Grounded in God: Listening Hearts Discernment for Group Deliberations (Book)
Suzanne G. Farnham, Stephanie A. Hull, R. Taylor McLean, Authors.  Harrisburg, PA: Morehouse Publishing, 1999.

Before you jump into detailed proposals and plans at your next board meeting, are you and your board willing to focus first on God's presence? Discernment is a journey that calls us into God’s presence and away from the other voices that distract us. It calls us to wait on the Holy Spirit, to let go of preconceived ideas, and to listen with the heart. With our intellect, intuition, and emotions engaged, discernment directs us to discover the mind of Christ pointing us toward creative decisions.

Grounded in God provides instruction on the benefits of—and skills needed for—using discernment in group decision making. Principles for listening, engaging the imagination, planning meetings, and building communities of discernment are discussed in an easy-to-read format. Appendices present guidelines for listening, sharing responsibility, preparing an agenda, applying Scripture and creative imaging, and working toward consensus. Also included are tips on preparing a group for discernment and orienting new members to a "discernment approach."

This is an excellent resource for pastors and lay leaders, applicable to board and committee meetings and congregational decision making in congregations of any size. The practice of discernment is not limited to congregations but can also be used to transform the way a family or individual makes decisions.

Average Customer Rating: Not yet rated
Rate this resource and share your thoughts.

Return to category listing