Eldership and Spiritual Accompaniment: Becoming a Community that Encourages & Supports Gifts
Eldership and Spiritual Accompaniment:
Becoming a Community that Encourages & Supports Gifts
Facilitator: Susan Smith, Ohio Yearly Meeting (C)
How do we become a community which identifies, fosters and nurtures spiritual gifts within our meetings? This retreat will explore these questions under the guidance of Susan Smith. Early Quaker ministers sought out spiritual mothers and fathers who helped them discern and carry out their ministry. Elders are not necessarily old, nor are they scolding authorities. They are Friends with a calling to foster the spiritual life of the meeting and its members. At times spiritual accompaniment may be mutual, as in the practice of spiritual friendship. Leadings to travel, social witness and other forms of service can be supported and clarified by thoughtful eldership and clearness practices in advance and as ongoing support.