Discernment and Clearness

Brooklyn Rich: what if Bonhoeffer had been Quaker?

Imagine that as he considered the possibility of trying to assassinate Hitler he had asked fo. Clearness Committee from his Meeting. What do we think would have been the result? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-07-11T20:37:11Z.)

Brooklyn Quaker: Mel Long: 1947 - 2008

Mel was not much involved with Quakers, except for attending Albany MM and being part of the New Swarthmoor and Young Friends of North America in the late 1960's. Still. think her story may be of interest to many Friends. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-07-10T12:48:32Z.)

Johan on vision and focusing committee work outward

But who will see and proclaim these things to new audiences if we are so busy trying to sort out our structures, nomination processes, and interpersonal animosities that we don't take the time to discern and honor leadings? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-04-18T14:42:27Z.)

Johan on conflict and the threat of politicalization of Friends: remember what you know

I wasn't happy with the possibility o. struggle for or against an individual. struggle that ignored the systemic "Lamb's war" dimension of the problem. wanted to say to everyone, Don't get knocked off center; remember what you already know. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-02-09T12:50:08Z.)

Liz Opp's 2007 state of her ministry

to encourage one another to examine our faith tradition and share our understandings of the foundations of our practice; to encourage us to restore the Light of God to the center of our discernment; to remember that Love binds us to one another... (Posted by robinmohr on 2008-01-28T19:50:21Z.)

Eileen on Hearing and Being Heard

Sometimes when people complain that they haven't been heard. sense they are just frustrated that they haven't gotten their way yet, but more ofte. think it is because they haven't yet felt the respect and empathy of their listeners. (Posted by robinmohr on 2008-01-18T03:47:06Z.)

Imperfect Eileen on discernment in children

I?ve been thinking about trusting the discernment of our children. It seems to bring together two huge and difficult questions: How do we know if someone else is truly listening to God?s guidance? And how do we prepare our children to be adults? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-01-14T12:25:19Z.)

Susanne K on the fruits of discernment

Wha. have learned about discernment is to expect that i. am on the right path, on God?s path for me. will experience the ?fruits of the spirit. a sense of peace and ?rightness? a. deeper level than personal emotions of joy, anger, o. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2008-01-14T12:22:30Z.)

Wandering Gavin wonders who waits for the clearness committee's report?

Does anyone wait for the results o. [marriage] clearness process before deciding that they are getting married? Is it necessary? Have we ever, a. Society, had this a. practice? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-12-12T14:48:14Z.)

Sheffield Craig on prophetic leadings and questionnaire Quakerism

My understanding of discernment is that it i. process of seeking the will of God i. particular situation. Can this be done wit. questionnaire? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-12-10T11:29:56Z.)

But Wait Shelley on being under the weight of a concern

Although most Friends now speak i. way that is virtually indistinguishable from that of their peers, there are still some telltale phrases, and "under the weight o. concern" is one of them. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-11-16T14:28:23Z.)

Qr Oats Cherice on Quaker use of queries

I noticed tonight that the queries were probably the Quaker version of catechism... Quakers ask open-ended questions whose responses should come out of intensely personal experiences of the Divine. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-11-14T15:57:53Z.)

Mark D recounts same-sex marriage discernment at his suburban Philadelphia meeting

What my folks most wanted, it seemed, was to comfort themselves wit. cost-free demonstration of their own tolerance. Inthis, they revealed what may be liberalism'??s central failing -- its refusal to deal respectfully with facts. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-11-01T13:25:35Z.)

Discovering Jesus Bill asks how many baptisms does it take to be a Quaker

"The official answer, as given by the Faith and Practice statements of many Friends bodies, is that there is one baptism given directly by the Spirit... The answer from my experience with God is that it take. lifetime of baptisms to b. Quaker." (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-08-24T12:42:14Z.)

Brent Bill on way opening and discussion in his new worship group

"We spent time talking about how you kno. leading is from God -- and not your own ego. Are the voices we hear from the Divine or from Legion inside us?" (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-07-26T07:28:09Z.)

Heather M on condition our spiritual muscles

"I thought about my recovery from my hip injury, and how I've had to work at increasing the weight in my exercises over time. Bearin. small load now enables me to bea. larger load later. Maybe our spiritual practice is like that, too." (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-07-13T00:16:15Z.)

What Canst Thou Say?: Clearness for membership goes both ways

(Posted by robinmohr on 2007-06-22T05:05:54Z.)

Bill Brent on "as way opens"

"Friends drop this tiny phrase into conversation as easily as other folks do 'Hello'. In some ways, it?s our version, in daily conversation, of 'Lord willin? and the creek don?t rise.' It?s become almos. Quaker cliché. (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-06-16T00:23:06Z.)

But Wait Shelley on business meeting and seeking membership

"Someone suggested to me tha. might want to sit in o. Meeting for Worship with attention to business... [and] that finally made it clear to me tha. needed to move from being an attender to requesting membership in the Society of Friends." (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-04-20T23:05:44Z.)

Peterson Toscano shares his travel minute and clearness process

"Whe. have doubts about something or befor. mak. major move. talk it over with them. This gives me an opportunity to process my nutty ideas befor. launch into lunacy." (Posted by martin_kelley on 2007-02-07T17:00:16Z.)

Brooklyn Quaker: Testing Leadings

"None of us are infallible discerners of when it is that God is nudging us and when it is that we are nudging ourselves. It is very very easy to be self-deceived or deluded." (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-12-22T14:32:24Z.)

QiGong: Integrity and accountability with our callings

"We deflect, procrastinate, and feel ourselves above the process of reporting in to someone else; laying bare the weaknesses in our own practice" (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-12-03T04:32:25Z.)

Claire R on balancing spiritual leadings with reason

"living faithfully according to where one is lead every moment of the day does not necessarily mean that one feel. distinct leading on each and every option and decision that comes up" (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-11-29T15:12:43Z.)

Aj on making decisions out of fear rather than a God-placed compassion

"Just because it?. good thing doesn?t mean that I?m called to do it" (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-11-14T15:44:35Z.)

Beppe feels liberated and free to be a Quaker now that he's not attached to a meeting

"I mistook the procedure (the distinctives) for the faith (that is, God)" (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-11-10T23:33:16Z.)

Chris M. on collective Quaker witness

"How often have those [individual-focused] clearness committees gone back to the community a. whole and said, 'Friends, we believe we must strongly consider whether this Friend's leading applies to us all?'" (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-11-09T17:50:29Z.)

Dave Carl applies for Quaker membership

despite spiritual and lawyerly hesitations (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-10-19T13:10:58Z.)

Five Tests for Discerning a Leading

How do you tell you're led to go plain? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-08-11T21:00:47Z.)

Paul L re-examines Quaker marriage

how is it covenant, where does the church come in? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-07-25T15:31:50Z.)

Brooklyn Quaker on membership: Could Gandhi Be a Quaker?

and would he want to be? (Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-07-25T13:00:29Z.)

Jeffrey Hipp: My Feet Are on Solid Ground

(Posted by martin_kelley on 2005-05-26T17:02:14Z.)