Introduction to Slow Wisdom

Slow wisdom: Baptist discernment at the Church Meeting is an offering of qualitative research to our denomination by Baptist minister Ruth Moriarty, which shows how Baptists can discern together well and identifies positive opportunities change at the Church Meeting. Ruth says: 'It is my sincere prayer that this research will be an aid to all ministers, local churches and our denomination.'
 
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.

Alongside the publication of the book, Ruth has now filmed a five-session course to help Baptists engage with the topics within it.  Please click the links below to access these films and accompanying questions for reflection. A pdf of the course is also available to download.

• 1: Experience of discernment and the Church Meeting
• 2: Biblical principles and history of the Church Meeting
• 3: Slow wisdom – six marks of discernment
• 4: Discernment as embodied Christian practical wisdom
• 5: Ways forward for discernment in the Baptist church

 

	Click here to download a pdf of questions for reflection to accompany the videos for this five session course
	Click here to download a leaflet which introduces Slow Wisdom, to share with your church.
	Copies of Slow Wisdom are available to order from our online shop.

Click here for a book review of Slow Wisdom by Andy Goodliff - minister of Belle Vue Baptist Church, Southend-on-Sea and deputy director of the Centre for Baptist Studies at Regent’s Park College.