School
of Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of North
Carolina
Covenanted listening;
covenanted conversations
The School
of Ministry encourages study groups in all of its events and in the use of
all of its resources to engage in covenanted listening and conversation.
These prayers and covenant are adapted from Good News: A Congregational
Resource for Reconciliation, by the Rt. Rev. Steven
Charleston.
An Opening Prayer
O God, we
stand on the border to your Kingdom. We pray that your Holy Spirit will be
with us to guide us in our discussions. Grant us an openness to hear you
in the words of those around us, and courage to proclaim you in our own
words, though the love of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
A Covenant
As we
gather in the name of Christ to share our thoughts, feelings, and ideas we
accept this Covenant to guide our conversation along his path of
love:
1. We will allow each person an equal amount
of time to speak.
2. We will listen to each person without
interruption or comment.
3. We will speak in a respectful way without
criticism or rancor.
4. We will honor the feelings of others as
genuine and sincere.
5. We will disagree without threats or
accusations.
6. We will agree that we are all seeking the
mind of Christ.
A Closing Prayer
Dear God,
thank you for the presence of your Holy Spirit in this conversation. We
ask that the Spirit will go with us as we leave this place to be your
ministers. Give us grace to be healers of what hurts us and heralds of
what makes us whole. In the blessed name of Jesus, we pray.
Amen.
1901 West market Street, Greensboro, NC 274O3
phone:
336/273-5770 E-mail:
leon.spencer@episdionc.com
Website:
www.episdionc.com/schoolofministry