Practicing Discernment Together A Resource for Local Church

Practicing Discernment Together A Resource for Local Church Discernment Committees and Association Committees on Ministry Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA) Ministry Team United Church of Christ

Discernment is …

A Fundamental Disposition

A Christian Practice

A Communal Practice

. The practice of discernment makes intentional a process of reflection on and participation with God’s Spirit as the fundamental context in which we live and make choices. Every action in the discernment process begins and ends with an eye toward “presencing” the Holy Spirit.

Local Churches and Committees on Ministry as Discerning Communities

• Be fully present, extending and presuming welcome. Rules of the Road • Listen generously and suspend judgement about another’s story. Hold stories with care and respect. • Author your own story and share your own gifts.

Rules of the Road, cont. • Turn to wonder. Welcome the discomfort. Love the questions. • Be mindful and respectful of time. • Practice confidentiality.

Rules of the Road, cont. • Believe that it is possible for us to emerge from our time together refreshed, surprised, and less burdened than when we came.

Breathe in the Spirit of God. I say to God, “You are my Sovereign; I have no good apart from you. ” Therefore my heart is glad, and my soul rejoices; my body also rests secure. You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy. (From the Psalm 16: 2, 9, 11 a) Tell a story that demonstrates an occasion when you embodied the love of God, trust in Jesus, and/or openness to the Holy Spirit. How did you know that the divine was present?

Affirming that Discernment A Discernment Travelogue … • Is a fundamental disposition • Is grounded in prayer and Scripture • Is informed by a number of practices • Honors diversity of human experience • Is embodied in particular contexts and individuals …

Begin with prayer … … inviting and making space through silence, words, and intentionality for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Name the question(s) … … What needs to be discerned? What is at stake and for whom? Are there questions behind the questions?

Open to the power of Scripture … … Is there a story or passage that speaks to this moment in the life of the discerning body?

… the story of the one(s) in Discernment, Ask questions that lead to dialogue between stories …. The Story as it comes to us through the life of Christ and Christ’s church, and the Story of God’s future that is unfolding before us.

Enter into silence as needed. “I waited on the Lord. ”

Reflect, inviting the guidance of the Holy Spirit … • What is at stake? • What are the possible responses? • Are we asking the right questions? • In what direction is God calling us, for the sake of the church? • What is God’s good news for us now?

When discernment moves toward decision … • Are we ready? • What are our next steps? • Who will be responsible for what, by when, accountable to whom? • A note on know and no …

End with prayer …

Reflection and sharing … • Share a story of an occasion when a community testified to your call by God. • What were the fruits of that experience? • In what ways was it lifegiving? • In what ways was this experience a participation in God’s transforming presence in the world?

Discernamentaria n A guide for the journey

When diverse cultures meet, practice hospitality and inclusion.

Susan Beaumont “Discernment doesn’t just happen. It must be spiritually nurtured within the culture of the team. A team that is grounded in God’s spirit, and open to authentic discernment, will cultivate its presence, its process, and its practices. ”

In what concrete ways will you nurture a spirit of discernment in your work as a Committee on Ministry? How will you “cultivate its presence, its process, and its practices? ”

Abundant blessings.

And thank you! http: //www. ucc. org/ministers Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization (MESA) Ministry Team United Church of Christ