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Attentive to God: Spirituality in the Church Committee

Anglican Theological Review, Fall 2005 by Belshaw, G P Mellick

Attentive to God: Spirituality in the Church Committee. By Karen-Marie Yust. St. Louis, Mo.: Chalice Press, 2001. xi + 154 pp. $16.99 (paper).

The purpose of this short book is summarized by its author in her brief dedication. There she refers to a friend "who refuses to believe that committee work is just about marking items off an agenda." As I look back on decades of chairing parish and diocesan meetings, the book's purpose hits home.

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This is a "how to" book which includes an abundance of suggestions to provide a spiritual dimension to church meetings-meetings that can easily deteriorate into frustrating exercises, or, even when efficiently run, do little to provide a worthwhile experience in furthering the mission of the church. In the introduction, the author clearly states her purpose, and the chapters of her book, beginning with "A Theology of Church Committee Work," have such headings as "Asking God to Serve on the Mission, Outreach, and Social Action Committees."

The author, at the time of publication of the book, was an assistant professor of Christian education at Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis. She fills her book with practical suggestions, while critical of "opening prayers" by clergy at meetings which she finds "often serve more as an attention-getting device for committee members-sort of like flipping the lights off and on to signal the start of an event-than as a genuine request for God's active participation" (p. 5).

The author describes the value of reading and reflecting on Scripture by a committee before tackling the planned agenda. She deals with the sense of inadequacy that many laypeople feel when invited to mull over a passage from Scripture, but gives many helpful suggestions of how a deepening sense of community can develop when such a task is taken seriously by laypersons and clergy. In her practical approach to such matters the author states that "[m]any congregations assume that all is well with their community until a crisis or conflict threatens to overwhelm or divide them" (p. 42).

With an ample supply of biblical references, Yust often uses hymnody as a means of expanding the possibility of being attentive to God when anticipating committee work. She refers to three hymnals as especially helpful resources-The United Methodist Hymnal, The New Century Hymnal, and Chalice Hymnal. Typically, chapter by chapter in her book, the author outlines a possible approach; for example, in the case of "The relationship between true worship and social action" (p. 73), ten biblical references are considered, with alternates suggested in each case, according to the amount of time scheduled for study, reflection, and prayer, on any particular occasion.

"Shared servanthood" is a favorite concept for the author and particularly when she focuses on Jesus' washing the disciples' feet. About the story she concludes by writing: "When committee members review this story together, they can reclaim its power for their particular community of disciples" (p. 109). Throughout the book, Yust gives much food for thought in challenging the reader involved in church committee work and who is sensitive to the fact that the task ahead is far more than "Marking items off an agenda." But that is easier said than done, for the reader has to apply her suggestions to given situations where often time is severely limited. The agenda faced calls for action, and the preparation cannot take the place of the task ahead!

G. P. MELLICK BELSHAW

Princeton, New Jersey

Attentive to God: Spirituality in the Church Committee

Anglican Theological Review, Fall 2005 by Belshaw, G P Mellick

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