sustain:if:able kiwi

Listening in ministry and mission

It was lots of fun over this weekend speaking online to ordination candidates at Cuddesdon, England. We lived as a family at Cuddesdon for a Northern Hemisphere Christmas experience in 2011. So it was a delight to be able to offer something back to a place that had kept us warm and snug during several snow snaps.

I was asked to speak for two 90 minute sessions. One session was on listening in ministry. Another session was on listening in mission. It was fun to work over zoom and to invite participants into various listening experiences all while I was projected on screen. To help with engagement, one session involved lectio divina and sharing in pairs (the photo was taken while participants were sharing in pairs). The other session involved two case studies with group work.

The sessions were based on my cross-training research into the social impact of shared spiritual practices. It has been really helpful to think about the implications of the research for congregational leaders. I am 11 months into what is a 12 month project. So to be asked to think about the “so what” was perfect timing really.

It was also an integrative and redemptive experience. With Mark Johnston, during 2015-2020, I had developed and taught a course called Listening in Mission. So it was a rich experience five years later to return to those notes and think about how my current research into shared spiritual practices might inform and expand my thinking.

Thanks Cuddesdon for inviting me. Thanks Psychology Cross-Training Fellowship for the current research opportunities.