BUILDING A SPIRITUALITY AND THEOLOGY

Of Communal DiscernmentFrom the inside out!

My Task with you…

Al Mazo dando y a Dios Rogando!

Building a Spirituality and Theology for Communal Discernment

In all of these points, we assume that we can go to our institute’s Rule/Constitutions/oral tradition and try to find some sections that can help us build a very particular spirituality of communal discernment that speaks to our community and charism; and, of course, the gospels.

• That is, we need to find the treasures where they are buried.

What we need to make sense of (discern in our communities)

TYPICAL RESPONSES FROM RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES TODAY

How do you see/feel your province/community today?

Diversified IceTransition FrozenCross Roads VastShrinking HistoricAging ChallengingTired DiversifiedPaschal AgingVital Serving Hopeful Faithful-DeterminedFraternal Multi-CulturalGenerous Separated

Discerning the Presence of God

Personal discernment and communal discernment: what is similar?

The basics seem to be the very similar: See, judge, act, evaluate.

At the personal level, how did you “discern” your vocation? What attracted you (seeing, judging)? How did you decide (act)? Would you do it again (evaluate)?

So, what is not similar? Consensus building—another concept in communal discernment. We need to gain skills to be together not just be “perfect.”

Discernment in community• Because of modern times, some of the basics of religious life have to (not need!) be lived differently. And this “forces” us to be “consensus builders” (the “obedience-communion” part).

• 1) Hierarchical models only go so far. • 2) One has to know one’s role in the community: Notice Facebook and twitter. Teachers teach, Prophets prophesy. Prophets shouldn’t be pontificating!

• 3) See the differences in how religious life is lived across the globe and why. Feed my sheep, count my sheep?

Two main expectations of those being called to leadership:

• - Get information out with technology but with a personal touch

• - Consultative. Not be afraid to make decision after sufficient discussion and consultation with others- Ability to seek counsel of Province/community - sharing the burdens - they can know we are behind them.

• - Credible/believable

Be prayerful - example of prayer

Source of unity - unifier

The discernment of the spiritsa) What draws to God and one another: what gives us passion, life personally and have you seen in your community?

b) What draws us away from God and one another: what draws energy from you and from your community? How do we communally make decisions about places and communities for mission? “We keep (the school, the hospital, the parish) because it is our largest asset (our oldest ministry, our corporate ministry).

Discerning what unites us

• Promote intercommunication among the members and their ministries.

• Dialogue with personnel about mission and issues.• Leadership as team - called to develop relationship with members and communities.

• Alleviate fears of letting go• Multicultural awareness (Be aware of different tables, and you don’t have to be at the head table in all of them!)

• Promote vocations and community life, but do it from the heart.

Be gatherer of people/members for important community days

On personal qualities

Of that one who is called to help facilitate communal discernment (We can add biblical references):•A good degree of maturity and openness/humility to continue growing•A real humility with respect to the group and self-knowledge as well as acceptance of who one is•A willingness to devote time to create the spaces/circumstances for communal discernment (even in informal but productive settings).

 Belief we have something to offer - even in new context

Awareness of mission and community

Skills to develop or gather • a) Identify times/spaces for discernment (special community days, etc.)b) Identify the obstacles in individuals and local communities so one can implement the skills to overcome them

• c) Develop honest negotiation skills (Not the winner-takes-all kind!; it’s not you or your click group but the community who should win!) d) Prayer (intentionally devoted to seeking wisdom on this)

• e) Patience and personal discernment at all times during a particular process.