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It explains that discernment is intentional, time-consuming, and guided by the Spirit rather than majority rule, emphasizing integrity and partnership. It outlines key worthwhile goals: forming re-formed bonds, enabling shared ownership of vision, shaping the relationship between elected leaders and membership, and deepening shared hope. It also introduces commonly held myths about discernment to prompt dialogue and further communal reflection.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":45,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/religion-spirituality/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/election-and-communal-discernment-goals-myths-and-gifts/429469/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/election-and-communal-discernment-goals-myths-and-gifts/429469.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Jiven","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-18","2026-09-29",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":44},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"What distinguishes communal discernment from majority-rule voting?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"Communal discernment is intentional and requires time, and it is governed by the Spirit rather than the majority.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What are the main goals of communal discernment in leadership elections?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"It seeks the election of the best leaders while also deepening partnership, engaging the community in a shared story, shaping leadership values and function, and strengthening the relationship between leaders and membership.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"Why does the article discuss myths about discernment?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"It aims to evoke conversation and reflection, helping communities examine their attitudes and beliefs as they navigate communal discernment efforts.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},429469,1790868005,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":44,"category_name":45,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":44,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":39,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":46},1099513958607,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/100002390cf8733938c?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1778829742770036399","communal discernment  \n230  \nTED DUNN  \nElection and Communal Discernment:  \nGoals, Myths, and Gifts  \nFor fifteen years my wife, Beth Lipsmeyer, and I have, as facilitators, been privileged to accompany many communities through communal discernment leading to the election of leadership teams. We have discovered that there are not only wide-ranging views on what communal discernment is, but also varied expectations regarding what it will achieve. In other words, beyond the election, what does communal discernment offer communities and what does the \"communal\" part mean? On this topic there are myths, commonly held beliefs that no longer apply. In addition, while increasing numbers of communities are using communal discernment , many of them focus so much on the outcome (the election) that they fail to see the gifts they are receiving along the way.  \nI offer here some reflections on what I consider the worthwhile goals, common myths, and  \nit *  \nTed Dunn is a clinical psychologist. He and his wife operate Comprehensive Consulting Services; 6217 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, Suite 294; St. Charles, Missouri 63304.  \nsubtle gifts of communal discernment. There is, of course, no one right way to understand communal discernment; every community defines its own objectives and ways of using it. With this article I invite your reflections. I hope communities will dialogue among them-selves about how to get the most from the communal discernment they use in their elections.  \nGoals of Discernment  \nLike flipping a coin or agreeing that the majority rules, discernment is, after all is said and done, just another way to make decisions. Unlike flipping a coin, however, there is nothing random or quick about it. Discernment is intentional and requires a great deal of time if it is to be done well. Unlike a simple democratic vote, in discernment it is the Spirit , not the majority, that rules. In communal discernment it is deepening partnership, rather than well-conducted campaigning, that ensures integrity and brings persuasion.  \nThe communal discernment we are discussing seeks the election of the best leaders. It is, however, about more than just choosing leaders. Another goal is to engage you in the drama of a deeper story, your collective story, as it continues to unfold. In communal discernment , bonds of partnership are formed andre-formed, woven together with your charism and your traditions and with questions of who you are called to become. Communal discernment offers all members the opportunity to influence how your leadership should function, to shape the team's values and style of working. A third goal of communal discernment is to shape the nature of the partnership between elected leadership and membership. I would like to elaborate on this, for it appears central to the yearning of many communities. Communal discernment can create new ways for leadership and membership to be together. This includes  \nReviewfor Religious 63.3 2004  \nsharing the same vision. To do this, to have the same vision living inside each member, they all must have some degree of ownership of it. Looking toward the future, they must , as partners, share in some detail how they envision it and what they hope to contribute to it. Communal discernment invites this kind of heartfelt talking and listening, such fostering of shared hope.  \nCommunities yearn to be able to share one another's gifts more fully, to affirm one another more fully, to feel more deeply the possibilities and power inherent in their being together in one community, no matter what their individual positions or ministries. Communities appear to be struggling for a deeper kind of partnership laced together by their personal commitments to, and their emotional investment in, their collective future. They want to become freer by having greater personal responsibility.  \nThis kind of partnership does not just happen. It maybe a promise of faith, but it is formed by experience, tested by challenge","cbCaigNOt6OF0fTL","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaigNOt6OF0fTL","pdf",135888,"English","# Goals of Discernment\n## Myths of Discernment","[{\"question\":\"What distinguishes communal discernment from majority-rule voting?\",\"answer\":\"Communal discernment is intentional and requires time, and it is governed by the Spirit rather than the majority.\"},{\"question\":\"What are the main goals of communal discernment in leadership elections?\",\"answer\":\"It seeks the election of the best leaders while also deepening partnership, engaging the community in a shared story, shaping leadership values and function, and strengthening the relationship between leaders and membership.\"},{\"question\":\"Why does the article discuss myths about discernment?\",\"answer\":\"It aims to evoke conversation and reflection, helping communities examine their attitudes and beliefs as they navigate communal discernment efforts.\"}]","Election and Communal Discernment: Goals, Myths, and Gifts | PDF",1790650228]