This is my third installment of comments on the Council of Bishops' pathways for transformation of the church (see side bar).  In this month's newsletter I would like to reflect on the third of these pathways:  teaching the Wesleyan model of forming disciples of Jesus Christ.

One could sum up John Wesley's method of evangelism and social action in this often quoted words:  Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the places you can, at all the time you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.

The General Board of Discipleship has expanded on these words by listing seven characteristics of "disciple-forming congregations":

1.  Clarity around the mission and vision of the congregation

2.  Practice of spiritual disciplines both corporately and individually.

3.  Nurture of growth in discipleship through mutual support and accountability. 

4.  Cultivation of intentional and mutual relationships with the most vulnerable -- the poor, children, the imprisoned, the powerless.

5.  Consistent concern for inviting people into relationship with Jesus Christ, combined with wise practices for initiating them into the Body of Christ. 

6.  Connectional relationships that facilitate participation in God's mssion of global transformation.

7.  Shared clergy and lay leadership.

I hold these seven characteristics up with the hope that some churches will say, "Duh!  What else is new?" because these ways of living are so natural for them that they can't even understand why someone would name them.  For the rest of us, I hope they are a standard of ideals we are aiming for and that they encourage us to become more effective disciple makers.

Grace and Peace!

Bob