Practicing Spiritual Leadership

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LEAD Learning Seminar B

SE Minnesota, Cohort 2, Seminar B

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Permission to Reproduce

This guide may be reproduced for use in the Southeastern Minnesota Synod with covenanted congregations that are part of the LEAD Journey. All other reproduction is a violation of LEADs intellectual property.

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LEAD Learning Seminar B T

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Weve noticed a pattern. Ministries often look like their leaders.

Growing ministries are led by growing leaders.

Generous ministries are led by generous leaders.

Prayerful ministries are led by prayerful leaders. You get the picture. As leaders, we often feel like our attitudes are effected by our ministry. Im stressed because there is conflict in the ministry. Im relaxed because things are going well. Im tired because there is too much going on. But what if the opposite is true? What if we find our attitude first and that then shapes our ministry? Hold on to that thought for a minute. We hear throughout Scripture

that the Christian life is marked by joy. And if that is true, one would expect that Christian leadership would also be marked by joy. As we have listened to leaders, we know that many of you are tired. This year, we want to help you rediscover your joy. Real joy. Your joy. A joy that isnt dependent on whether your board meeting goes well or poorly, on whether you meet your budget numbers or not, on what last Sundays attendance was. Because when you find your joy, you will lead with joy. When you lead with joy, it will infect your ministry with joy. When your ministry is joyful, the people you minister with are more likely to experience joy. And joyful people transform communities.

Behold, I bring you good news of great joy!

Day / Time Cohort 2Seminar B Cohort 1Seminar D

Friday

5:00p Welcome & Introsall Welcome & Introsall

5:30 Sacred Mealall Sacred Mealall

6:30 1. StorytellingSharingJane 1. Faithful MetricsRozella

7:15 2. Spiritual LeadershipRozella 2. StorytellingSharingJane

8:00 Spiritual Pilgrims Jim Spiritual PilgrimsJim

8:30 Rest Rest

Saturday

9:00a Spiritual PilgrimsJane Spiritual PilgrimsJane

9:30 3. Personal Spiritual TypeRozella 3. Deepening Faith FormationJim

10:45 4. The Tune In Process, Steps 5-7Rozella 4. Individual Congregational Coaching

12:00 Lunch Lunch

12:30 Workshop Sessions Workshop Sessions

1:15 5. Listening & Mapping Practices Rozella 5. Individual Congregational Coaching

2:15 6. Next StepsJane 6. Next StepsJim

3:00 Spiritual PilgrimsRozella Spiritual PilgrimsRozella

3:30 Buen Camino Buen Camino

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LEAD Learning Seminar B Descriptions The Sacred MealWe are part of a movement of Christian leaders This meal is a LEAD ritual used to begin all of our Learning Seminars. This experience connects us to each other using practices similar to those of the early church who gathered for a meal and to remember Jesus. Session 1: Storytelling Hows it going? Using resources from Conversational Intelligence, this session provides space to hear stories and learn from peers in the cohort. Session 2: Spiritual LeadershipWe are leading in a time of sacred change How do you describe Spiritual Leadership? What does it mean to be joining in Gods mission? We are in a new missional era that invites us to lean into a deeply curious faith as we listen to God in new ways. Friday Night: Spiritual PilgrimsPraying together We are people that pray. Prayers take many forms. We will use the ancient practice of the Examen. Session 3: What is your Spiritual Type? Learn more about your personal spirituality after

taking the Spiritual Type Index. Discover faith practices that will help you wake up to God moving in your own life. Session 4: The Tune In Process, Steps 5-7 Focus on synthesizing congregational learning and listening in the neighborhood. This practical session will build your confidence for the next six months.

Communications WorkshopsChoose one of these opportunities to increase your capacity as a communicator: Conversational Intelligence

A trained coach will draw on the work of Judith Glaser in her book Conversational Intelligence to introduce you to your 5 blind spots and give you tools for your own Conversational Dashboard.

