Chad R. Abbott is a conference minister in the United Church of Christ in Indiana and Kentucky. Having served congregations in both the United Methodist and United Church of Christ traditions, he is a pastor at heart, passionate about local churches, pastors, and spirituality. The author of two books, he is a trained labyrinth facilitator, spiritual director, and storyteller. Teresa Blythe is a spiritual director, writer, conference keynote speaker, and experienced leader of spirituality circles and small groups in the Christian tradition. An author of multiple books and articles, she received her master of divinity and spiritual direction training at San Francisco Theological Seminary and has facilitated group spiritual direction in a variety of projects.
Description
"Incline Your Ear, Abbott and Blythe's gift to us all, opens a pathway to spirit-filled mission and life. We are all wise to join them on the journey." --The Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, author of Beyond Resistance: The Institutional Church Meets the Postmodern World "Abbott and Blythe have written a rare book. Incline Your Ear is filled with the practical resources and tools necessary to develop a discerning community--a congregation that will turn toward God with the ear of a unified heart." --The Rev. Gil Stafford, author of When Leadership and Spiritual Direction Meet: Stories and Reflections for Congregational Life and Wisdom Walking: Pilgrimage as a Way of Life "Incline Your Ear is an excellent resource to help congregations grow in listening to and discerning God's direction...Theologically and biblically grounded, it will bear fruit in many faith traditions." --The Rev. Victoria Curtiss, spiritual director, pastor, and author of Guidelines for Communal Discernment "Incline Your Ear provides a holistic vision of personal and congregational transformation, reminding congregations and their leaders that the process of spiritual discernment is their most effective tool for decision-making... I highly recommend Incline Your Ear for any leader or congregational community who is seeking spiritual guidance in facing the uncertainties and challenges of the twenty-first century." --The Rev. Dr. Bruce Epperly, pastor at the South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, and the author of A Center in the Cyclone: Twenty-First Century Clergy Self-Care "Incline Your Ear is abundantly rich in all that it gently and brilliantly offers to congregations and to those of us who love and serve congregations and are committed to the way of Christ. It is a book rich in scripture, in Christian traditions, in practical, approachable prayer practices, and in effective ways to engage in the deep work of discernment that can lead toward action. We can trust this road map to help us expand our trust in the Spirit and in ourselves." --The Rev. Kim Gage Ryan, Codirector and pastor of Bethany Fellows