Slow wisdom: Baptist discernment at the Church Meeting is an offering of qualitative research to our denomination by Baptist minister The Revd Dr Ruth Moriarty, which shows how Baptists can discern together well and identifies positive opportunities for change at the Church Meeting.
“It is my prayer that this research will be an aid to all ministers, local churches and our denomination.”
The Revd Dr Ruth Moriarty
This practical theology project rests on the observation of four local Baptist churches and interviewing the minister and two members from each context on the practice of discernment. All the sample churches are near to Ruth’s church, Christ Church New Southgate and Friern Barnet Baptist/URC, in north London.
Through the data analysis, Baptist discernment is identified, articulated, and named as slow wisdom. Slow wisdom is slow, listens to and hears all members, it seeks consensus agreement through a prayerful and prophetic atmosphere.
The book Slow Wisdom is available in Kindle and print format through Amazon.
Slow Wisdom video training course
Ruth has now filmed a five-session Slow Wisdom course to help Baptists engage with the topics within it. The creation of this resource has been generously funded by London Baptists and Southern Counties Baptist Association.