postures of christian spirituality presentation

The Diocesan Center for Spiritual Leadership

The Soma Project

Greg Troxell

Passionate about lay ministry. Over 20 years of service in apostolic ministry, administration and teaching. Serving as a consultant and coach to churches and individuals in ministry.

Dr. Elizabeth DrescherElizabeth Drescher, PhD is Assistant Professor of Christian Spiritualities and Director of the Center for Anglican Learning & Leadership (CALL) at Church Divinity School of the Pacific. A Christian spirituality scholar who explores the practice of faith by ordinary believers today and in the past, Dr. Drescher is the author of the forthcoming Tweet if U ♥ Jesus: Communication, Leadership & Community in the Digital Reformation (Church Publishing, Spring 2011) and Choosing Our Religion: How American Believers & Seekers are Kicking the Habit & Keeping the Faith (Fall 2011).

5/10/2010 2Postures of Christian Spirituality © WIA copy with permission

Review: Our Unique Stewardship

Spiritual Aspirations

Postures of Christian Spirituality

Outcomes

Help us understand and appreciate how our postures of Christian Spirituality and Spiritual Aspirations shape our leadership potential and ability to participate with God day to day.



11 Elements Worthy of Consideration


Exploring the desires of your heart


Spiral Learning

A. Knowing God

B. Personal Transformation

C. Serving Others

D. Leading Others

A B C D


Personal Growth

Salvation

Personal transformation

Transpersonal Commitment

Service to others

Leadership & Equipping


A desire to know and feel known by God

A desire to feel connected and at peace with God

A desire for eternal security and harmony

Knowing God


The pressing desire to overcome that which has been holding you back

Desire to unburden your soul, lifestyle or memory

Desire to learn new habits and ways of living that express your relationship with God

Personal Transformation


Desire to serve others

Desire to share with others the love of God and lessons you have learned

Desire to help others in small and significant ways

Serving Others


The conviction to engage and equip others in the work of God

A fundamental commitment to live your life for the purposes of God

Confidence to exercise godly stewardship of all your gifts, talents and resources

Leading Others

Spiritual Aspiration

What is it that I most honestly and currently desire in my relationship with God?

What has brought me to this point in my pilgrimage?

What offerings and commitments am I making to help me experience that aspiration?

What adventure lies before me now?


Preparing yourself for growth and service

None is better or worse, more right or wrong than another. Each uniquely influences the way we prefer to connect and commit to one another and what we are able to conceive and create together.

The posture of the faith community is made up of the whole or of those formally or informally in positions of authority

The community postures largely influence how we lead, and those we are able to reach

Communal spirituality is often expressed in a genuine enjoyment found in being in the presence of others and in collaborating with them in service to others. In great and small ways, those assuming a communal spiritual posture tend to express purpose and leadership by connecting with others and helping them to extend this connectedness further.

Scriptural Theme

John 15:12,14 "This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you. You are My friends if you

do what I command you.”

Personal spirituality is expressed through the seeking of wisdom and the development of insight and compassion, typically in the context of private devotion and interpersonal care.

Scriptural Theme

James 3:13 "Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the

gentleness of wisdom."

Mystical Spirituality evokes a patient, artistic and poetic lifestyle and interests. Those in this posture often have a sense of holistic connectedness and uninhibited intimacy with the divine.

Scriptural Theme

Psalm 139:7 "Where can I go from your Spirit, O Lord?"

Practical Spirituality is often expressed in intentional action. Those in this posture often have a single-minded focus on achieving results for the sake of God and with the well being of others in mind.

Scriptural Theme

1 Thes 2:1-12 (12) “walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.”

Prophetic Spirituality often calls individuals and communities to accountability and responsibility in their relationship with God. It leans not on personal authority or conviction but on a humble and steadfast confidence on sharing God’s intentions with others.

Scriptural Theme

Heb 12:1,2a “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every

encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is

set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”

Priestly Spirituality is expressed with attention and regard to the systematic and ecclesiastical order of all things spiritual. Those in this posture have special regard for tradition, history and safeguarding what has been and what is true.

Scriptural Theme

1Ch 29:18 "O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in

the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You”

Valuable Dialogue within vital communities: Possibility Ownership Dissent Commitment Gifts

Seek first to understand those in your group

Respect, encourage the faith of one another

Consider how the postures of those in your faith community (individually and corporately) may shape the potential of your life together and in the world around you

Communal

What needs exist within our community?

Whom should we invite into this Dialogue to enrich the outcomes?

What do we hope to create together?

Personal

What gifts might I share with others?

What insights do others have that would enrich my life?

What partnerships are worth considering?

Mystical What is inspirational experiences have I had recently? What do I consider to be true? Essential? What compromises have I made that threaten the

authenticity of my opinions?

Practical What needs exist among us to which I can offer some

relief? What peoples are we marginalizing? Is this what we desire? In what ways can we encourage those among us to express

their full potential?

Prophetic Who among us has lost their voice or value? What is the preferred future to which we aspire? who should we invite into the Dialogue to strengthen our

understanding?

Priestly What value does the legacy we treasure offer the extended

community? Whose interests are we not serving as we conserve our

ways? What potential do we hope to incorporate into our

community?

Greg Troxell

[email protected]

@gtroxell

408-905-9422

Elizabeth Drescher, PhD

[email protected]

@drdrescher
