tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145874320031647189.post7292546456765298561..comments2016-04-03T12:55:01.174-07:00Comments on Reflections and Thoughts: The Need for ElderingAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06072075612836672769noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145874320031647189.post-70914310388230596942013-03-23T10:20:55.594-07:002013-03-23T10:20:55.594-07:00Two courses on spiritual accountability were offer...Two courses on spiritual accountability were offered a few years ago through Woolman Hill Quaker Study and Retreat Center in MA. One was a beginning course on spiritual accountability and the second was a follow-on intended for people who were in active groups regarding spiritual accountability. The latter used a peer group model taught in The Way of Ministry in which people rotate the focus person. Several of those groups continue to support their members today. They allow multiple ministries to be supported and the people involved to witness not only the ministers and their ministries but the ways we can offer eldering with each other. If you're interested to learn more, I welcome your inquiry. <br />- Viv Hawkins, member of Central Philadelphia Monthly Meeting, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting carrying a minute of religious service for this work approved by the monthly, quarterly, and yearly meetings of which I am a memberViv Hawkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14972483332748047429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145874320031647189.post-5388138723703265502012-12-31T09:11:31.021-08:002012-12-31T09:11:31.021-08:00I believe you have to start with relationships. Y...I believe you have to start with relationships. You have to be involved in another's life for good and bad in a way that they are secure in their relationship with you. There also has to be a respect for the other's walk or journey. It's not a "title" thing. When I am on the giving end I have to believe the receiver has the prayer life and ability to hear from God that will allow him to open up to what I share and make it his own. When I am on the receiving end, I have to know that the "giver" loves me as a person and is not trying to make me fit into a perceived "necessary" role.broschultzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07390392524612907532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9145874320031647189.post-23453123466504416522012-12-31T04:00:59.268-08:002012-12-31T04:00:59.268-08:00This is great, Greg, thanks. I have questions abou...This is great, Greg, thanks. I have questions about this too. <br /><br />I think people can hear hard questions and not feel attacked in a few circumstances, and those are things we can practice. If we have confidence in God's commonwealth and the sufficiency of healing grace, we can take all the spiritual risks we need to. We are held and supported, accountable in community.<br /><br />I think this community, accountability emerges out of the depths of each person's faith. When we are grown in faith we are led into relationship with each other. Accountability is a relationship we can earn -- a bond of trust where we are supporting each other to trust the leadings of God.<br /><br />I think the first question is related. It is God who makes churches: I understand that we get drawn together with other people as part of heaven's work in us. It is more important to me that people are praying with each other, doing worship as a response to an awareness of God's presence, and sharing the struggles of life's journey than whether the group is known as a meeting. I have to follow the grace, the living truth, and trust that the appropriate forms will emerge around that.Alice Y.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16267449289432878102noreply@blogger.com