Telling Our Stories

Learn and practice an effective pattern for sharing your faith story with anyone. This session will build your confidence for talking about God moving in your life. Sharing your faith is easier than you think.

Session 5: Mapping the Neighborhood Literally make a map, noticing places ripe for listening as you strategically consider the neighborhood around the church. Make a plan that fits your context as you head out to listen. Learn more about your neighborhood. Consider questions, practice listening and discovering themes. Session 6: Next Steps Set your goals, build a calendar and to do list for the

next six months. Leave this event with an action plan that sets your congregation up for success. Saturday Afternoon: Spiritual Pilgrims Consequential Faith The courage to lead grows out of a faith that matters.

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The Sacred Meal Welcome and Explanation of Meal (Host) The Sacred Meal that is part of our faith does more than connect us to the holy. It connects us to each other. We will practice table fellowship in a way that the early Christians would have gathered in homes, to be together in Christian community. Jesus wanted his disciples, and everyone who came after him, to remember what they had together. What they made together. What it meant to be together. How the things he did could

not have been done without them. In this way, we are part of the earliest movements of the Christian faith. Sharing of Peace (Host) The peace is shared by table: Each person shares a portion of their day that has been meaningful to them. It is good to reflect on the question: Where have I experienced Gods presence in this day? The table leader leads the table in saying The peace of Christ be with you, the sharer responds by saying and also with you. Sharing of the Bread (Presider) Presider: On the night before Jesus was to die, he gathered together with his friends for dinner. And on that night, he took the bread, broke it, and gave it to them saying, Take and eat, this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And so tonight, we do the same. We take bread, break it, and give it to one another with those sacred words, The body of Christ given for you. Post-Bread Blessing (Presider) Presider: Be strengthened this night by the presence of Christ made known to you in the bread and in one another. Amen. Invitation to Meal (Presider) Instructions about the meal, guided conversation and Bible story is shared An invitation to the meal and explanation of food and family style etiquette is given. We are encouraged to serve each other. The host reads the assigned text for the day and the questions for meal conversation are shared. Post-Meal Prayer (Host) After the meal, the community prays The Lords Prayer. Sharing of Cup (Presider) Presider: When supper had ended that night, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this as often as you drink in remembrance of me. And so tonight, we take the cup of wine, and we give it to one another with those sacred words, The blood of Christ shed for you. Post-Wine Blessing (Presider) Presider: Now that you have tasted the goodness of God in bread and wine, let us be the body of Christ, blessed and broken for the whole world. Amen.

Adapted from The Sacred Meal: The Ancient Practices Series by Nora Gallagher

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Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch Acts 8:26-40 26 Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. (This is a wilderness road.) 27 So he got up and went. Now there was an

Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship28 and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, Go over to this chariot and join it. 30 So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, Do you understand what you are reading? 31 He replied, How can I, unless someone guides me? And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. 32 Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth.33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth. 34 The eunuch asked Philip, About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else? 35 Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized? 38 He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the

eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip

baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40 But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

Peter and Cornelius Acts 10:1-36 In Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian Cohort, as it was called. 2 He was a devout man who feared God with all his household; he gave alms generously to the people and prayed constantly to God. 3 One afternoon at about three oclock he had a vision in which he clearly saw an angel of God coming in and saying to him, Cornelius. 4 He stared at him in terror and said, What is it, Lord? He answered, Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa for a certain Simon who is called Peter; 6 he is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the seaside. 7 When the angel who spoke to him had left, he called two of his slaves and a devout soldier from the ranks of those who served him,8 and after telling them everything, he sent them to Joppa. 9 About noon the next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat; and while it was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw the heaven opened

