The Clergy Leadership of Silence
4/24/02

Let's see if we've got this right. You, the leader for transformation, are expected to:

• Lead in a way so that others will follow,
• Motivate the congregation to embrace change,
• Set a compelling vision and pathway that will attract the congregation's commitment and dedication to spiritual and structural transformation,
  Persevere, love and even be nice to your detractors.

No wonder we crave a manual or a pre-packaged program to guide us! What will we do?
 
I recommend a retreat. The retreats the Jesus Connection offers are not isolated events. Hopefully, they encourage a pattern of retreat in your life. We desperately need regular retreats into silence and solitude as leaders. How else will we hear from God to direct us? How else can we take the necessary time to worship and love Jesus? Without such times, we are striving for congregational transformation on our own, planning and promoting too much in our own energy and not God's. Danger! Worse, we are leading others in transformation without being transformed. Danger! What I am talking about is the spiritual disciplines of silence and solitude beyond daily prayer and Bible study. They must be disciplines regularly practiced. It does not come naturally.
 
How would we begin to exercise using these two disciplines?
 
First, set aside a full day monthly for three months, starting 4-6 weeks from now. Block it off on your calendar. Hopefully, you can include the night before, so that you are fully rested.

Second, find a place of retreat. It could be your home, or a near-by retreat center, or a friend's summer cabin, or a local Motel 6 (unplug the TV!)

Third, go. Use the first hours of your retreat to worship the Father, loving Jesus with heart and head, confessing your sins, and refreshing your relationship. After this time, alternate times of listening with praying. Ask God's Spirit to speak to your mind as you pray through short-term and longer-term aspects of leading and planning for congregational transformation. Pray for people individually. Then, stop and listen again.
 
Remember Samuel in the Old Testament? He didn't recognize when God was speaking to him. He had no practice in listening so he went to Eli the priest instead. The on-going practice of the spiritual disciples of silence and solitude enable us to recognize who is speaking and allow us the capacity to listen for guidance on the journey of transformation. With Samuel, we shall then be able to say, "Speak Lord, your servant hears."

Must read resource: The Spirit of the Disciples, by Dallas Willard (One of a trilogy of books by the author)

Cliff Jones, Country Club Christian Church, KCMO