Practicing Spiritual Leadership

TH

E

LEAD Learning Seminar B

Delaware-Maryland Synod, Cohort 1, Seminar B

2

Permission to Reproduce

This guide may be reproduced for use in the Delaware-Maryland Synod with covenanted congregations that are part of the LEAD Journey. All other reproduction is a violation of LEAD’s intellectual property.

3

TH

E

LEAD Learning Seminar B

We’ve 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. I’m stressed because there is conflict in the ministry. I’m relaxed because things are going well. I’m 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 isn’t dependent on whether your board meeting goes well or poorly, on whether you meet your budget numbers or not, on what last Sunday’s 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!

WAY-

Agenda Focus: Spiritual Leadership Friday 5:00p Welcome & Intros 5:30 Sacred Meal 6:30 Session 1: Storytelling 7:15 Session 2: Spiritual Leadership 8:00 Spiritual Pilgrims 8:30 Rest Saturday 9:00a Spiritual Pilgrims 9:30 Session 3: Personal Spiritual Type 10:45 Session 4: The Tune In Process,

steps 5-7 12:00p Lunch 12:30 Session 5: Communications

Workshops 1:15 Session 6: Listening & Mapping

Practices 2:15 Next Steps 3:00 Spiritual Pilgrims 3:30 Buen Camino!

4

LEAD Learning Seminar B Descriptions The Sacred Meal—We 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 I: Spiritual Leadership—We are leading in a time of sacred change How do you describe Spiritual Leadership? What does it mean to be joining in God’s 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. Session 2: Sharing Stories —How’s it going? Using resources from Conversational Intelligences, this session provides space to hear stories and learn from peers in the cohort. Friday Night: Spiritual Pilgrims—Praying 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.

Session 5: Communications Workshops—Choose one of these opportunities to increase your capacity as a communicator: Conversational Intelligence

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

Your choices for the a second workshop: 21st Century Communications

Make a communication plan that responds to needs inside and beyond your congregation. This concrete workshop will increase your capacity for effectively reaching the people God has called you to connect and engage.

Making the Case for Change Sharpen your talking points about the opportunities that making key changes has for your congregation. Make a plan for leading change within your congregation.

Session 6: Mapping the Neighborhood Make a plan that fits your context, as you head out to Learn about your neighborhood. Consider questions, practice listening and discovering themes.

Saturday Afternoon: Spiritual Pilgrims —Consequential Faith The courage to lead grows out of a faith that matters.

5

The Sacred Meal Welcome and Explanation of Meal (Presider & 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 God’s 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) 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 Lord’s 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

6

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 o’clock 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

LEAD Learning Seminar B Cohort 1

7

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

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 Simon’s 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 Peter’s

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 o’clock, 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 Christ—he is Lord of all.

8

“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

LEAD’s 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 God’s mission.

Loving God with all of our heart calls us to listen—The 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 center—The Wake Up Process

Clarify congregational purpose and values

Align congregation for mission

Articulate congregational identity

Loving God with all our mind calls us to explore—The 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 connect—The Work Out Process

Create trust to extend hospitality with openness for diversity

Expand comfort zone through strong relational connections

Tell the congregation’s story through effective communication

9

Session I: Storytelling—Using Conversational Intelligence by Judith Glaser

TM

© 1986-2016 Benchmark Communications, Inc.

When we are in a state of distrust, the world

feels threatening. Threats make us retreat, and

we feel we need to protect ourselves.

Neuroscientists say that threats trigger the

Reptilian Brain; we get an Amygdala Hijack and

experience higher levels of cortisol and

adrenaline. The fear networks in our brains

cause us to either “fight, flee, freeze, or

appease” others.

If the interaction feels safe and positive, we

produce more oxytocin and dopamine. These

neurotransmitters help us relax, feel open to

others, and create a state of trust. Our

Prefrontal Cortex opens up and we have access

to empathy, judgment and higher decision

MIND SET INNER REALITY OUTER REALITY

RESISTOR Not feeling in alignment-

creates resistance

“I want to influence you to

my point of view. I’m not

open to yours.”

Perceived to have strong

beliefs and opinions—not

open to influence.

SKEPTIC Out of alignment—raises

doubt

“I want to learn more from

you, but…”

Appears to be doubtful and

judgmental

WAIT & SEE Waits for others before

committing

“I’m uncertain, am I valued

and accepted?”

Seems always tentative

about what or whom to trust

EXPERIMENTOR Desires to experiment “How can we share and

discover our best current

thinking?”