LEAD Learning Seminar B Cohort 2

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and something like a large sheet coming down, being lowered to the ground by its four corners. 12 In it were all kinds of four-footed creatures and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 Then he heard a voice saying, Get up, Peter; kill and eat. 14 But Peter said, By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean. 15 The voice said to him again, a second time, What God has made clean, you must not call profane.16 This happened three times, and the thing was suddenly taken up to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was greatly puzzled about what to make of the vision that he had seen, suddenly the men sent by Cornelius appeared. They were asking for Simons house and were standing by the gate. 18 They called out to ask whether Simon, who was called Peter, was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, Look, three men are searching for you. 20 Now get up, go down, and go with them without hesitation; for I have sent them. 21 So Peter went down to the men and said, I am the one you are looking for; what is the reason for your coming? 22 They answered, Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the

whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say. 23 So Peter invited them in and gave them lodging. The next day he got up and went with them, and some of the believers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 The following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 On Peters arrival Cornelius met him, and falling at his feet, worshiped him. 26 But Peter made him get up, saying, Stand up; I am only a mortal. 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found that many had assembled; 28 and he said to them, You yourselves know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with or to visit a Gentile; but God has shown me that I should

not call anyone profane or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection. Now may I ask why you sent for me?

30 Cornelius replied, Four days ago at this very hour, at three oclock, I was praying in my house when suddenly a man in dazzling clothes stood before me. 31 He said, Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon, who is called Peter; he is staying in the home of Simon, a tanner, by the sea. 33 Therefore I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say. 34 Then Peter began to speak to them: I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christhe is Lord of all.

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The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your

God with al l your heart and with al l your soul and with al l your mind and with al l your strength. The second is this:

Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. - Mark 12: 29-31 NIV

LEADs Four Growth Indicators for Vital Behaviors

Each LEAD Journey has a ten-step process that may be accompanied by a professional coach to successfully take on new behaviors for growth in

discipleship and to join in Gods mission.

Loving God with all of our heart calls us to listenThe Tune In Process

Listen to God in scripture, in prayer, in the congregation, and in the neighborhood

Shift from inward to outward focus

Launch experiments with new learnings and partners

Loving God with all of our soul calls us to centerThe Wake Up Process

Clarify congregational purpose and values

Align congregation for mission

Articulate congregational identity

Loving God with all our mind calls us to exploreThe Dig Down Process

Deepen Christian frame and theology through Bible Study

Streamline systems for strategic ministry, includes staffing and governance

Increase commitment and generosity

Loving God with all of our strength calls us to connectThe Work Out Process

Create trust to extend hospitality with openness for diversity

Expand comfort zone through strong relational connections

Tell the congregations story through effective communication

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Session I: StorytellingUsing Conversational Intelligence by Judith Glaser

LEVEL I LEVEL II LEVEL III

Purpose

Transactional

Exchange Information

Confirm what you know

Positional

Exchange Power

Defend what you know

Transformational

Exchange Energy

Discover what you dont know

Blind spot

and

Overuse

Tell-Sell-Yell

Tendency towards telling more than asking

Addicted to Being Right

Tendency to ask questions for which you have the answers

All Talk, No Action

Tendency for too much talk and no action

Blind Spot #1

Assuming everyone thinks like me.

An assumption that others see what we see, feel what we feel, and think what we think.

Blind Spot #2

Feelings change our reality. The failure to realize that fear, trust, and distrust change how we see and interpret reality, and therefore how we talk about it.

Blind Spot #3

I am too fearful to empathize.

An inability to stand in each others shoes when we are fearful or upset.

Blind Spot #4

I remember, therefore I know.

The assumption that we remember what others say when we actually remember what we think about what others say.

Blind Spot #5

I am listening so I actually know what you really mean.

The assumption that meaning resides in the speaker, when in fact it resides in the listener.

Blind spots

Conversational Matrix

Conversational Dashboard

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Notes: Things I am hearing or learning that I dont want to forget

Session I: Storytelling

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What impact do the changing relational rings have on deep, sustainable relationships? What are the fears, concerns or threats created by the new operating system?

