- Apr 25, 2016
- 35,847
- 20,109
- 45
- Country
- Australia
- Gender
- Female
- Faith
- Anglican
- Marital Status
- Married
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?
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?