wfn.org | Disciples committee begins journey toward discernment

[DISCNEWS.parti@ecunet.org]

February 5, 1997
Disciples News Service
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Contact: Clifford L. Willis
Email: CWillis@oc.disciples.org
on the web: http//www.disciples.org

97b-3

     INDIANAPOLIS (DNS) -- Less parliamentary and more spiritual. That just
about
sums up an experiment with the "spiritual disciplines" by the Administrative
Committee of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) General Board.

     The 40-member group, meeting here Jan. 26-28, took its time to explore
the scriptures,
share faith stories, pray and reflect on God's will for each of them and for
the business at hand.
This exercise was an attempt to emphasize use of the spiritual disciplines
over Robert's Rules
of Order in church business meetings, said the Rev. Lori Adams. She is a staff
minister in the
Office of General Minister and President.

     It also marked the early stages of a journey toward implementing a new
discernment
process advocated by Disciples General Minister and President Richard L. Hamm.
Through
the process the church "seeks the will of God" regarding significant doctrinal
and social justice
issues confronting the denomination. A distinguishing mark of the discernment
process is an
emphasis on settling potentially divisive church issues through study,
reflection, prayer and
dialogue rather than casting votes. 

     Moderator Janet Long of Elyria, Ohio, thanked committee members for their
participation in the "experiment in openness." Long is pastor of Washington
Avenue Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ) in Elyria.

     It was quite a departure from the usual dizzying round of section or
small group
meetings on Sunday, followed by whole-group gatherings on Monday and Tuesday.
There
also were no evening sessions, except for the Executive Committee. 

     The highlight was a Monday agenda devoted to dialogue, prayer and
reflection on two
key issues gripping the million-member denomination -- theological and racial
diversity. The
Disciples General Assembly, meeting July 25-30 in Denver, will engage in a
more in-depth
process of discernment on two related issues -- biblical authority and racism
in North America.

     Committee members appreciated the "different way of being together," said
the Rev.
Jeff Wright, Ft. Collins, Colo.

     Discernment will take us into places we do not want to go, said the Rev.
Paul A. Crow
Jr., president of the Council on Christian Unity. 

     The need to vote on complex issues is an example of the "culture of
autonomy within
our church," said Hamm. While autonomy is part of the church's strength it
also "leads to a
breakdown of cooperation" and "posturing by various groups . . . seeking to 
win,' to carry a
vote.

     "We must ask ourselves,  Is this the nature of truth?' Do we determine
truth simply by
voting on it?'" Hamm inquired of committee members. Most church members would
say "of
course not," yet because of autonomy the church is inclined toward more
political approaches. 

     The alternative, said the Disciples leader, is a move toward "a culture
of discernment"
which seeks to discover "God's leading for the church" in addition to church
members'
opinions. Discernment means thinking in a context of prayer and Bible study
and Disciples
tradition. "It means seeking the truth while "we  wait on the Lord' for
direction and
guidance."

     "What a gift a church would be that lived a  culture of discernment'" in
a world
engaged in culture wars and steeped in radical individualism, Hamm said. 

     "We're on the edge of something fairly revolutionary," he declared to the
administrative body. Through the process, God will hopefully use Disciples to
"plow new
ground" for other mainline denominations.

     His aim is to help the church live out three particular "marks" or
callings of a faithful
church: deep spirituality, a passion for justice and true community. Disciples
will attempt to
do this while fulfilling mission imperatives to:

     * renew congregational life through faith development and spiritual
nurture; 

     * do evangelism by establishing new congregations and strengthening
ministries with
families, children, youth and young adults; and 

     * engage in ministries of compassion, unity and justice.

     Besides the discernment process Hamm has attempted to streamline and
coordinate the
denomination's planning process. Toward that end, the committee received a
report affirming
the General Board as the "unifying locus" for this task; and recommending an
on-going cycle
for church wide planning through a "biennial planning session" in off-General
Assembly
years.

     The key to making this process work relies on a proposal to reduce
General Board
membership from the current 161 persons to 96. Board meetings during
non-assembly years
might involve up to 180 persons. Thirty non-members of the board and 54
resource persons
from regions, general units, higher education and other institutions may be
invited to
participate, according to the report.

     Together the two proposals would mean that the General Board would have
"much
more meaningful work and a more important role in the life of the church,"
according to a
work group. Board members will be involved in  strategic planning around
mission
imperatives -- "not simply in receiving reports, and giving consideration and
action to policy
statements and resolutions."

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