outward focus Launch experiments with new learnings and partners Loving God with all of our soul calls us to center The Wake Up Process Clarify congregational purpose and values Align congregation for mission Articulate congregational identity Loving God with all our mind calls us to explore The Dig Down Process Deepen Christian frame and theology through Bible Study Streamline systems for strategic ministry, includes staffing and governance Increase commitment and generosity Loving God with all of our strength calls us to connect The Work Out Process Create trust to extend hospitality with openness for diversity Expand comfort zone through strong relational connections Tell the congregation s story through effective communication 8

9 Session I: Storytelling Using Conversational Intelligence by Judith Glaser Conversational Dashboard Conversational Matrix LEVEL I LEVEL II LEVEL III Transactional Positional Transformational Exchange Information Exchange Power Exchange Energy Purpose Confirm what you know Defend what you know Discover what you don t know Blind spot Tell-Sell-Yell Addicted to Being Right All Talk, No Action and Overuse Tendency towards telling more than asking Tendency to ask questions for which you have the answers Tendency for too much talk and no action Blind spots Blind Spot #1 Assuming everyone thinks like me. An assumption that others see what we see, feel what we feel, and think what we think. Blind Spot #2 Feelings change our reality. The failure to realize that fear, trust, and distrust change how we see and interpret reality, and therefore how we talk about it. Blind Spot #3 Blind Spot #4 Blind Spot #5 I am too fearful to empathize. I remember, therefore I know. I am listening so I actually know what you really mean. An inability to stand in each other s shoes when we are fearful or upset. The assumption that we remember what others say when we actually remember what we think about what others say. The assumption that meaning resides in the speaker, when in fact it resides in the listener. 9

10 Session I: Storytelling Notes: Things I am hearing or learning that I don t want to forget 10

11 Notes: Session 2: Spiritual Leadership What words do you use to describe Spiritual Leadership? How does Spiritual Leadership compare to church leadership or other kinds of leadership? Being loved by a remarkable God frees us to love others. How does this fit with your understanding of nonduality? What does a higher level of consciousness look like to you? Give examples. Note the questions that are raised in your heart and mind by these ideas. What bothers you most? What gets you most excited? Why? What impact do the changing relational rings have on deep, sustainable relationships? Action What are the fears, concerns or threats created by the new operating system? Lord, we pray we never find ourselves without hope, without a glimpse of the empty tomb each time we happen upon a cross. Help us begin our daily journey expecting both crosses and empty tombs and rejoicing when we encounter either because we know you are with us. Amen. 11

12 Loving God with all my heart calls me to listen to my passions and gifts as the Holy Spirit moves in my life. Loving God with all my soul calls me to be centered with faith practices that wake me up to the Holy Spirit. Loving God with all my strength calls me to deepen my relationship with a more diverse group of people and to expand my capacity to love my neighbor as myself. Loving God with all my mind calls me to ask important questions, wrestle with my theology, explore the way I do things (systems), and to live a life of gratitude. 12

13 Ref lections from the day: Spiritual Pilgrims Friday Evening 13

14 Session 3: Personal Spiritual Types Heart (καρδίας in Greek) Heart spiritual types are people who are moved by action, doing things, and justice concerns. This type relies upon their passion for their spiritual energy. Soul (ψυχῆς in Greek) Soul spiritual types are people who value relationship, oneness, and mystical union. This type relies upon felt experience and connection for their spiritual energy. Suggested spiritual practices: going on pilgrimage, Ignatian Examen (Praying Over Daily Life), volunteering, advocacy Suggested spiritual practices: centering prayer, stations of the cross, walking a labyrinth Strength (ἰσχύος in Greek) Strength spiritual types are people who get the most meaning out of doing something with their bodies. This type relies upon activity or bodily movement for their spiritual energy. Mind (διανοίας in Greek) Mind spiritual types are people who connect using their intellect and the verbal or written word. This type relies upon beautiful language and sound belief for their spiritual energy. Suggested spiritual practices: yoga, coloring, walking a labyrinth, being in nature, using prayer beads Suggested spiritual practices: liturgical worship, Lectio Divina, journaling, Ignatian Contemplation, meditating on hymn lyrics or psalms Spiritual Types Index and Research is the work of Reverend Richard Nelson and used with permission. 14

15 Ref lection: Your Spiritual Type Session 3: Personal Spiritual Types How did the Spiritual Type Index affirm what I know about myself? What surprised me about my Spiritual Type? What are my hopes for my own spiritual life as I live in Christ? As a Christian leader? 15