Seen as someone with the

courage to take risks, and

trust

CO-CREATOR Builds new meaning “How can we create new

possibilities together?”

Willingness to transform

reality with others in a WE-

centric way

10

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 don’t know

Space Defines space Explores space Creates space

Focus Giving and receiving information, validating your views of realty.

Persuading and influencing others to agree with your point of view. Exploring other positions and seeking a win-win solution.

Exploring others’ perspectives, asking questions for which you have no answers, and listening to connect.

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

Interaction Dynamics

Inform Persuade Co-create

Listen To protect To accept or reject To connect

I-WE I-centric I & We-centric We-centric

Success My success Win at all cost Mutual success

Trust Low trust Conditional trust High trust

Influence Not open to influence Desire to influence Open to influence

Skills to Develop Ability to ask open-ended questions and foster “give and take.”

Ability to share the conversational space with others; expand power.

Ability to ask questions for which you have no answers; co-creating.

Session I: Storytelling—Using Conversational Intelligence by Judith Glaser

11

Conditional Trust Lo

w T

rust

High Trust

L I S T E N I N G

RES

ISTE

R

WAIT & SEE C

O-C

REA

TOR

PROJECT PARTNER

Conditional Trust

Low

Tru

st High Trust

L I S T E N I N G

RESI

STER

WAIT & SEE

CO

-CR

EATO

R

PROJECT PARTNER

Conditional Trust

Low

Tru

st High Trust

L I S T E N I N G

RESI

STER

WAIT & SEE

CO

-CR

EATO

R

PROJECT PARTNER

12

Notes: Things I am hearing or learning that I don’t want to forget

Session I: Storytelling

13

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

14

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.

15

Ref lections from the day:

Spiritual Pilgrims

16

Heart (καρδίας 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 (ἰσχύος 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 (ψυχῆς 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 (διανοίας 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.

17

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

18

Notes and Ref lections:

Session 4: The LEAD Tune In Process—Focus on Steps 5-7

19

Month Core Messages Methods

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Getting the word out to the

congregation and beyond

Check all methods that are available for use in your congregation. Put an * by the methods you use with excellence and circle the places that could be expanded.

_____ Prayers

_____ Monthly council updates

_____ Face to face space for authentic conversation

_____ Sermons

_____ Video screens in worship

_____ Worship bulletins

_____ Newsletter ____for members ____for new people

_____ E-newsletter ____weekly ____beyond members

_____ Bulletin boards

_____ Temple talks

_____ Website ____up to date ____for members ____our front door ____love it

_____ Facebook ____for:__________________________________

_____ Other social media

_____ Blogs ____for:_______________________________________

_____ Special meetings ____for:__________________________

_____ Adult forums or classes ____for:____________________

_____ Interior signs ____for:_______________________________

_____ Exterior signs ____for:______________________________

_____ Local newspaper stories: __________________________

_____ Strategic thank you notes

_____ Strategic letters, post-cards or other mailings for:

___________________________________________________________

_____ Other____________________

_____ Other____________________

_____ Other____________________

Workshop Handout

20

Messaging

Story(ies) to tell

Workshop Handout

21

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 don’t 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 other’s 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

22

Success Exercise

23

Session 6: Listening and Mapping Practices

Congregation’s

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:

24

Ref lection: Observations, questions, and notes

Session 6: Listening and Mapping Practices

25

Session 6: Listening and Mapping Practices

Month / Season

Already on the Map LEAD Journey Communication

February 2017

Learning Seminar B 2/10-11

March 2017

3/1 Ash Wednesday

April 2017

4/16 Easter

May 2017

June 2017

July 2017

August 2017

Learning Seminar C 8/11-12

September 2017

October 2017

November 2017

December 2017

Christmas

January 2018

February 2018

Learning Seminar D

March 2018

26

Session 6: Listening and Mapping Practices—The Next 15 Weeks

Week of Action Plan

Feb. 12

Feb. 19

Feb. 26

Mar. 5

March 12

March 19

March 26

April 2

April 9 Holy Week

April 16 Easter

April 23

April 30

May 7

May 14

May 21

27

Next Steps wit h your LEAD C oach and Notes

Session 6: Listening and Mapping Practices

Resources to Check Out:

1. Your LEAD Webpage is located at www.waytolead.org. Go to the synod tab, click on your synod’s name and use your password to access all the resources from this seminar and other tools to support your lead-ership. Your password is: demd

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 in Jesus Christ

Empowering Christian Leaders, Transforming Faith Communities, Influencing the World