“Discernment together begins with love for one another and is informed by knowledge and insight,” said keynote speaker , executive director of the . “We put the interests of others above ourselves, yielding ourselves to the group and to God. If we already know the answer, we are not in the place of discernment.”

Under the topic “Discerning Together, Shaping the Future,” the seminary’s attracted a record number of 340 registrants, who could partake of 15 workshops and talks Jan. 20-22.

The topic had gained momentum in the previous few months within MC USA congregations and conferences, partly fueled by two new developments: (1) ��ݮ����’s announcement of a regarding hiring practices for non-celibate homosexuals and (2) a decision by the to .

The pressing need for discernment on same-sex questions was broached in a surprisingly touching way – with an , in which participants quietly offered their fears and hopes to God in a ritual that brought tears to the eyes of many.

One of the featured speakers, – author, teacher and founder of the in Wheaton, Ill. – described discernment as 75 percent preparation, 25 percent practice. “A common mistake in discernment processes is to take undiscerning individuals and expect them to be discerning,” she said. “Just because a person is a successful lawyer or business owner does not mean they have the skills for discernment. Discernment begins with spiritually formed leaders who are intentionally attuned to the Holy Spirit.”

Barton said that corporate discernment needs leaders who spend time in prayer, scripture, solitude, self-examination, and their own personal discernment. These leaders should share with each other their individual experiences of discernment as they prepare for corporate discernment.

“No matter what else we do,” said Barton, “we exist to do the will of God.” She said discerning leaders are able to pray the prayer of indifference, being willing to let go of their own agenda in order to seek God’s will.

“Spiritual discernment is a concrete activity that opens us to what is beyond ourselves,” Barton said. “Many aspects of God’s will are already clear, like unity, love, truth-telling, kindness, respect and confession of sin. These serve as guiding principles and values for discernment.”

Barton outlined a process for discernment in meetings that is very different from secular models of decision-making like Roberts Rules of Order.

“Discernment is like standing outside before the sun comes up,” said Ervin Stutzman. “You see something in the distance. Is it a dog? Is it a coyote? Is it a wolf? You need to shed light, to distinguish what it is. Discernment is seeking the light to distinguish what is best.”

Barton and Stutzman agreed that the process begins with information gathering, as with most decision-making processes. However, then the group spends time listening to God and to each other through honest sharing, listening, prayer, and time spent in silence.

Often, according to Barton, the time spent in intentional silence is key to the decision-making process. “After 30 minutes of silence when each member of the group spends time seeking God, often a way forward emerges,” said Barton.

“If the group is ready to respond, each member is asked to voice their level of agreement, either completely agree, agree with some reservations, don’t agree but will defer to the process of the group, or don’t agree at all. If people don’t agree, then the process begins again. Unity is the marker that God’s will is being done.”

“Discernment processes can be difficult, messy and very painful,” said Stutzman. “But they can also be very rewarding and exciting.”

On the contrary, a highlight of the three days appeared to be a worship service where the whole person was engaged. It was titled “Offering the Elephant in the Room to the Holy Spirit.”

Participants were invited to imagine themselves in the presence of Jesus, and then to imagine themselves in the presence of Jesus with someone with whom they disagree. Each person wrote down hopes and fears for themselves and for the person with whom they disagreed and at the end came forward and placed their hopes and fears at the foot of the cross.

“This worship service created time and space for the Spirit to move among us.” said Beth Yoder, associate pastor at . “I know without doubt that the full gamut of beliefs about this question was represented.”

And yet, at the end of the service these people with disparate beliefs gathered together, prayed together, and wept together at the foot of the cross.

Brian Miller, pastor at , said: “This was a space that is about the prayer of unknowing, a space that is more about yieldedness than control, a space of deep listening, and a space that is about finding a third way.”

As each person in the room remembered their own relationship with God and then remembered that even those who vehemently disagree with them are also beloved children of God, tears flowed and the group sang, “Don’t be afraid, my love is stronger than your fear.”

“There were tears throughout the room, sometimes quiet sobbing, as each of us felt our own vulnerability and need for God’s Spirit – our fears and hopes for the church, for beloved people,” said Yoder.

Participants acknowledged their own hopes and fears, perhaps for the first time giving words to deep emotion. Through the work and the mystery of the Holy Spirit the experience went beyond argument, beyond disagreement.

