Leading Prayerful Meetings

Sandy Zeigler Jackson

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Opening

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Prayer Concerns

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Scripture “And let us consider how we may

spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another….” Hebrews 10:24-25

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Means of Grace

• Worship

• Prayer

• Searching the Scriptures

• Lord’s Supper

• Fasting or Abstinence

• Christian Conferencing (Group Fellowship)

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Christian Conferencing

• Wesley/ History

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Four Parts of a Meeting/Four Parts of Worship

4 parts of worship: 4 parts of a meeting:Entrance Gathering

Proclamation Listening

and Response

Thanksgiving Commitment

and Communion

Sending Forth Sending Forth

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Tithing Our Meeting Time

6 Minutes for every hourshould be spent focusing

on God

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First Things First

• Light Christ Candle

• Brief devotion/Scripture

• Hymn or chorus

• Responsive reading

• Gather prayer concerns

• Prayer – over agenda and concerns

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During the Meeting

• Focus on God’s purpose for this meeting

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Discernment • Look for God’s guidance• Listen for God’s call

• “to see to the heart of the matter with spiritual eyes”

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• Consensus– Creates cooperative

dynamic

– Work together for best possible decision for the group

• Parliamentary Procedure– Creates competitive

dynamic

– Ideas owned and defended

Choose a meeting process

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The Consensus ProcessIntroduction:

– Clarify the process– Present the proposal or issue– Invite questions to clarify the proposal or

issueDiscussion

Call for consensusIdentify ConcernsResolve Concerns using questions to clarify the concerns discuss one concern at a time

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ConsensusProcess

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The Consensus Process

• Alternative Closing Options – if consensus cannot be reached

–Agree to stand aside

–Send to a committee

–Declare a block

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Foundations of Consensus

• Trust• Respect• Unity of Purpose• Nonviolence• Self Empowerment• Cooperation• Conflict Resolution• Commitment to the group• Active Participation• Equal access to Power• Patience

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Impediments to Consensus

• Lack of Training

• External hierarchical structures –Pulling rank

• Social prejudice

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• Every interest is heard and understood.

• Everyone accepts the outcome (not necessarily agree – stand aside).

•Accepted because they believe they were heard and a good response was heard.

•All seek alternatives that address everyone’s concerns and interests, something greater (higher ground) than anyone’s preconceived ideas (newness).

•Obligation not to stymie but to help the group meet your interests and needs.

•Obligation to continue to try to meet the interests and needs of those who stand aside.

•Group ownership

Consensus

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Takes TimeConsensus

12 PT FONT FOR TEAM NAME. CHANGE IN MASTER SLIDE VIEW.I am no longer my own, but thine.Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.Put me to doing, put me to suffering.Let me be employed by thee or laid aside for thee,Exalted for thee or brought low for thee.Let me be full, let me be empty.Let me have all things, let me have nothing.I freely and heartily yield all thingsto thy pleasure and disposal.And now, O glorious and blessed God,Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,Thou art mine, and I am thine. So be it.And the covenant which I have made on earth,Let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.

A Covenant Prayer in the Wesleyan Tradition

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Copyright “Leading Prayerful Meetings”

Copyright © 2007 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Website: http://www.GBOD.org. This presentation may be reprinted and used for nonprofit local church and educational purposes with the inclusion of the complete copyright citation plus the words "Used by permission." It may not be sold, republished,

altered, used for profit, or placed on a website not under the auspices of The General Board of Discipleship.