J. Cy Rowell, a member of University Christian Church in Fort Worth, TX, and a member of the GLAD Alliance Council, brings us this report:
For several months laypersons from two churches in Fort Worth, TX have been meeting monthly to share their supportive concern for the ordination of gay and lesbian persons. Recently they have moved to systematic study of discernment using William Paulsell’s Listening to the Spirit: a Handbook for Discernment. More recently an elder in University Christian Church who is leading a small-group leader training series asked me to suggest adult study materials to be examined by that group. They wanted to see how what they were learning about small groups in the church applied to available adult curriculum resources. I suggested Listening to the Spirit .
And what did they find there? A section on Bible study that spoke directly to their needs as small group leaders - "Alexander Campbell’s Seven Rules of Biblical Interpretation." These rules from 1835 made Bible study become even more vital for these leaders.
So thanks to the initiative taken several years ago by Park Avenue Christian Church that resulted in the work of a fourteen-person committee “what is the message to our church as we relate to gay and lesbian Christians?” The resulting handbook is making a contribution far beyond its intended purpose. And yes, the monthly sharing group is finding the resource very helpful.
... and Karen Barr, GLAD Alliance Discernment Ministry Team Leader, who has been working with the General Church to facilitate the discernment process throughout the Church, brings this report:
The Discernment Ministry Team understands the need to continue our efforts until the task group for resolution 0514 [renewing the General Church's commitment to discernment] is in a position to take over. Since discernment is a general church program and not a GLAD program that is the most appropriate group to be promoting the use of the material.
Jan MacKenzie reported that the Alabama/N. Florida region's Commission on the Ministry had gone through a discernment process using the Listening to the Spirit material. She reported that members of this group who had not previously thought there was need for any discussion are now looking for ways to take this back to their congregations. Bob Shaw reported that there may be a test case for the Indiana Commission on the ministry in the near future and this has provided some "teachable moments" which he has been in a position to take advantage of.
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