In the two decades I have been in ministry, in the half-dozen denominations and individual churches with whom I have consulted, I’ve learned that as diverse and myriad as Christ’s church is, there is a widespread need for bold discernment. If our local churches want to truly live out the gospel in a way that transforms lives and communities, they have to be willing to step out of their comfort zones, embrace the unknown, and dare greatly. Such courageous movement starts with honest, bold discernment as an institution, both at the global and local church level.

So, how do we do that? How do we discern what God is calling our churches to do in the world? How do we listen and follow with great boldness?

Vulnerability is the Birthplace of Being Bold. The first step to discerning any call is to get honest about where we are. What are the challenges and opportunities facing our community? What are the gifts and passions of our congregation? What are the broken places that need healing? This requires us to be vulnerable with ourselves, each other within the church, and with God. It means embracing the messy reality of our church life, rather than trying to present a perfect facade. Only when we can be vulnerable in our space can we begin to ask God our call. Vulnerability is not weakness. It's the birthplace of courage, creativity, and connection through discernment.

Scripture is a Compass. As the church seeks to discern God's call, it must turn to the wisdom of Scripture. The Bible is filled with stories of people who were called by God to do extraordinary things. Consider the prophet Isaiah, who heard God's voice calling him to speak truth to power, even when it was dangerous. Or Esther, who risked her life to save her people from genocide. Or Jesus himself, who embraced the marginalized, challenged the status quo, and ultimately gave his life for the sake of the world. These stories remind us that God's call is often unexpected, challenging, and even disruptive. But it's also life-giving, transformative, and full of purpose. It calls the church into new spaces in a season that needs the church to do exactly that.

The Holy Spirit Speaks in Whispers. Discernment is not about analyzing data or following a formula. It's about listening to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit speaks to us in many ways: through scripture, through the wisdom of others, through our own intuition and experiences. This is true for both our personal discernment and the congregational discernment our churches must undergo. It requires us to slow down, quiet our minds, and pay attention to the subtle nudges and whispers of the divine. It requires patience to let God speak into your world. And it takes faith enough to listen, even when the call leads to places that are scary.

Faith Without Works is Dead. Discernment is the process of listening for God and examining where God is calling, but asking and examining are not enough. Our faithful discernment should lead to faithful action. James reminds us that "faith without works is dead" (James 2:17). Our faith must be lived out in tangible ways if it's to have any real impact. This means taking risks, trying new things, and stepping out in faith, even when we're not sure where the path will lead, only knowing that God is calling us down that path. It means partnering with others, building relationships, and working together to make a difference in the world.

Imperfection is Beautiful. The journey of discernment is not always easy or straightforward. There will be setbacks, disappointments, confusion, and even failures along the way. But that's okay. In fact, it's often in the midst of our struggles that we discover our greatest strengths and experience the deepest growth. So celebrate the messiness of the journey. Embrace your imperfections and learn from your mistakes. Start and restart, being kind to yourself and to each other as you stumble and fall and get back up again toward your church’s call. Remember, God's grace is bigger than our mess. And it's in the mess that we often find the most beautiful and unexpected gifts. 

Discerning your church's call to new roles in the community is a daunting task. But it's also an invitation to adventure, a chance to make a real difference in the world, an opportunity to live into God’s call in a new and exciting way. So, be brave. Be bold. Dare greatly. Dare to go beyond what you’ve done before and trust that God will lead you on a journey that is far more meaningful and impactful than any of us could ever imagine.