Comment by Chronicler on 9th mo. 27, 2010 at 7:23am

Thank thee for sharing this, Allistair! Very good stuff!

Comment by Forrest Curo on 9th mo. 30, 2010 at 1:10pm

Something to Ask...

Comment by Allistair Lomax on 9th mo. 30, 2010 at 3:16pm

That is an important point, Lola. This is where the exercise of the spiritual gift of discernment becomes important. Where Friends are truly gathered under Christ and are sensitive to his leadings, it the body that discerns when ministry is rightly given and when it is not, and may take steps to encourage or admonish those who either do not respond to a prompting to minister, or 'go beyond their measure'. Also, where the gift of Eldership is given and exercised, individual Friends may be particularly sensitive to this. I have witnessed gifted elders who have discerned that an individual had witheld ministry that should have been faithfully given, and encouraged them to faithful in the future, and also elders that have told individuals speaking in meeting that they had 'outrun their Guide'. On those occasions the eldership was rightly given. The Quaker faith works best when all the gifts that Christ gives to his Body are encouraged, nurtured and excersised among those to whom they are given.

Comment by Forrest Curo on 9th mo. 30, 2010 at 3:39pm

A body can be as mistaken as a member.

I don't at all doubt that some individuals can be extremely sensitive to what's in tune with the Spirit's intention for a Meeting vs what's a discord. But my experience is with bodies that wouldn't even say "Christ", let alone expect Christ to be actually there actually leading. I'm not saying God doesn't guide them. But we went up the wheelchair ramps of the Spirit, not the stairs or elevators.

I think George Fox would be standing on his folding chair if he "came back" to a typical modern Meeting. And they might very well be wondering how to shut him down, to keep their peace.

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