Paying attention to the spiritual, emotional journey of our elders is an important way to build the body. By doing so, we avoid assuming that we are merely involved in some corporate business decisions with respect to an organization called the church. Like with the care of our bodies, it is probably best to begin in a way that balances each person’s privacy with our corporate support of each other.
Begin with a general discussion on the types of experiences that are emotionally stressful in our society. Follow that with a discussion of how our faith can assist us in coping with some of the stresses mentioned. Enter in to a time of silent prayer in which each person identifies a particular stressful situation in their lives. For the following month, they are asked to note when that stressful situation occurs and to ask themselves each time to listen for where God is in their situation.
At the next meeting, without naming the particular situation unless they so desire, they are asked to share what their experience has been in becoming aware of God’s presence in the face of their emotionally stressful moments in their lives. They then enter a time of prayer in whcih each elder either prays about that situation or chooses a new one and rededicates to the same reflection of God’s presence in their lives.
A next step would be to identify some of the stresses in the church community. Having identified them, again discuss the way in which God may be present in such situations. Ask the Elders to prayerfully reflect for the next month on how God may be present in the challenging experiences of the church. As they continue to meet, a time could be set aside to share how God can speak to them as a session with respect to the redemptive possibilities of the challenges that they are facing.
