Fairlawn West

Written by David Loar

 

Friday, June 2, 2006 will be an introductory two hour workshop for churches of the Akron area on to develop a more spiritually discerning decision-making process in their life as a church.  The Rev. Don Zimmer of Worshipful Work will be at Fairlawn-West United Church of Christ to lead the workshop which begins at 7:00 PM and will last two hours.

 

The Bible has a higher bar for decision-making in the church as a community identified as the body of Christ than the secular norms such as Robert's Rules of Order.  Worshipful Work works with congregations to develop more prayerful, listening and community building ways to make decisions.  Discernment is seeking the deepest yearnings of God’s heart for us and for our communities. It is the gift of the Spirit. It must be noticed, accepted, treasured, and surrendered to if it is to be received. Communal discernment is an experience of group prayer and reflection on God’s word.  To make decisions with a deliberate discernment process is to focus not simply on making decisions, but as well listening to the voice of God as a community in the midst of the decision-making and to honor one another as brothers and sisters in Christ in the process as well.

 

Don Zimmer is the Facilitator of the Board of Discerning Overseers of Worshipful Work. He is the President of OakSpring, Inc, a company dedicated to helping people and organizations discern and live out their calling and develop leadership around that core. He also serves as the Executive Director of Grace Lutheran Church and School in La Plata, MD. He has also served as the Interim Executive of Congregational Services for the Southeastern District of the LCMS and as the Coordinator of WellSpring, Inc, a non-profit corporation formed to develop leadership within the Lutheran community. He is an associate in a new venture, Conversations That Matter, and an adjunct staff member with the College of Southern Maryland. Don is a graduate of a wide array of leadership programs through the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, NC, the Robert K Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership in Indianapolis, IN, the Courage to Teach, and Hartwick College. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Editors for Leadership Network. Don is a certified Spiritual Director through Oasis Ministries, Camp Hill, PA. In 1999 Don was awarded the Servant of Christ Award by Concordia University, Bronxville, NY for his work in developing leadership within the Lutheran church and school communities. A life-long learner and a professional artist, he is currently a student and author at the confluence of learnings in the world of business, vocation, entrepreneurship, education, spirituality, science, and leadership.

 

The Fairlawn-West Church building is at 2095 West Market Street in west Akron, next to the park with the Chief Rotaynah carving and in front of the new Judith A. Resnick Community Learning Center, the former Fairlawn Elementary School.  For more information you can call the church office at 330-864-2179 or visit the web site at fairlawnwest.org.

 

 

David Loar

Fairlawn-West United Church of Christ

2095 W Market St

Akron, OH 44313

330-864-2179

fax 330-864-2241