Leading from within: An African American spiritual formation empowerment/training model for church leaders at Trinity UCC Chicago.

摘要

This project engaged several ministries in a spiritual formation empowerment/training model. After completing a program of study, reflection, and practice of five spiritual disciplines (prayer, scripture study, meditation, storytelling, and spiritual direction as well as reflection on several biblical characters) and the leadership traits (vision, compassion, commitment, humility, encouragement and discernment), the participants self-reported whether they had deepened their relationship with God, and enhanced or developed their ability to lead from within.;Session I was an introductory session followed by Session II which focused on Spirituality and Spiritual Formation, Session III, Prayer; and Session IV which focused on Scripture Study. The rationale for beginning with prayer and scripture study was that most participants were familiar with these two spiritual disciplines. Next, the study focused on Session V, Meditation; Session VI, Storytelling; and Session VII, Spiritual Direction, because these disciplines were new to the participants, generated a desire to learn and understand, and practice them as well. Finally, Session VIII, Healing Prayers and Anointing ended with prayer and anointing the participants for ministry.;Twelve members of the Christian Education Ministry; Deacon Ministry; Domestic Violence Ministry; Fine Arts and Literary Guild Ministry; Newness of Life Ministry; Stewardship Ministry; Tangeni Adult Ministry were surveyed twice before and after the empowerment/training. Six participants of the experimental group whose surveys showed relatively little change were designated for a personal interview, and six participants whose surveys showed relatively large changes were also interviewed using the same open-ended questions for both groups. Results of the pre- and post surveys did indicate rather small growth in knowledge base and practice. However, the results of the empowerment/training and interview questions showed that the participants self-reported significant growth in the way they connected spirituality with daily life and ministry.