How do Baptists discern the mind of Christ at the Church Meeting?
Slow wisdom: Baptist discernment at the Church Meeting is an offering of qualitative research to our denomination by Baptist minister Ruth Moriarty, which shows how Baptists can discern together well and identifies positive opportunities change at the Church Meeting. Ruth says: ‘It is my prayer that this research will be an aid to all ministers, local churches and our denomination.’
This practical theology project rests on the observation of four local Baptist churches and interviewing the minister and two members from each context on the practice of discernment. All the sample churches are near to Ruth’s church, Christ Church New Southgate and Friern Barnet Baptist/URC, in north London.
Through the data analysis, Baptist discernment is identified, articulated, and named as slow wisdom. Slow wisdom is slow, listens to and hears all members, it seeks consensus agreement through a prayerful and prophetic atmosphere. Ruth has now filmed a five-session course to help Baptists engage with the topics within it. Please click the links below to access these films and accompanying questions for reflection.
Slow Wisdom is available in Kindle and print format through Amazon here https://amzn.eu/d/4whRWMm
The Slow Wisdom video training course will be launched on 18 February 2025 at Regent’s Park College. The creation of this resource has been generously funded by London Baptists and Southern Counties Baptist Association.
