Consensus discernment processes have many parts. Discernment Groups are one very important strategy for discernment. However groups need leaders – facilitators.
The WCRC, an international ecumenical gathering meets every seven years. About 1,000 delegates attend from over 350 churches. They come from diverse church and social cultures. The meetings operate in four official and two other languages. To run its Discernment Groups the meeting used 18 facilitators.
First time users of consensus discernment
This is the second post where we share with you the experiences of some people who were in Leipzig. Many participants who are sharing in these blogs experienced consensus discernment for the first time. We trust that they will be an encouragement to you. They speak about the value of, and possibilities for, consensus discernment. We hope that you will share their stories widely.
Rev Dr Gonda is Associate Professor in Missiology and Ecumenical Studies at Debrecen Reformed Theological University. The General Council meeting held six sessions for Discernment Groups. Laszlo, a first time facilitator for this methodology, led one of these groups for their six sessions.
His reflections include that this methodology
- helps the church to be true to its character
- encourages us to listen to each other but also to listen for what the Spirit is saying to the churches through one another
- avoids the trap of winners and losers
- allows Christians to express what it believes about the church – we are one
- encourages Christ like behavior
I invite you to spend a couple of minutes listening to Laszlo share about his experience in his own words.
Rev Dr Laszlo Gonda
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