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God's Will
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Nothing More...Nothing Less...Nothing Else
Discernment and consensus are an important part of who we
are as a church body and together they provide a primary
guide for how we operate as a church.
What Is Discernment?
The purpose and goal of spiritual discernment is knowing and
doing God’s will.
Discernment is seeing as God sees.
Scriptural Basis For
Discernment
The scriptural basis for discernment is found in:
1 Kings 3:5, 9-14
At Gideon the Lord appeared to
Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I
should give you.” Solomon replied “Give your servant
therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able
to discern between good and evil… It pleased the Lord that
Solomon had asked this. God said to him, ‘Because you have
asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or
riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for
yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do
according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and
discerning mind…I give you also what you have not asked,
both riches and honor all your life;”
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be
transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may
discern what is the will of God – what is good and
acceptable and perfect.
Ephesians 5:17 So do not be foolish but understand
what the will of the Lord is.
(Scriptural quotes from the New Revised Standard Version)
Three Preconditions To Discernment
There are three preconditions to discernment:
1. A relationship of open communication with God.
2. A desire to know the will of God.
3. A commitment to doing the will of God.
We use three models of discernment or consensus:
1.
"Discernment to See as God Sees" by Bishop David Lawson;
2.
"Corporate Discernment and Consensus" by James C Fenhagen
3.
"Discerning God’s Will Together" by Danny Morris and
Charles Olsen
Although we follow three models, our basic approach
to seeking God’s will is similar in all three models.
Discernment To See As God Sees
1. Gather good data and basic factual information,
identifying
alternatives and possibilities.
2. Insist that all categories be kept “soft” in order that
creativity may be present and contribute to the process.
3. Maintain a holy indifference to the outcome, laying aside
all biases and prejudices. Be willing to leave the outcome
to God’s direction and to be obedient to the results.
4. Maintain a community and climate of worship.
5. Ask and respond to the question, “Where have we sensed
God’s affirmation in what we have been about?”
6. Spend time in reflection and prayer, listening to God’s
direction.
7. Share with the community what you have seen, heard and
felt in your reflection time. Dialogue about it. At this
stage there is no right or wrong, but rather a desire to
hear God. Frequently, insight and wisdom come in the
dialogue.
8. Humility is crucial. Each one must be constantly aware
that God may have spoken through another person.
9. Wait for God’s timing. Sometimes there is silence during
the wait. Continue to ask God for direction during the wait.
10. Remember to keep a holy indifference to the outcome,
willing to receive new ideas and to consider them.
11. When consensus begins to form, continue to offer all
plans and commitments to God for reshaping.
(From Bishop David Lawson’s book Discernment Steps: Toward a
Vision of God’s Will)
We no longer conduct “business” or make decisions following
parliamentary procedures (Roberts’ Rules of Order). Instead,
we seek consensus.
Corporate Discernment and Consensus
*When a ministry opportunity or project is identified,
clearly describe it. Gather all possible evidence and make
it available to those who will be engaged in the
deliberation. Then the process begins:
1. Enter into a time of meditation and prayer seeking
openness to and guidance from the Spirit.
2. Share “cons,” with each person reporting the reasons he
or she discerns against moving in a particular direction.
3. Enter into a time of prayer, allowing time to reflect on
the seriousness of the “cons” that have been shared.
4. Share “pros,” with each person reporting his or her own
personal discernment. If no clear consensus emerges, the
process continues.
5. Enter into a time of prayer, allowing time for reflection
upon the “pros.”
6. Sort out and weigh the reasons behind the pros and cons,
recording those reasons so that they are available to
everyone to discern communally, in the light of what has
been listed, the direction to which the community is called
by God.
“If the conditions of authentic communal discernment have
been fulfilled (i.e., if there is genuine openness to the
Spirit), the decision should be made clear, and confirmation
should be experienced unanimously through shared deep peace…
finding God together..” (John Futrell, S.J. “Communal
Discernment: Reflection on Experience,“ Studies in the
Spirituality of the Jesuits IV, no. 54 [November 1972]:
173).
7. Lift up a concluding prayer of thanksgiving and make a
reaffirmation of corporate commitment to carrying out the
decision.
(From James C. Fenhagen, Ministry and Solitude, New York:
The Seabury Press, 1981)
Discerning God's Will Together
There are ten stages within the discernment process:
1. Framing identifies the focus for discernment of God's
will. The matters to be included are arranged into a unified
whole. The focus of the exploration is briefly described.
2. Grounding in a guiding principle jump-starts the process
of discernment. The guiding principle is informed by the
values, beliefs, and purpose of the discerning community.
Boundaries are set.
3. Shedding lays aside ego, preconceived notions, false
assumptions, biases, and predetermined conclusions so that
persons involved in discernment can openly consider the
matter.
4. Rooting in the tradition connects religious and biblical
stories, themes, and images with the situation at hand. The
tradition may confront, confirm, nudge, or even transform
the direction of the discernment process.
5. Listening enables hearing the promptings of the Spirit of
God, the voices of all in the discerning community, and the
needs of others who may be affected by our discernment.
6. Exploring frees our playful imaginations to identify
possible options and paths that lie within the guiding
principle.
7. Improving works in consultation and prayer to improve
each option under consideration until it becomes the best
that we can imagine it to be within the yearning of God.
8. Weighing sorts and tests the options or paths in response
to the leading of God's Spirit.
9. Discerning brings the explorations to a conclusion,
moving toward the selection of an option which is given
weight by the Spirit of God and the process in which the
community is engaged.
10. Resting tests the decision by allowing it to rest near
the heart to determine whether it brings primarily feelings
of consolation (a sense of peace and movement toward God) or
desolation (distress and movement away from God).
(From Discerning God’s Will Together: A Spiritual Practice
for the Church by Danny Morris and Charles Olsen)
*Under the Fenhagen model of Corporate Discernment and
Consensus, the focus of step 6 is to determine if there is
consensus. When we talk about consensus, it doesn’t
necessarily mean everyone is in absolute agreement.
*Consensus can occur at three different levels. Everyone may
not completely agree, but they can live with the decision.
~ I agree
~ I don't agree with everything,
but I can live with it.
~ I don't agree at all,
but I can see that most do agree
and I can live with it.
*There is one level which means that consensus is not
reached.
~ I don't agree
and I can't live with it.
*If there is anyone who cannot live with a decision, (i.e.,
we haven’t reached consensus) then we return to more prayer
to seek reshaping of our decision and to continue to seek
unanimous consensus. |
