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.