Endorsements: Practicing Discernment Together

Paul Anderson, professor of biblical and Quaker studies, director of the George Fox University Congregational Discernment Project, Newberg, Oregon
There are lots of books out there telling you what they think God's will might be; this one points the way to discerning the divine will for ourselves. In theory and in practice, this book will be an immense help to all leaders desiring to connect people with the will of Christ for today. Case studies allow the reader to make parallel applications for today, and scriptural teaching grounds the process in biblical counsel and wisdom. What Fendall, Wood, and Bishop have done is a great service to the church, but also to the world beyond. They provide practical ways forward in the central issue at stake in Christian leadership: how to lead in such a way that helps people come to unity around a common sense of Christ's leading. When that happens, it is not only a good day for the church; it is more importantly a great new day for the world!

Ben Staley, pastor, Northridge Friends Church, Wichita, Kansas
Practicing Discernment Together will be a helpful resource for all who take seriously the awesome challenge of finding God's way in decision making. Here is practical guidance for new church leaders, experienced leaders in difficult situations, and the faithful pastor who is expected to know how to resolve any given situation.

The authors should be commended for their insights and their practical approach for navigating the decision-making process in a culture highly influenced by individualism and relativism. I intend to have our church leaders begin the new year by reading this excellent book, which gives important guidance to individuals and groups as they turn to God, remain attentive to his voice, and courageously carry out his plan.

Mary Albert Darling, assistant professor of communication, Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, Michigan, and coauthor with Tony Campolo of The God of Intimacy and Action (June 2007)
This book opened my eyes to a necessary part of discernment that I have not taken as seriously as I should. With fresh, practical suggestions grounded in Scripture, the authors move us from the common temptation to falsely default to individual, “just the Holy Spirit and me” decision making to how to make wise choices in community. It is a much-needed resource for living out the kind of discernment that Jesus intended for the body of believers.

David J. Robinson, general superintendent, Evangelical Friends Church—Mid-America, Wichita, Kansas
Many of us in church leadership have yearned for a book like this for a long time. Somehow the art and practice of group discernment has yielded to the expedience of following the majority and the employment of “Robert's Rules.” The authors have provided a spiritual guidebook with practical helps and examples along the way to “finding God's way forward in decision making.” Two chapters—“The Individual's Role in Group Discernment” and “The Leader Facilitates the Decision-Making Process”—give this book added value for implementing this vital topic. Practicing Discernment Together promises to become an essential component in the training and development of church leaders who wish to find God's way for the church. I heartily endorse this book and recommend it to congregational leaders of any denomination.

Nancy Murphy, executive director, Northwest Family Life, Seattle, Washington
Practicing Discernment Together is a jarring read for those accustomed to having God's will determined by an agenda or by only the chosen few. This is a resource that can enrich the entire church that wants to function as a whole. The authors use case studies to illustrate the possibilities of inclusion, listening together, and respect as a way of discerning God's leading.

Marlene Pedigo, co-superintendent, Western Yearly Meeting of the Friends Church, Plainfield, Indiana
Are you looking for an alternative to political, polarizing decision making? This book is a vital guide to strengthen discernment within the covenant community.

Don Zimmer, facilitator, Board of Discerning Overseers, Worshipful-Work: Center for Transforming Religious Leadership, Port Tobacco, Maryland
Practicing Discernment Together has the potential to be a very useful guide to those seeking to change the way decisions are made within the corporate church. The authors do a great job of placing before the reader the essential attitudes and practices of a way of being that can enable groups of all types to be more attuned to the voice of the Holy Spirit moving among their diverse members, while aligning their choices with that discernment. Churches outside the Friends culture, not rooted in the tradition of discernment, face enormous challenges of language, culture, and tradition in initiating and sustaining the change the authors point toward. This book speaks to them in a way that many should be able to receive and act upon. As one who comes from a mainline Protestant denomination deeply grounded in the business/parliamentary model that seems to relish conflict worked out in intellectual debate, I especially appreciate the materials on the role of the clerk before, during, and after discernment. This is a book that should be a part of the library of every serious advocate of discernment. It is a very valuable resource for anyone seeking to lead his or her group toward a deeper commitment to understanding and doing God's will.

