Table Of ContentGODBEARING IN PRACTICE: DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL
MIDWIFERY THROUGH LISTENING-BASED EVANGELISM
A Professional Project
presented to
the Faculty of the
Claremont School of Theology
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Ministry
by
Anna Crews Camphouse
May 2009
©2009
Anna Crews Camphouse
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
£K\ CLAREMONT
>5fcv SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY
This professional project, completed by
Anna Crews Camphouse
has been presented to and accepted by the
Faculty of the Claremont School of Theology
in partial fulfillment of the requirements
for the degree of
DOCTOR OF MINISTRY
Faculty Committee:
William M. Clements, Chairperson
Stephen S. Kim
Dean: Dennis R. MacDonald
May 2009
ABSTRACT
GODBEARING IN PRACTICE: DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL
MIDWIFERY THROUGH LISTENING-BASED EVANGELISM
by
Anna Crews Camphouse
This project seeks to help persons to heal the brokenness of self and others by
learning how to better listen to God, themselves, and others. There is brokenness within
the self, our churches, and our world. The building of healthy relationships with God,
self, and others is a key component of helping to heal the brokenness and learning how to
live the abundant life. Using Jesus' life and ministry as our model, we can dare to risk
openness to others and value others in radically relational ways. The foundation of
building these relationships is through learning how to listen.
The author forms a small group based on the Howard Clinebell growth-group
model. In this group, participants are guided through a process of learning to develop
skills for listening to God, self, and others. In listening to God, centering prayer is used
as a model, specifically in the style taught by Father Thomas Keating. Guided spiritual
autobiography is used to help class members better listen to self, learning from one's own
life experiences and one another's. Finally, participants are taught basic empathetic
listening skills and encouraged to use them in practice to show God's love to others. In
this way, the author helps to develop Godbearing within group members. The
Godbearing concept is based upon Elaine Robinson's book of the same name. This
project focuses on learning how to use listening to put Godbearing into practice in daily
life.
The process of Godbearing developed in this project creates a model for listening-
based evangelism. A model based on listening stresses valuing the uniqueness and
diversity in others, learning with them as one forms genuine relationships. The focus of
the listening-based model is not on making others believe as one thinks they should
believe, but listening to what God is already doing in the faith life of the person and
working with the Spirit to promote their healing and wholeness. On a larger scale, the
same principle is also used when listening to the world, seeking to transform the world
into becoming the just and loving place God wills it to be.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Special thanks goes to Professors William Clements and Stephen Kim for their
thoughtful encouragement and insights throughout the writing of this paper. Thank you
to Elaine Walker for her tireless efforts to help with reading, editing, and form revisions.
My deepest appreciation is extended to the congregants of Ojai UMC in Ojai, CA,
especially those who were willing to engage wholeheartedly in the small group described
in this project. Finally, thanks to my family, my friends, and my Little One, without
whom none of this would have been possible. You have my love and endless gratitude.
iii
Table of Contents
Page
Chapter
1. Introduction 1
Problem 1
Importance of the Problem 1
Thesis 2
Definitions of Major Terms 2
Work Previously Done in the Field 6
Scope and Limitations 8
Procedure for Integration (Methodology) 8
Chapter Outlines 9
2. Brokenness and Disempowerment 13
The Broken Self 13
The Broken Church 17
The Broken Community 23
The Effects of Disempowerment 27
Empowerment through Relationship 31
A Need for Change 35
3. Evangelism through the Lens of Pastoral Care 36
A Brief History of Mission 36
The Broader Context of a Global Perspective 46
Pastoral Care Implications of Evangelism Doctrines and Key Terms 57
The Good News of Healing 65
iv
The Kingdom of God: Transformation of Self and World to Wholeness 74
Godbearing 76
4. Wholeness and Empowerment through Listening Practices 81
Howard Clinebell Growth Groups 81
The Art of Listening 90
Listening to God 92
Listening to Self 101
Listening to Others 108
5. Case Study with Listening Model 115
Setting and Participant Selection 115
Methodology 118
Class Design 121
Implementation 130
Evaluation 142
Follow Up 151
6. Conclusion 154
Appendixes
A. Class Outline for Listening Based Evangelism 159
B. Lectio Divina Guides 161
C. Sensitizing Questions for Guided Autobiography 165
D. Empathetic Listening Materials 177
E. Pre- and Post-Evaluation Tool 183
Bibliography 187
v
DEDICATION
To my darling baby daughter, Sophia Anabella.
Your life inspires me to work even harder to make the world
a better place. You are my greatest blessing.
May the abundant life be yours in full. May you be listened to and
learn to listen to others with the depth of God's love.
May your hurts be healed with the gentle power of God's grace.
May you find true friendship and love in healthy relationships
all along the way.
My deepest love and prayers go with you in your journey.
1
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Problem
Brokenness and disempowerment have kept persons from healing and growing
into the abundant life they were created for and hindered Christians' abilities to bring
forth the kingdom of God into the world.
Importance of the Problem
The brokenness and disempowerment in persons and in our world is
overwhelming. Outside the church's doors, the brokenness of persons and systems is so
pervasive that it can be described as the power of sin attempting to consume the hope and
goodness in a hurting world. Persons are inhibited by systems of oppression, by life
situations and crises, and by the breakdown of creative and whole community from
achieving the wholeness that God intends for the world and the people God created.
Inside many Christians, and the body of the church, there is also a struggle for
wholeness and living of the abundant life. There are few who see the meaning of
abundant life from a holistic perspective, and seemingly even fewer who are developing
models for teaching persons how to claim a life that seeks to live in all fullness and help
others to do the same. The popular stress on health/wealth Christianity for the individual,
decreasing connection between church and community, the fundamentalist right's focus
on takeover of "evangelism" and politics, and a decreased sense of worth among
Christians and churches due to a variety of issues including fiscal struggles and church
decline along with attitudes of scarcity all contribute to the lack of thrust toward growing
persons and communities into the abundant lives they were created to live.
