Talks about the role of clergy and laity in a healthy discernment process.

1. Kick-Start
New Year, New Visions
Session One - Discernment

2. At once, the spirit drove him
out into the wilderness…

3. Because doing
should arise out of
being
— what we do
out of who we are
At once, the spirit drove him
out into the wilderness…

5. Because different voices
are heard in the wilderness:
• In the city, position
matters, and those in
charge lead.
• In the wilderness both
angels and demons speak
freely.
• In the marketplace
everything has a price.
• In the wilderness money
is worthless
• At the council table,
those invited can vote
• In the wilderness that
which is missing is
counted
• Other?
At once, the spirit drove him
out into the wilderness…

6. At once, the spirit drove him
out into the wilderness…
In the
wilderness,
process
matters.
Developing a
process for
finding our
way is more
important than
having goals or
a destination

7. Discernment:
An organic,
spirit-oriented
process
for finding and
keeping
to our
vocation.

8. “Discernment
is not
knowing the
difference
between right
and wrong.
It’s knowing
the difference
between right
and almost
right.”
Charles Spurgeon
…and keeping faith when things are ambiguous

9. Who is responsible for developing a vision
for the local church?

10. Clergy Itinerate: They move from congregation to
congregation, sharing with each the common
understandings about faith and order that are
held across the denomination

11. Congregations Locate: They become rooted in
their context, discovering how to be the kind of
church that is vital and transformative for their
community

12. How do we set a table in the wilderness
so that those who are located and those
who are itinerant can see God’s vision
together?

13. [The Kingdom of God] is like a
mustard seed, which is the smallest of
all seeds on earth. Yet when planted, it
grows and becomes the largest of all
garden plants, with such big branches
that the birds can perch in its shade.”
Mark 4:31

14. roots - trunk - leaves - birds
Roots: Have been at the church for a long time.
They bring wisdom as to what works here,
knowledge of people and resources, and an
intuitive understanding of this congregation’s
culture and specific mission.

15. Branches and Leaves: Move from congregation to
congregation, bringing to the table ideas that
they have seen working elsewhere, and a
broader definition of church and mission.
roots - trunk - leaves - birds

16. Trunks: Have some experience other
congregations, but enough time in this
congregation to be respected. They help the
varied people at the table hear each other.
roots - trunk - leaves - birds

17. Tendencies
Virtues Faults
Roots Follow-through Change Resistent
Leaves Innovation Resource Poor
Trunks Communication Sidelined
How you actually behave depends upon
your temperament and maturity

18. DVORAK vs QWERTY
Roots = Typists/Secretaries
Leaves = Computer Nerds
Trunks aren’t at the Table

19. Who are the Birds?
[The Kingdom of God] is like a
mustard seed, which is the smallest
of all seeds on earth. Yet when
planted, it grows and becomes the
largest of all garden plants, with
such big branches that the birds can
perch in its shade.”Mark 4:31

20. Setting a table in the wilderness…
Who will speak for the Birds?

21. Discernment:
An organic,
spirit-oriented
process
for finding and
keeping
to our
vocation.

23. Implementation
Range
Process
Time
Leadership
expectation
Authority Soon Short Decisiveness
Majority Weeks or Months Medium Fairness
Discernment Long Long Resource provider
3 ways to make a decision
The process needs to be in place before the decision is needed.

24. Check out:
twice weekly blog
Tuesday - Lectionary
Insights
Thursday - Fixing
Church
@
www.Billkemp.info
Other Resources
@
www.notperfectyet.com
a Reality Check 101 Presentation