As a result, in Yoder’s words, “the bars of the iron cage of rationality were loosened a little bit.”

Ervin Stutzman, executive director of , was among the church leaders who spent time praying together at the foot of the cross. “As I humbled myself before the cross, I experienced the power and comfort of a Christian community, grateful that God has redeemed a church, not just individuals.”

, MDiv ‘98, worship coordinator for the annual school, explained that the purpose of the service was to “begin the healing process for the ways that people have experienced pain surrounding this issue.”

Yoder summarized it well: “We did not decide or discern anything, but we did create time and space for God’s Spirit to be with us. And that is a very good place to start.”

To see worship resources for this event, held Jan. 20-22, 2014, and all of the worship services for School for Leadership Training visit .

"A Compassionate Faith: Courage to Move Forward" is the theme for " observances at ��ݮ����.

Activities will open 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16 with a message and open discussion led by Rev. Derrick Parson, a campus minister in the United Methodist Church and Wesley Foundation at James Madison University. The forum will be held 10-11:30 a.m. in the Campus Center Greeting Hall.

Dr. Cheryl Sanders

Monday evening, the keynote speaker for the annual School for Leadership Training at Eastern Mennonite Seminary will bring a prophetic message on the continuing legacy of Dr. King.

Dr. Cheryl Sanders, senior pastor of Third Street Church of God in Washington, D.C., and professor of Christian ethics at Howard University School of Divinity, will speak on the theme, "Reconciliation and Repentance," based on II Cor. 5:17-21. ()

Sons of the Day, an a cappella group of EMU alumni and current students, will provide special music.

King Week observances continue with a "Dialog on Race: Steps of Hope," 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the Northlawn Great Lounge. EMU faculty, staff and students will share steps that can be taken to increase understanding of others despite cultural and ideological differences.

In university chapel 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, persons representing the diverse EMU community will reflect on values represented in Dr. King

"Come, all you who are burdened and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."

For busy and often harried church leaders, that scriptural promise should put music in their ears and a spring in their step, but reality may prove something else for many.

The concept of "Embodying God’s Wholeness in a Frenzied World" also happens to be the primary theme of the 2006 School for Leadership Training, Jan. 16-19 at .

This year’s is designed to help pastors and church leaders pay attention to their own well being," said , assistant professor of practical theology at EMS and SLT coordinator. "Pastors will have opportunities to slow down and to pray with and for each other. Meaningful worship times will again be a highlight," she added.

Primary resource speaker, Duane Beck, will draw from his own experience of wrestling with and seeking to embody wholeness in the midst of his ministerial calling. He has been lead pastor of Belmont Mennonite Church, Elkhart, Ind., since 1984 and previously served a church in Ohio for 13 years.

Belmont is a mission-oriented congregation that is made up of two culturally diverse worshiping groups and is actively involved in responding to its neighborhood and to the city of Elkhart.

Participants will be able to select four of 16 special interest classes being offered on such topics as "Praying the Scriptures," "Finding a Wholeness Balance in Ministry and Family/Relationships," "Jesus at the Movies" and "Lay of the Land: Mennonite Women in Ministry."

A new feature this year is recreation night on Tuesday evening, Jan. 17. A variety of activities are planned to relax, rejuvenate and invigorate church leaders – everything from line-dancing to volleyball to a Rook card tournament. Persons are encouraged to check the SLT web site for updates at .

Each day’s events will open with worship and music. Other activities include a forum with seminary dean Ervin R. Stutzman, a pastors and church leaders forum and a special dinner and program sponsored by the alumni and church relations offices. The conference will conclude the morning of Jan. 19 with worship and communion.

A "Pre-SLT" workshop is being offered 1:45-5 p.m. Jan. 16 on "Health and Wholeness in a Frenzied World" led by Ingrid Friesen Moser, stewardship of health manager at Mennonite Mutual Aid, Goshen, Ind.

Persons may register on-line at . The registration deadline is Dec. 31, 2005. After that date, $15 of the registration fee is non-refundable.

All registered participants are asked to check in from 12:30-1:45 p.m. or 3:45-5 p.m. on Jan. 16 in the gathering area on second floor of the seminary building.

For more SLT information, call Cindy Smoker at (540) 432-4597 or e-mail: churchrelations@emu.edu.