tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17196593.post5024428044442592003..comments2023-04-30T05:01:55.198-05:00Comments on Sky McCracken: Repost: "Nurture and Cultivate Spiritual Disciplines and Patterns of Holiness"Sky McCrackenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13971591289953416023noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17196593.post-73022906884686563142012-10-29T12:20:53.789-05:002012-10-29T12:20:53.789-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Laura Fellemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12473972360668571164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17196593.post-50130497423417358852012-10-29T12:20:04.628-05:002012-10-29T12:20:04.628-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Laura Fellemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12473972360668571164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17196593.post-63763337152924139412012-10-29T12:18:57.276-05:002012-10-29T12:18:57.276-05:00I find that the reluctance to practice spiritual d...I find that the reluctance to practice spiritual disciplines is wide-spread. One example from the many I could share--<br /><br />Gil Rendle met with the Missouri River District pastors and reported that the bishops of the South Central Jurisdiction are committed to the UMC mission statement. Gil then warned us that some laity will have a negative reaction to this new emphasis, and will wonder who changed the rules on them.<br /><br />I teach that disciples of Jesus Christ who transform the world are made by grace through faith and that the most effective way to wait for this grace-filled transformation is by using the Wesleyan Means of Grace. <br /><br />Several of my parishioners think that my approach is too pious, and they want to do back to the days where potlucks were the only means of grace that the church offered.Laura Fellemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12473972360668571164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17196593.post-45726527844879941672012-10-29T12:08:51.454-05:002012-10-29T12:08:51.454-05:00This comment has been removed by the author.Laura Fellemanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12473972360668571164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17196593.post-77603062818857331662012-10-28T07:11:23.720-05:002012-10-28T07:11:23.720-05:00I believe that one large factor (though by no mean...I believe that one large factor (though by no means the only one) in the decline of our churches has been a colossal failure on the part of the seminaries to train pastors who are prepared to be shepherds of souls, who naturually speak the language of faith and see with eyes of spiritual discernment. This is no doubt why our efforts at renewal have largely focused upon things like restructuring, leadership development, smart-goal coaching, program coordination, and the like, rather than deeply spiritual issues (I am still waiting for someone to consider that a church-wide season of repentance and prayer for renewal might be just as important - or more so! - than restructuring). <br /><br />Speaking now from my own experience, the seminary curriculum and experience are often spiritually superficial (we had optional chapel and optional morning prayer at SMU that few attended and which were largely devoted to liturgical experimentation - I typically attended only if I knew there was to be a good teacher, or if the Anglican students were in charge that day/week, because then we would get some classical liturgical formation). Additionally, the academic interests of the professors are by no means always in keeping with our orthodox faith as declared in the doctrinal standards. We have seen the development of spiritual formation groups in many of our seminaries in recent years (a welcome development) but if my own experience is reflective of other UM seminaires, these groups are looked upon as less significant than the academic curriculum by many, and even these groups often ended up talking about spiritual formation rather than practicing it.<br /><br />I believe there will be no renewal of the church without a renewal of the seminaries. Rev. Daniel McLain Hixonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311noreply@blogger.com