|
2010 Congregational Leaders Seminar Come, Let Us Reason Together: Developing Common Understandings for Discernment a seminar for pastors, elders, deacons and other congregational leaders
Papers Presented: The Rule of Christ in His Church by Kent McDougal
Biblical Roots, Interpretive Connections by Mathew Swora
Living Side by Side with Difference by Cynthia Lapp
Hermeneutics Seminar Generates High Interest by Shana Peachey Boshart DES MOINES, Iowa --Amazing! One hundred twenty people came out in 20-below weather to discuss hermeneutics! This was the sentiment expressed by one participant at the Central Plains Mennonite Conference seminar for congregational leaders, Come, Let Us Reason Together: Developing Common Understandings for Discernment, held January 8 and 9 in Des Moines. Last summer at Central Plains annual meeting in Freeman, the conference council shared with the delegates a plan to appoint a “Unity Task Group” to study the conference’s policy on variance. Then, at Mennonite Church USA delegate assembly in Columbus, Ohio, the delegates approved a resolution calling for the development of resources for discernment around divisive issues. When the Central Plains ministry staff considered these events, it seemed that a good starting point for discernment would be scripture and how we interpret it. Several pastors in the conference had also expressed a longing for more theological reflection around issues of variance. Conference Minister Tim Detweiler worked with pastors David Boshart, Kent McDougal and Mathew Swora to plan a seminar for congregational leaders (pastors, elders and deacons) on the subject of hermeneutics; that is, how we interpret the Bible. “The purpose of this seminar was to help us reflect on our common understandings for discernment as we address issues of variance in our conference,” said Tim. “In my memory,” reflected Dave Boshart, “this is the first conference that was called for the purpose of scripture discernment. We began by looking to the Bible as our common foundation for faith and life under the Rule of Christ.” On Friday evening, January 8, Detweiler and Moderator Diane Zaerr Brenneman opened the meeting and introduced “ground rules” of listening and speaking respectfully, being committed to new learning, and respecting the views of others. Conference Ministers Ed Kauffman and Sharon Kennel led a time of worship emphasizing fellowship and celebrating our common faith. Kent McDougal presented “The Rule of Christ in His Church,” a paper which examines how obedience to the teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew equip us for ethical discernment. Kent is the pastor of Christ Community Church in Des Moines. “Too often when we talk about issues of faith and life, participants begin by speaking to the issue primarily from their own experience,” said Boshart. “That’s a conversation but it isn’t hermeneutical discernment. This meeting began with the establishment of a common foundation from which our experience could be tested and corrected through the lens of scriptural interpretation.” Saturday morning, following a time of worship focused on confidence in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Mathew Swora presented “Biblical Roots, Interpretive Connections,” in which he traced the scriptural roots of Confession of Faith in a Mennonite Perspective and how the church has arrived at its current position regarding human sexuality. Mathew is pastor of Emmanuel Mennonite Church in Minneapolis. Cynthia Lapp, pastor of the Hyattsville Mennonite Church, Hyattsville, Md., presented, “Living Side by Side with Difference,” in which she proposed allowing a diversity of views and following the Gamaliel principal from Acts 5, ‘if it is of human origin it will fail, but if it is of God.…’ Participants spent the last session in table groups of about eight people, responding to these questions: What have you heard that represents the best of who we are as a faith community? What have you heard that raises concerns/fears for the future of our common life as a conference? What have you heard that will move us toward our highest hopes as God’s kingdom people? Each table group then reported to the whole group from its discussion. In their written reports, many tables expressed appreciation for the respectful tone of the gathering, noting especially the humility of all three presenters. There was wide affirmation for starting with the scriptures and “what unites us.” Some expressed feeling more confident that the church can do the work of discernment. “This is the church doing its job,” was one comment. Concerns expressed most often by the table groups had to do with fears of division and of losing our witness because we get bogged down in controversies. “My hopes for clarity and charity were met,” said Swora. “Clarity about our beliefs and experiences, and charity in how we heard each other.” “I was impressed with the level of discourse,” reflected Lapp. “It was evident that we all take the Bible seriously and we all love the church. I was grateful to be part of a conversation where we actually agreed and disagreed in love.” On forms evaluating the event, participants cited the content of the presentations and the hermeneutical approach as being helpful. In response to the question, what kind of future events and resources would help deepen our common understandings among the congregations in our conference, the most common was a desire to have more “opportunities to engage each other and the Spirit in hermeneutical work.” “I confess I entered this weekend with a bit of fear and trembling and lots of prayer,” said Tim Detweiler. “But I left praising God for the way in which I saw God’s Spirit bring us together. “As God’s kingdom people under the rule of Christ, it is important for conference and congregational leaders to gather for dialogue and discernment around issues of variance. We can trust the Spirit of God to be at work in our midst.” |
Brochure
Please read before the seminar:
Agreeing and Disagreeing in Love
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |