SERVING THE NEEDS OF LEADERS IN CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND FORMATION

MEETINGS THAT NURTURE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION AND FORMATION To prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. (Ephesians 4:12-13, NIV)

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any times it‟s hard to think of our Christian education and formation meetings as opportunities for spiritual growth and enrichment. More often than not our meetings are thought of as a way to tend to the business and administration of the church and in many ways look no different from the meetings of any group attempting to manage the work of a business or organization. Too often people leave meetings with the feeling of “I thought that meeting would never end,” or “You won‟t see me back for a long time,” or “Why did I volunteer to serve on this committee?” Too often meetings leave people frustrated and at times even disillusioned with their experience of working with any church committee.

of administration in the church in secular terms and see programs and worship as „the religious part.‟ We fail to remember that all the business of the church is ministry carried out in response to God‟s grace for us.” She goes on to say that “church governance can be efficient and effective and also contribute to formation in the image of Christ. For this to happen, we must cease thinking of church business in secular terms. We must teach ourselves to see the business of the church as God‟s business” (page 53). This task takes practice and work! Changing the way it has always been done to a new way of meeting, a new way of thinking, will take time. It will not be easy, but the rewards far exceed the challenges as you seek to keep the business of your meetings focused on God‟s business.

MEETINGS CAN FEED THE SPIRIT Meetings in the church setting need to reflect the fact that we are the body of Christ. Our work focuses on ministry that seeks to bring the body of Christ to life in the lives of those with whom we have a ministry. In order to realize the full potential of the ministry with which we have been charged, it is imperative that the meetings we invite people to are places where the spirit can be fed and the ministry enhanced. After all, it is God‟s business we are about.

Kurtz provides some helpful questions (page 53) to make our meetings places where Christian spiritual formation can take place. Is listening emphasized as a leadership skill? Are you more concerned with issues than personalities in meetings? Are all members well-informed about the business of the committees with which they work? Is all your committee work informed and illuminated by encountering Scripture and reflecting on your task in that context?

In her book, The Heart’s Journey, Barb Nardi Kurtz writes, “We often tend to separate what is „religious‟ from what is „business.‟ We think 1

Is there opportunity to search the Scriptures together in every session? Is every meeting begun and continued in prayer? Are there people somewhere praying for the meeting while it is in session? Are committee or council members given the opportunity to pray for one another, and the congregation, between meetings?

expected that your members will be in prayer for one another and for the ministry of your group and the entire church? Remember that praying is more than our conversation with God; it is also listening for God‟s response. Do you allow a time of silence to listen for God‟s response?

Let‟s look at three of these questions as a means of reflection.

The following section from the “Christian Education” volume of the Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation series (page-12) offers helpful tips for planning your meetings.

PLANNING TEAM MEETINGS

Are all members well-informed?

Do you send out the agenda ahead of time or do you hand it out at the meeting? Do your members get the minutes of your meetings in a timely fashion? Do committee members come prepared with the necessary information to do the work at hand?

Before the Meeting Check the date and time to avoid conflicts with activities of other important congregational groups. Prepare the agenda for the meeting. [Be sure that it allows for dialogue, reflection, and decision making. Check with team members to find out if they have items for the agenda.] Give team members the date, time, place, agenda, and other materials far enough in advance so that they can prepare to participate actively. Contact the church office if you have special needs related to room arrangement or equipment.

Is there opportunity to search the Scriptures together in every session?

Or is there a brief devotion, and then on to the business with no reference to how the devotion is helping to shape the ministry? Do you find appropriate Scripture to help set the tone for the meeting and then study that Scripture together as part of the meeting? Our work focuses on ministry that seeks to bring the body of Christ to life in the lives of those with whom we have a ministry. In order to realize the full potential of the ministry with which we have been charged, it is imperative that the meetings we invite people to are places where the spirit can be fed and the ministry enhanced. After all, it is God’s business we are about.

At the Meeting

Begin on time. [Include a focusing activity that strengthens team members‟ relationships with God and one another and assists the team in understanding your ministry.] Designate a person to keep track of decisions, assignments, and deadlines. Provide for balanced participation by persons of various viewpoints. Adjust the agenda so that priority items receive adequate attention. Ask for feedback on the effectiveness of the meeting so that you can incorporate helpful suggestions into future team meetings.

Is every meeting begun and continued in prayer?

As you open your meeting do you frame the opening prayer to the agenda? As part of your prayer do you invite group members to contribute to the prayer? During the meeting do you stop to give prayers of thanksgiving for the work that is being done or has been accomplished: “We give you thanks, O Lord”? Is it

After the Meeting

Promptly review your notes on decisions and assignments to make sure they are clear and accurate.

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and with God. The team members will then be able to focus on who they are as a community and how God is calling the team to be in ministry in and through this church.

Send out minutes to remind others of the assignments they accepted. Check on progress with people working on assignments. [Find out if they need any assistance.] Thank persons who have provided special resources or assistance. Reflect on the decisions and plans in light of the vision and goals of the congregation so that the group may continue on course. Think about additional information the team needs to continue with their plans. Begin building the agenda for the next meeting.