Charles Orwiler, pastor, First Denver Friends Church, Denver, Colorado
Founded on the principle of seeking and finding God's direction together, this book is an eminently practical guide for leading and participating in decision-making meetings. Complementing their well-considered outline of principles are indispensable bits of practitioner's wisdom that plead for a highlighting pen. The real-life case studies demonstrate that finding God's direction is attainable by ordinary believers even in especially difficult circumstances. Even better, congregations are transformed in the process of practicing discernment.

While it will be useful in a broader context, I expect this exceptional work will become a standard reference in Friends churches. Happily, required reading can be a delight, and is in this case. I pray Practicing Discernment Together will contribute to a revival of this Spirit-led practice in Christ's church, and subsequent transformation of congregations.

Patricia Thomas, clerk of the Earlham School of Religion (Richmond, Indiana) Board of Advisors, Wilmington, Ohio
Beginning with the bold premise that God gives us the capacity to know God's heart and will, Practicing Discernment Together leads the reader through the role of clerking a meeting and ways to participate as an individual in group discernment.

The joy and strength of this little volume is that it is full of sound theological truths, insights, and practical suggestions that caused this reader to grab not only my highlighter pen but also to fill the margins with asterisks and notes! The authors have struck a wonderful balance between solid scriptural knowledge, practical suggestions, and case studies to create an extremely useful “how-to” book. The reader comes away saying, “Wow! Now I see how group discernment is done. We can practice this in our business meetings!”

Frederick W. Schmidt, director of spiritual formation and Anglican studies at Perkins School of Theology and author of What God Wants for Your Life, Dallas, Texas
In a world where an increasing number of people protest that they are spiritual, but not religious, Lon Fendall, Jan Wood, and Bruce Bishop give the church the tools to reintroduce spiritual principles into the task of discernment.

Victoria Curtiss, Presbyterian pastor and church consultant, Portland, Oregon
This is the book I have been looking for to teach others about discernment and to hone my own skills as a facilitator. It offers excellent guidance using a framework and language that is easily accessible for a variety of church and organizational settings. Integrating wisdom from several faith traditions, the authors address the challenges of conflict, uncertainty, listening, waiting, and trust. From case studies to checklists, its tools build confidence to venture into the wondrous arena of being led by God's Spirit together. An inspiring gift to the church!

John Punshon, author and lecturer, Milton Keynes, England
Full of wisdom, imagination, and sound advice, this little book is addressed to groups of Christians (and others) faithfully seeking God's guidance as a body. In part a meditation on Scripture, it is also a powerful explanation of how the Quaker decision-making process is actually an exercise in personal and corporate discernment. It will be valuable far beyond the limits of the Friends Church.

David Brandt, retired college administrator
This volume is clear and very practical. It will be a helpful guide for churches wishing to make decisions by discernment for the first time as well as churches who have made decisions by discernment for many years. The inclusion of case studies inserts a real-world feel into a process that too often seems entirely theoretical to groups not used to making decisions through discernment.

The book's emphasis on the necessity of spiritual preparation is refreshing. Any decision-making process would be enhanced by such preparation.

Practicing Discernment Together is an important addition to decision-making literature for Christians.

John Braun, pastor and leader in Church of the Brethren, Mennonite, Friends, and ecumenical settings, Seattle, Washington
Practicing Discernment Together puts the cookies on the bottom shelf for those of us who want our decision making to be empowered, unifying, and spiritually deepening. The authors have placed spotlights on all the pertinent steps for finding God's way forward, such that each participant feels validated and included. They have thrust the perceptual doorway wide open. From their rich backgrounds in guiding conflicted groups, they introduce underlying scriptural truths as dependable good friends. The book's case studies offer faith-renewing insights into God's trustworthy guidance through specific and complicated situations. It offers a hopeful ladder out of the pit of church politics that leaves Christians divided, discounted, wounded, and resentful. Practicing Discernment Together reunites us—individuals, group members, and leaders—with the heart of our God who is eager to turn every looming problem into an opportunity for growth and discovery. I am eager to place this book into many hands.

Jeff Davis, director of corporate stewardship, Evangelical Friends Church Southwest, Yorba Linda, California
I recommend this immensely practical book to help Christian leaders cultivate godly discernment within the context of a group, small or large. Practicing Discernment Together is filled with useful instruction to empower any group to effectively listen to God's voice and discern his particular will.