important piece of the healing process. The PSDL becomes an important influence of compassion and patience for the congregation towards learning the importance of trusting God for healing. The concept of the PSDL emerged from readings in Ron Richardson's two books, Creating a Healthier Church and Becoming a Healthier Pastor. In presenting the Keene, NH church as a ministry context, Dr. Dean Blevins suggested turning the focus of the PRP from an analysis of the congregation to a focus on the pastor. Hence was born the idea for the PRP of the PSDL. 4 Timothy C. Geoffrion, The Spirit-Led Leader: Nine Leadership Practices and Soul Principles, (Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2005), 114. In August of 2009, as a result of inspiration from the Doctor of Ministry module experience, as Pastor, I led the church board through the process of re-visioning the mission statement of the Keene, NH church. A confluence of grace molded a new mission statement, "Nurturing relationships ... with God, with each other and with our neighbor." With intentionality Wesleyan theology and ecclesiology informed our new mission. I believe that this is the critical focus needed for this particular body of Christ. The following are the specific practices and spiritual disciplines that I intend to engage in for the purpose of growth in holiness within my ministry context in Keene, NH. Timothy Geoffrion asserts "God works powerfully as we seek His leading as a team."4 I believe as pastor and people together seek God to lead us and to transform us that God will bless our partnership with Him in ministry and service to others. Seeking God and his activity among us will focus on practicing spiritual disciplines both as a
competently it will adapt to the needs of the present circumstances, and the greater flexibility it will show when accomplishing its goals and living out its Christian principles within the circumstances presented to it."57 The higher the self-differentiation of the church body the higher the flexibility of coping skills and survival in times of crisis. People of a healthy faith community will be seeking spiritual transformation through the process of self-differentiation. The evidence of the people of a faith community practicing self-differentiation will be in their responses and modes of reactions to each other and to stressful events. A non-anxious reaction to a church crisis demonstrates some degree of healthy engagement of the people in the process of self-differentiation. The mission and vision of a congregation can be effectively lived out in the world when both pastor and people are seeking a higher level of self-differentiation. Traits of a Pastor as a Self-Differentiated Leader The importance of the PSDL consists in several general applications. First as the cultural changes affect the church the anxiety level rises within the local church context. Second, this anxiety level causes relationship problems of people within the local church context. Thirdly, the reaction to anxiety can be either negative by destroying relationships or positive as a fuel for becoming a healthier church. In all three of these applications, the PSDL will either facilitate a positive transformation of spiritual growth or become the victim of dysfunctional behavioral issues within the church context. The PSDL in the local context is an important perspective for the universal church as it deals with significant cultural changes. Declining church attendance trends and public opinion
study would be: A healthy church embraces and employs Wesleyan spiritual practices towards nurturing a healthy family system. The scope of the project would include the presentation, explanation and implementation of a wide variety of spiritual disciplines. The church people would be encouraged to engage in a variety of spiritual disciplines towards developing a rule of life. A church wide strategy for dealing with conflict would be developed and implemented. Conflict would be presented as a natural part of human relationships and does not need to be avoided but rather intentionally and constructively embraced. Christian Conferencing would be presented and practiced as a mode of developing a church wide strategy for dealing with conflict and as a means of ongoing conflict resolution. The biblical principles taught by Jesus in Matthew 18, informs the spiritual discipline of Christian Conferencing and would be the foundation for the church wide strategy. Specifically in Mathew 18 Jesus taught a three-phased approach to conflict resolution; one on one conferencing, two or three on one conferencing, large group on one conferencing. The large group would be a leadership team representing the whole church. Christian Conferencing would be presented in two forms: one as a whole church discussion format that focused on an idea, doctrine or missional vision topic, secondly as a peace making strategy to resolve conflict in relationships. One of the major goals of the study would be to create an attitude of acceptance for differences of opinion and to encourage acceptance of a group decision accomplished through Christian Conferencing. Another future possible project extends the PSDL into the context of the dysfunctional church. The PSDL offers a valuable perspective towards the dysfunctional church. Christian
69 John Wesley, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, (Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press, 1966), 22. 70 Rupert E. Davies, (Ed.), The Works of John Wesley, Volume 9: The Methodist Societies: History, Nature, and Design, (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1989), 409. 71 Knight, 55. 72 Randy Maddox, Responsible Grace: John Wesley's Practical Theology, (Nashville: Abingdon Press/Kingswood Books, 1994), 187. world and is misunderstood today. In his book, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, John Wesley stated, "... among religious men, who affirmed, not that I stated perfection wrong, but that, "there is no perfection on earth;" nay, and fell vehemently on my brother and me for affirming the contrary. We scarce expected so rough an attack .. ."69 The concept of sinless perfection is widely debated today from both ends of the spectrum ranging from a lack of knowledge to a passionate commitment to Calvinism. In his own defense John Wesley stated, "The perfection I hold is so far from being contrary to the doctrine of the Church that it is exactly the same which every clergyman prays for every Sunday: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy name I mean neither more nor less than this. In doctrine therefore I do not dissent from the Church of England."70 Christian Perfection is the spiritual experience of loving God and loving others as an ongoing way of life. Christian perfection reflects a spiritual maturity that demonstrates the fruit of the Spirit. "Wesley's position was that God implants righteousness in everyone to whom he has imputed it."71 Christian perfection is the dynamic level of maturity within the process of sanctification characteristic of a mature Christian life. "John Wesley assumed that growth in holiness would continue within Christian perfection." For the contemporary clergy the challenge before us is to preach and teach holiness as an ongoing transformational experience with God. "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God"
Session 3 ~ Spiritual Disciplines as a Means of Grace Good reminder of the means of grace in disciplines. Very important with lasting and far reaching results. I am attracted to this and appreciate any understanding I gain. We need to explore this together. Already knew this and practice it daily. Reminder of the value of the means of grace and how it can be our encourager and reminder of God's presence. Great None i. Positive j. None k. I really liked this one - very helpful 1. Good section - lots of material. Gave me some places where I was checked about really practicing these as a means of grace, m. Good n. Yes, that is helpful to be reminder that spiritual dictate our own outcome of life. 0. None p. None q. The thesis of the project gave us a focus to return to. Session 4 ~ Integrating self-differentiation and spiritual disciplines I didn't quite get the connection to self differentiation- perhaps the disciplines provide the space for the awareness and work of God toward self differentiation. More reason for continuing to develop and work a spiritually disciplined life. Since I am fuzzy on the S D piece. I'm not sure about their intersect. None New concept I want and I am going to apply The discussion of Wesleyan Holiness and American Holiness understanding was a great place to see how "we" really view Holiness and the application of it in our church. Great None 1. Positive j. Very timely in my life - I'm greatly assisted by reading on the completed pastoral model k. Good info. 1. My sense is that as we practice the spiritual disciplines on a regular basis, we are more self-aware making self-differentiation more possible, m. Good n. Need more time to develop and explore those relationships/integrations o. Looking forward to integrates p. None