SPIRITUAL FORMATION
CHAIR, COMMISSION ON SPIRITUAL FORMATION
Develops strategy for nurturing spiritual development for children, youth, young adults, adults, seniors, men and women.
COMMISSION MEMBERS
Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett, Chairperson – rtrevjr@aol.com
Rev. Dr. Jeffery Tribble, Sr,
Rev. Dr. Lewis Anthony
Sis. Darlene Butler
Rev. Dr. Maurice Harden
Sis. Kandi Hightower
Sister Pamela Ford
Sister Renae Moses
Rev. Brenda Jones
Rev. Dr. Barbara LaToision
Rev. Monty Witherspoon
Dr. Mary Love
Rev. Erlinda Dobson
Rev. Dominique Robinson
Rev. Dr. Richard Chappelle
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Willis Stewart
Dr. Otis T. McMillian
THE VISION – AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The work of the Commission on Spiritual Formation is not a one time event addressing a Zion University at Greensboro need. Quite to the contrary, the Zion University experience (July, 2014) marks the beginning of the Commission’s work. This occasion is the first step in an extended, multi-step process in fulfilling a passionate vision. Effort and energy will be spent introducing COSF (Commission on Spiritual Formation), provoking interest, and gathering data that will inform the basic agenda and specific programmatic endeavors of COSF.
More to the point, we will seek (proactively) opportunities to present spiritual formation and spiritual growth information to all constituents using all venues available to us. Members of the Commission (and others) will be developed as presenters, conveners, instructors, workshop leaders, and coaches. Services will be offered to any and to all at the various levels of the church-connectional, episcopal areas, conferences, districts, and local churches.
In addition, written resources will be developed for distribution-articles, manuals, study guides, annotated bibliographies, etc. Perhaps, because we will be need driven, electronic resources maybe included also.
To augment our future planning efforts, registered participants, and others, who will be attending the morning convocations, selected cohort classes, and a few electives will be asked to respond to survey material and complete a questionnaire. This information will be used in our attempts to be more relevant and specialized, and less generic in our approach. Sources beyond Zion University will be used in distributing and collecting questionnaires and other data. Connectional boards , departments, councils, associations, and fellowships will have a designated representative from COSF as a contact person. It is expected that we will work directly with individual groups.
A taskforce has been appointed to receive ideas relative to the types of information we desire to receive from the questionnaires and surveys. The task force will craft the linguae and construct the instrument to facilitate the technology to be used in the compilation process.
THE DATA PLAN
DATA GATHERING – "COLLECT IT."
DATA ANALYSIS – "LET IT SPEAK AND HEAR WHAT IT SAID."
DATA FINDINGS –"WHAT IS IT SAYING?"
RESPOND TO THE DATA –"DO SOMETHING WITH IT!"
STRATEGIC ACTION: INSPIRED, INFORMED, INTENTIONAL, AND INTENSE
The Commission has a unique opportunity to enhance the individual spiritual lives of those we are privileged to serve. In turn, they WILL influence others. And thus, in the cultivation of individual trees, the forest was saved.