Notes: What words do you use to describe Spiritual Leadership? How does Spiritual Leadership compare to church leadership or other kinds of leadership? Being loved by a remarkable God frees us to love others. How does this fit with your understanding of nonduality?

What does a higher level of consciousness look like to you? Give examples.

Note the questions that are raised in your heart and mind by these ideas. What bothers you most? What gets you most excited? Why?

Action

Lord, we pray we never find ourselves without hope, without a glimpse of the empty tomb each time we happen upon a cross. Help us begin our daily journey expecting both crosses and empty tombs and rejoicing when we encounter either because we know you are with us. Amen.

Session 2: Spiritual Leadership

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Loving God

with all my

heart calls me

to listen to my

passions and

gifts as the

Holy Spirit

moves in my

life.

Loving God

with all my

soul calls me

to be centered

with faith

practices that

wake me up

to the Holy

Spirit.

Loving God with all

my strength calls me

to deepen my

relationship with a

more diverse group of

people and to expand

my capacity to love

my neighbor as

myself.

Loving God with all

my mind calls me to

ask important

questions, wrestle

with my theology,

explore the way I do

things (systems), and

to live a life of

gratitude.

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Ref lections from the day:

Spiritual PilgrimsFriday Evening

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Heart ( in Greek)

Heart spiritual types are people who are moved by

action, doing things, and justice concerns. This

type relies upon their passion for their spiritual

energy.

Suggested spiritual practices: going on pilgrimage,

Ignatian Examen (Praying Over Daily Life),

volunteering, advocacy

Strength ( in Greek)

Strength spiritual types are people who get the most

meaning out of doing something with their

bodies. This type relies upon activity or bodily

movement for their spiritual energy.

Suggested spiritual practices: yoga, coloring, walking

a labyrinth, being in nature, using prayer beads

Soul ( in Greek)

Soul spiritual types are people who value

relationship, oneness, and mystical union. This type

relies upon felt experience and connection for their

spiritual energy.

Suggested spiritual practices: centering prayer,

stations of the cross, walking a labyrinth

Mind ( in Greek)

Mind spiritual types are people who connect using

their intellect and the verbal or written word.

This type relies upon beautiful language and sound

belief for their spiritual energy.

Suggested spiritual practices: liturgical worship,

Lectio Divina, journaling, Ignatian Contemplation,

meditating on hymn lyrics or psalms

Session 3: Personal Spiritual Types

Spiritual Types Index and Research is the work of Reverend Richard Nelson and used with permission.

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Ref lection: Your Spiritual Type How did the Spiritual Type Index affirm what I know about myself?

What surprised me about my Spiritual Type?

What are my hopes for my own spiritual life as I live in Christ? As a Christian leader?

Session 3: Personal Spiritual Types

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Notes and Ref lections:

Session 4: The LEAD Tune In ProcessFocus on Steps 5-7

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LEVEL I LEVEL II LEVEL III

Purpose

Transactional

Exchange Information

Confirm what you know

Positional

Exchange Power

Defend what you know

Transformational

Exchan

ge Energy

Discover what you dont know

Blind spot

and

Overuse

Tell-Sell-Yell

Tendency towards telling more than asking

Addicted to Being Right

Tendency to ask questions for which you have the answers

All Talk, No Action

Tendency for too much talk and no action

Blind Spot #1

Assuming everyone thinks like me.

An assumption that others see what we see, feel what we feel, and think what we think.

Blind Spot #2

Feelings change our reality. The failure to realize that fear, trust, and distrust change how we see and interpret reality, and therefore how we talk about it.

Blind Spot #3

I am too fearful to empathize.

An inability to stand in each others shoes when we are fearful or upset.

Blind Spot #4

I remember, therefore I know.

The assumption that we remember what others say when we actually remember what we think about what others say.

Blind Spot #5

I am listening so I actually know what you really mean.

The assumption that meaning resides in the speaker, when in fact it resides in the listener.

