Practicing Christian Discernment Guiding Communal Discernment Practicing Christian Discernment 1
A prayer for discernment Practicing Christian Discernment 2
Leadership that prays, listens, discerns If Christian mission is about, seeing what God is doing and joining in then discernment & the cultivating of an environment which enables discernment are the leadership capacities most needed at this time. Graham Cray, The Discerning Leader, Grove Books, 2010 Practicing Christian Discernment 3
Discernment a Christian practice As a Christian spiritual practice, discernment is purposeful communal established repeated meaning making faith-in-action coherent & complex Practicing Christian Discernment 4
Definition of discernment Discernment uncovering is a gift from God, to cultivate sensitivity to God s presence and nourish a desire for God s purposes involves a humble yielding of control, growing through sensing God s gracious, freeing presence is about knowing God Practicing Christian Discernment 5
Discernment as a means to: sense what God is doing, desires; trust that being known by God helps us to see a situation differently, with the aid of God s Spirit s enlightenment uncover, rather than make a decision; listen to the Holy Spirit, who prays within and among us. Practicing Christian Discernment 6
Community and discernment Christian Discernment is practiced in community Manual for Meetings 1.2 1.3 p7 - p9 Theological understanding 1.2 and BoU para 3 Building a sense of community 1.3and attending to group dynamics Practicing Christian Discernment 7
Discernment as a movement One model: 7 movements. 1. Naming the issue 2. Clarifying the information 3. Reasoning the issue through 4. Prayerful resting 5. Perceiving the uncovered knowing 6. Shedding letting go 7. Agreeing together Practicing Christian Discernment 8
Naming Agreeing Clarifying Shedding Discernment as a movement Reasoning Perceiving Resting Practicing Christian Discernment 9
Naming the issue Try to get the to heart of the matter Naming the issue in as few sentences as possible. Naming does not mean describing or explaining. What are we on about here, now? Practicing Christian Discernment 10
Clarification means asking questions Ask questions to: retain focus review progress identify complexities stay the distance check predisposition, attitudes, behaviours engage imagination Identify what is being uncovered test consensus Practicing Christian Discernment 11
Reasoning the issue through using right questions Right questions vs THE right question Active listening Transforming questions from how to what from who to me / us Practicing Christian Discernment 12
How do we imagine ourselves? Who are we in this journey, what roles do we play, how do we act? Choose a guiding image Engineer structure, process, planning Economist results, outcomes, dividends, benefits Artist spirituality, imagination, vision, values Practicing Christian Discernment 13
Case study one What now? A rural story reviving recent migrants change from animal based agriculture to viticulture growth in small scale, intense, niche food industry traditional community organisations Church & buildings reducing congregation worship room, hall, toilets, kitchen, furniture visitation monthly lunch ministry changes What now? Practicing Christian Discernment 14
Task PeerSpirt Circling Christina Baldwin Calling the Circle 3 principles Leadership rotates Responsibility is shared Centre is held by reliance on the Spirit 3 practices Listen attentively Speak intentionally Contribute to group wellbeing 4 agreements Share in confidence Listen compassionately, with curiosity Ask for what we need, offer what we can Periodically pause to regather throughs & focus Practicing Christian Discernment 15
Prayerful resting Multiple approaches Scripture to read and reflect on By association - similarity to the current story By imitation - a pattern of action worth copying By principle - principled action to follow Prayers Contemplative exercise Holy gazing, lectio divina with art Guided meditation Practicing Christian Discernment 16
Perceiving Where was God in this resting? What was God s word to me/ to us? What call do we hear in God s word to us at this time, in this context, about this matter? What commitments might frame our response to God s word to us? Practicing Christian Discernment 17
Shedding letting go Identifying what Providing a means A ritual A celebration and ending Really letting go! Do not pass go until Practicing Christian Discernment 18
Uncovering the decision Manual for Meetings Chapter 4 - How we make decisions Uncovering rather than deciding Practicing Christian Discernment 19
Handy hints Group dynamics who is playing what roles, when and where? Staying on track dealing with distractions Managing behaviours working with people! Sustaining our Spiritual course nurturing the community s soul Practicing Christian Discernment 20