16 Session 4: The LEAD Tune In Process Focus on Steps 5-7 Notes and Ref lections: 16

17 Conversational Dashboard Conversational Matrix LEVEL I LEVEL II LEVEL III Transactional Positional Transformational Exchange Information Exchange Power Exchan ge Energy Purpose Confirm what you know Defend what you know Discover what you don t know Blind spot Tell-Sell-Yell Addicted to Being Right All Talk, No Action and Overuse Tendency towards telling more than asking Tendency to ask questions for which you have the answers Tendency for too much talk and no action Blindspots Blind Spot #1 Assuming everyone thinks like me. An assumption that others see what we see, feel what we feel, and think what we think. Blind Spot #2 Feelings change our reality. The failure to realize that fear, trust, and distrust change how we see and interpret reality, and therefore how we talk about it. Blind Spot #3 Blind Spot #4 Blind Spot #5 I am too fearful to empathize. I remember, therefore I know. I am listening so I actually know what you really mean. An inability to stand in each other s shoes when we are fearful or upset. The assumption that we remember what others say when we actually remember what we think about what others say. The assumption that meaning resides in the speaker, when in fact it resides in the listener. 17

18 Success Exercise 18

19 Workshop Telling Our Stories Faith sharing is a way of describing spiritual transformation. Christian transformation is both initial and ongoing. Our initial transformation or change by Christ is celebrated in Baptism. But that is not the only experience of transformation we have. We experience smaller changes within our life of faith. These smaller changes are often shared through storytelling. From Through To The basic structure of Christian transformation, according to Adrian Van Kaam and Susan Muto, can be understood as FROM THROUGH TO. When we change, we move FROM one way of being in relationship with God and others TO another way of being in relationship with God and others. Finally, we go THROUGH a wide range of experiences as we move FROM the one way of being TO the new way of being. The THROUGH is the main body of a faith story. Here are some examples of what a Christian person might change from and change to: From To Judgmental Merciful Depressed Joy-filled Foolish Wise Selfish Generous Empty Fulfilled Gluttonous Temperate Entitled Grateful Fearful Courageous Short-tempered Patient Uncaring Compassionate There are five essential ingredients to a complete and authentic Christian transformation experience. These ingredients, shown in the diagram below, are expressed in the content of a good faith story. They are ingredients in the soup of Christian transformation as one moves from through and to new life in Christ. 19 Copyright Jim Merhaut, All rights served. Used with permission.

20 Tell your story Workshop: Telling Our Stories Think about one significant transformation that has happened in your life. Describe in a single phrase how you transformed FROM one way of being in relationship with God and others TO a new way of being in relationship with God and others. I was transformed FROM TO. As you moved THROUGH the process of transformation How was an experience of love the foundation for your transformation? Who inspired your transformation? Which Gospel stories, sayings, or themes connect with your transformation? How did your experience of community deepen because of your transformation? How has your Christian mission matured or developed because of your transformation? Copyright Jim Merhaut, All rights served. Used with permission. 20

21 What do we know about these people? List general demographics like age, culture, language, socio-economic reality...etc. Inner: Middle: Outer: Session 5: Listening and Mapping Practices What are their resources? What are their needs? Draw on your best thinking about this group of people. Inner: Middle: Outer: What are their values? Draw on your best thinking about this group of people. Inner: Middle: What is their current relationship to your congregation? Inner: Middle: Outer: Outer: Congregation s Property Inner Ring of Relationships Middle Ring of Relationships Outer Ring of Relationships 21

22 Ref lection: Observations, questions, and notes Session 5: Listening and Mapping Practices 22

23 Session 6: Next Steps Month / Season May 2017 Already on the Map LEAD Journey Communication June 2017 July 2017 August 2017 September 2017 October 2017 Learning Seminar C November 2017 December 2017 Christmas January 2018 February 2018 March 2018 April 2018 Learning Seminar D May 2018 June

24 Session 6: Next Steps The Next 15 Weeks Week of Action Plan April 30 May 7 May 14 May 21 May 28 Memorial Day Weekend June 4 June 11 June 18 June 25 July 2 July 9 July 16 July 23 July 30 August 6 24

25 Next Steps wit h your LEAD C oach and Notes Session 6: Next Steps Resources to Check Out: 1. Your LEAD Webpage is located at waytolead.org. Go to the client tab, click on your synod s name and use your password to access all the resources from this seminar and other tools to support your leadership. Your password is: semn 2. For your personal devotions, we recommend daily posts from the Center for Action and Contemplation written by Fr. Richard Rohr. 3. For your personal, family, and staff reflection, we recommend using the practice of Dwelling in the Word or Daily Gratitude. 25

26 LEAD Growing leaders with deep, bold, consequential faith Empowering Christian Leaders, Transforming Faith Communities, Influencing the World