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Fostering growth in spiritual maturity in a congregation

Paidiske

Clara bonam audax
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So, I'll have been in charge of this parish for a year come Thursday (time has flown!)

And what I observe is that there is very little spiritual maturity. Oh, they're well educated; they know their Scripture and theology well; but when the rubber hits the road and it's time to make decisions, the church still tends to be held captive to keeping a core group of people happy that their preferences are being met.

There's little real understanding of mission, and less commitment to it. There's little willingness to set self aside for shared purpose (there's no real sense of shared purpose, and resistance to developing one!). Few people could tell you what their gifts are, and fewer are exercising them in the life of the church.

What I'm left wondering is... how do I help them grow in maturity? I don't feel like sermons and studies are the answer; as I said, these folk are well educated. It's not a lack of intellectual input that's the problem; it's more about needing to lead them in actually living it out.

Any thoughts and ideas as I reflect on this?
 

ubicaritas

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What does spiritual maturity look like? In some religious traditions that means reading the Bible more and so on.

One thing I admire is people who have learned to be accepting with themselves, which is not an easy thing to do at all. Religion can even work against that. Most people are not psychopaths and there is little danger in learning to be kind to yourself, yet our religious traditions tend to emphasize being so other/community-directed it can cause problems of their own where people repress and project some very unhealthy things.
 
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Paidiske

Clara bonam audax
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Yes, I think there is a degree of comfort with self that's important; because it's part of what allows us to also say " it's not all about me." As long as we're fighting or desperately needy, we can't allow the community life to be focussed on Christ.

There needs to be a balance; individuals matter, but so does a sense of the kingdom which transcends individuals. Or so it seems to me...
 
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bekkilyn

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As I figured I'll be dealing with this issue more and more myself as time goes on, I've been looking at various resources and came across this book called, "I Am A Church Member" by Thom Rainer. It's written from a Southern Baptist point of view, but it discusses the idea that being a church member is more than just showing up once a week and perhaps complaining when things don't go their way, but that there are various responsibilities that church members have both both the congregation and the gospel, that everything is not all supposed to be on the shoulders of clergy and staff.

There are also a bunch of books and resources on revitalizing and replanting churches that also deal with many of these same issues since often a reason why a church is in need of revitalization is because it lacks spiritual maturity.

I'm so new though that I'm at the point of just getting to know my congregations as they exist now, but I'm already seeing areas where a lot of work will be needed.
 
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