Business/Responding

When the meeting moves into a focus on the ministry items, the team‟s discussions and responses will flow as a response to a deep awareness of themselves, of God, and of the team‟s purpose.

Closing

End the meeting time with prayers of thanksgiving for God‟s presence and guidance and for God‟s continued gifts as the team moves out to do God‟s work through the church.

THE MEETING AGENDA For every meeting, set an agenda with a spiritual focus—and follow it. Such planning helps team members know that meetings are important and will remind them that their work of ministry is for the purpose of being about God‟s business in the church and in the world. To build an agenda with a spiritual focus, think of your meeting time in three movements.

Now, use the agenda outline to plan your next team meeting. As you plan the agenda, begin with the middle section, “Business / Responding.” Once you have determined what the team will be discussing during this meeting, you will be ready to choose meaningful Scripture, prayers, and rituals for the opening and closing times.

Gathering and Opening to God

The time spent during this movement will allow team members to move inward, centering the group on relationships with one another

(The two-page sample below includes a more complete description: A Meeting Model With a Spiritual Formation Focus).

 This pamphlet is prepared by the Faith Formation and Discipleship Groups at the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church and may be reprinted for use in the local church © 2010 GBOD. For more information about the needs and requirements in specific ministry areas, see the leadership series Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation, which includes  Christian Education  Children‟s Ministries  Youth Ministries  Adult Ministries  Family Ministries  Small Group Ministry Go to www.cokesbury.com or call 1-800-672-1789. Please also visit our website www.gbod.org

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A MEETING MODEL WITH A SPIRITUAL FORMATION FOCUS GATHERING AND OPENING TO GOD Gathering

Create a ritual that will draw the group‟s attention to the Spirit‟s presence as people gather. You might light a candle, sing a song, or call for a moment of silence. This ritual will provide an opportunity to leave the outside world and move into a time of sacred space. It is a way of announcing to the group, “We are knowingly coming into God‟s presence.” Whatever ritual you choose should be a simple ritual that helps those present recognize and acknowledge the presence of God.

Touching Base

Use this time for each group member to talk about what has been happening in his or her life since you last met. Allow only two or three minutes for each member to speak. This is a time when members can learn to listen deeply to each person without interrupting or commenting. After each person speaks, allow silence before the next person speaks as a way of honoring what was just shared. There may be times you will want to change the “touching base” question. For example, you may ask, “What is your hope as you have come to the meeting tonight?” Taking the time to talk about personal issues helps the group members to get rid of any baggage they may be carrying and allows them to focus more completely on the work of the group.

Opening to God

This is a time of prayerful listening and giving your attention to the Spirit of God moving within and among the members. It is an opportunity to move your attention away from the particularities of the agenda and the concerns of daily lives to center on the One who calls us to this work. You might select a short passage of Scripture from the lectionary or a passage that is directly related to your agenda. Invite people to listen prayerfully for God‟s invitation as the passage is being read. Encourage them to listen for a word or phrase that speaks to them. Following the reading of the passage, allow for a time of silence before individuals are invited to tell what they have heard. Then invite them to mention a word or phrase that came to them during the reading of the Scripture and any insights that came to them—all without comments from the group. This is once again an opportunity for deep listening to how God is speaking to the group.

Invitation/Reflection

During this time the group moves from their individual concerns to focus on the group‟s purpose. What is God calling us to do through the passage of Scripture we have heard tonight?

BUSINESS/RESPONDING Here the group addresses the ministry items on the agenda. It will be important for you as the chairperson to remind the group to continue to be aware of the things that have already been said in the group and to maintain a prayerful attention to the presence of God and to God‟s activity during this portion of the meeting.

Closing

At the end of the meeting focus your attention on the Spirit of God. Use this as a time for prayers of gratitude and intercession and for offering yourself, individually and as a group, to the ministry God is calling you to. This meeting outline was adapted from the “Litany of Discernment” created in 2002 for the Youth Ministry Spirituality Project © 2010 GBOD. This page may be reproduced for use in the local church.

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THE BODY OF CHRIST AT WORK: _______ TEAM DATE: __________ Gathering and Opening to God

(After you have completed the “Business/Responding” portion of the agenda, plan the opening for your meeting. Use suggestions from the “Gathering,” “Touching Base,” “Opening to God,” and “Invitation/Reflection” sections of “A Meeting Model With a Spiritual Formation Focus.)

Business/Responding

(Start here as you build your meeting agenda. What specific ministry needs must be dealt with now? Are there items that need immediate attention? Are there ongoing events that need attention? Are there special events that need to be planned? Is this a time to do some long-range planning?)

Closing

(Are assignments for follow-up work clear? How will you remind team members that the work they are doing is God’s work and will make a difference in the lives of real people? How will you end the meeting with a focus on God’s guidance as the team follows through on plans made during this time?)

© 2010 GBOD. This page may be reproduced for use in the local church.

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