By Bruce Warwick
Endorsement of a ministering person in Churches of Christ in Queensland requires the completion of a 2 year Personal and Professional Formation Plan which involves a commitment to 3 goals and for these to be reflected in specific plans in 8 different areas. Through the year each ministering person meets several times with a companion who helps them to revisit their stated goals and reflect on how they are going with their commitments in each of the 8 areas.
Companions are encouraged to use questions that will help the conversation to go to a deeper level and invite a visiting of any resistances, struggles, arising issues in each area as well as any new empowerments and freedoms.
From time to time, the companions are sent resources to help them in the times with their ministering persons. This is one of those resource sheets.
Under each of the 8 areas there are 2 word pairings. In the pairings, each word can serve as a beginning for a focussed conversation or as a key word in a question. In some of the pairings, the 2 words reflect a particular tension that might possibly be felt. In those cases, one question that the companion might bring is ‘How are you honouring both of these 2 in this season of your life.?’ Or perhaps ‘What conversation do these 2 invite within you?’
Of course, there would not be time in a normal session to visit all of these. They might be helpful spread over a year, or perhaps looked at during a one or two day retreat.
AREA 1: Spiritual Formation
Prayer __________________________ Serving
Identity _________________________ Role
AREA 2: Study, Culture and Theological Education
Head ___________________________ Experience
Timeless truths __________________ Emerging thinking
AREA 3: Skill, Vision and Leadership Development
Leading _________________________ Managing
Vulnerability _____________________ Capability
AREA 4: Support and Accountability
Alone __________________________ Together
Self – guided ____________________ Accountable
AREA 5: Sharing in the Wider Church and Community
Relationships within the church ____ Relationships outside the church
Local church _____________________ Kingdom of God
AREA 6: Personal Health and Lifestyle
Self care ________________________ Servant leadership
Leisure _________________________ Work
AREA 7: Financial Plans and Resourcing
Planned future ___________________ Trust
Retirement ______________________ Work
AREA 8: Family Time and Plans
Family __________________________ Calling
Renewing myself ________________ Marriage enrichment