After two informational meetings regarding the ELCA CWA resolutions, I am struck by how hard it is to listen to each other, especially to try and understand a different point of view, interpretation, or belief from our own.  Part of the challenge is internal as we mull over our own views, beliefs, etc. in an attempt to come up with a rebuttal, and some clarity in our own minds about what we believe and why.  In any case listening is hard work, and it is not something we do very well.

I am also struck by the parallels in our difficulties listening to those that are right in front of us, speaking in a language we can understand, about ideas and information that are not totally beyond our comprehension, with our difficulties listening to God.  Listening to God is complicated by the fact that God, though with us, is not literally in front of us, nor speaking a language we can understand (and no I am not referring to the original languages of the Bible, nor necessarily the Bible itself – but prayer and listening to the “still small voice” of God), added to the fact that God is beyond our comprehension and understanding (seriously, who fully comprehends and understands the divine mystery that is the Trinity, the Incarnation, let alone the Resurrection, without faith?).  Yet that is one of the central statements of the Bible and of the Christian faith:  God is constantly communicating with us and we can “listen” and respond.

In the midst of our congregations conflict over the ELCA resolutions (not the first conflict nor the last), a significant number of people from both informational meetings want to gather together to study and discuss the Biblical and Theological issues underlying our differences.  This desire to learn, discuss, and struggle with these serious issues of faith and our common life, gives me great hope for our church.  And while I am working on a number of opportunities for people to study and learn, it is also clear to me that we need to learn together to listen to God.  If Christ is at the center of our church (and I know He is), and the Holy Spirit continues to lead and guide us (because Jesus promised), then we had best learn how to listen to God to find our way through these challenges into the future God is calling us into.  Therefore I am looking for a group of people that will commit to meeting with me for six months, starting in January, as part of an international, ecumenical journey of discovery in listening to God.  If you’d like some more information of what this might entail, please check out the materials on John Ackerman’s website.  He is my spiritual director and will be leading and facilitating this discovery process.  This group will be separate from the study groups that I will be offering.  If you are interested, please contact me at church so we can talk more about this opportunity to grow in faith through listening to God.