CLC staff member Greg Town shares some of his experiences in church leadership.
I've found that individuals and groups have vastly differing experiences and mental models about spiritual practices.
In my current church, I have found that several individuals are doers: they talk through their options, make a decision, then get to work (which is spectacular in certain circumstances). However, these individuals grow uncomfortable with silence, especially in times when any pathway to move forward is complex and unclear. They tend to grow agitated when making a decision isn't easy or when others in the group don't feel ready to jump to a decision. They also don't think of prayer and silence when discernment grows difficult.
Over my years as a leader/pastor, I became personally aware that I could not jump from thing to thing or meeting to meeting; in those instances, I just wasn't showing up as my best self. I learned that I needed to take some time for silence, and maybe some solitude, to center myself.
I recognized the need for our congregation and our leadership to also learn how to allow for and create moments of silence, prayer, and meditation when seeking God's guidance alongside our collective wisdom (and our collective unknowing). To bring these practices into our awareness, we began incorporating more silence into worship and into our meetings. For a summer, prior to Sunday morning worship, I led a time of guided prayer and meditation in our outdoor prayer garden.
Some folks are still uncomfortable with silence, but they've grown (and I've grown) more accustomed to letting the silence sit longer. And a few have moved to a place of requesting silence and prayer when things gets difficult.
I wonder what spiritual practices you've found to be pivotal in times of transition and change for yourself or for your congregation?
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