Blindspots

Conversational Matrix

Conversational Dashboard

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Success Exercise

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Workshop Telling Our Stories

Faith sharing is a way of describing spiritual transformation. Christian transformation is both initial and ongoing. Our initial transformation or change by Christ is celebrated in Baptism. But that is not the only experience of transformation we have. We experience smaller changes within our life of faith. These smaller changes are often shared through storytelling. From Through To The basic structure of Christian transformation, according to Adrian Van Kaam and Susan Muto, can be understood as FROM THROUGH TO. When we change, we move FROM one way of being in relationship with God and others TO another way of being in relationship with God and others. Finally, we go THROUGH a wide range of experiences as we move FROM the one way of being TO the new way of being. The THROUGH is the main body of a faith story. Here are some examples of what a Christian person might change from and change to:

There are five essential ingredients to a complete and authentic Christian transformation experience. These ingredients, shown in the diagram below, are expressed in the content of a good faith story. They are ingredients in the soup of Christian transformation as one moves from through and to new life in Christ.

From To Judgmental Merciful Depressed Joy-filled Foolish Wise Selfish Generous Empty Fulfilled Gluttonous Temperate Entitled Grateful Fearful Courageous Short-tempered Patient Uncaring Compassionate

Copyright Jim Merhaut, www.CoachingToConnect.com, 2017. All rights served. Used with permission.

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Tel l your story Think about one significant transformation that has happened in your life. Describe in a single phrase how you transformed FROM one way of being in relationship with God and others TO a new way of being in relationship with God and others.

I was transformed FROM _______________________________ TO ___________________________________.

As you moved THROUGH the process of transformation How was an experience of love the foundation for your transformation? Who inspired your transformation? Which Gospel stories, sayings, or themes connect with your transformation? How did your experience of community deepen because of your transformation?

How has your Christian mission matured or developed because of your transformation?

Workshop: Telling Our Stories

Copyright Jim Merhaut, www.CoachingToConnect.com, 2017. All rights served. Used with permission.

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Session 5: Listening and Mapping Practices

Congregations

Property

Inner Ring of

Relationships

Middle Ring of

Relationships

Outer Ring of

Relationships

What do we know about these people? List general demographics like age, culture, language, socio-economic reality...etc.

Inner:

Middle:

Outer:

What are their resources? What are their needs? Draw on your best thinking about this group of people.

Inner:

Middle:

Outer:

What are their values? Draw on your best thinking about this group of people.

Inner:

Middle:

Outer:

What is their current relationship to your congregation? Inner:

Middle:

Outer:

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Ref lection: Observations, questions, and notes

Session 5: Listening and Mapping Practices

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Session 6: Next Steps

Month / Season

Already on the Map LEAD Journey Communication

May 2017

June 2017

July 2017

August 2017

September 2017

October 2017

Learning Seminar C

November 2017

December 2017

Christmas

January 2018

February 2018

March 2018

April 2018

Learning Seminar D

May 2018

June 2018

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Session 6: Next StepsThe Next 15 Weeks

Week of Action Plan

April 30

May 7

May 14

May 21

May 28 Memorial Day Weekend

June 4

June 11

June 18

June 25

July 2

July 9

July 16

July 23

July 30

August 6

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Next Steps wit h your LEAD C oach and Notes

Session 6: Next Steps

Resources to Check Out: 1. Your LEAD Webpage is located at waytolead.org. Go to the client tab, click on your synods name and use

your password to access all the resources from this seminar and other tools to support your leadership. Your password is: semn

2. For your personal devotions, we recommend daily posts from the Center for Action and Contemplation

written by Fr. Richard Rohr.

3. For your personal, family, and staff reflection, we recommend using the practice of Dwelling in the Word or Daily Gratitude.

LEAD

Growing leaders with deep, bold, consequential faith

Empowering Christian Leaders, Transforming Faith Communities, Influencing the World