Leadership Institute Presenters
Biblical Foundations of Group Discernment
-Paul Anderson
Paul serves as Professor of Biblical Studies and chair of the Department of Religious Studies at George Fox University, where he has taught since 1989. Author of over 150 published essays and several books, Anderson is known among biblical scholars for his books, The Christology of the Fourth Gospel and The Fourth Gospel and the Quest for Jesus. Paul Anderson also serves as Director of the Congregational Discernment Project at George Fox University (http://www.georgefox.edu/discernment), a Lilly funded grant, and he has worked inter-denominationally to help Christian leaders from different traditions and structures understand how to help individuals and groups attend, discern, and mind the leadership of Christ within the Church as a key factor of effective Christian leadership. Paul received his undergraduate degree from Malone College, his seminary degree from the Earlham School of Religion, and his doctorate from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. His pamphlet, With Christ in Decision-Making is available from Barclay Press.
Group Discernment in the Life of the Denomination–Becky Ankeny
Becky Ankeny serves as Superintendent of Northwest Yearly Meeting. Becky, a member of Newberg Friends, has served many years at George Fox University and NWYM in a number of leadership capacities. Becky and her husband, Mark, are the parents of two daughters and have three granddaughters.
Paul Bock has 30 years experience in youth ministry among Quakers, and is currently on the pastoral staff at North Valley Friends Church responsible for worship coordination and community life. He is married to his wife, Miriam, has two grown sons and four grandchildren. Besides pastoral work, Paul also serves the children of Newberg, Oregon as a bus driver.
The Adventure of Group Discernment, Steps in the Discernment Process-Lon Fendall & Jan Wood
Conflict resolution–Lon Fendall
Lon has just retired as former Director of the Center for Peace and Justice and the Center for Global Studies at George Fox University. He is also a GOOD NEWS Associates and a recent Presiding Clerk of Northwest Yearly Meeting. His professional experience includes 10 years of being on the staff of Senator Mark Hatfield and 12 years experience as an academic administrator. He has been active in teaching discernment in Burundi, Rwanda, Congo and the United States. He has authored several books pertinent to discernment: Practicing Discernment Together: Finding God’s Way Forward in Decision Making; Citizenship: A Christian Calling; To Live Free: William Wilberforce, Experiencing the Man, the Mission, and the Legacy; At Home With the Poor: Christian Community Development in Haiti; Unlocking Horns: Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Burundi; Seeking Peace in Africa: Stories from African Peacemakers. Lon received his undergraduate degree at George Fox College. He received his Ph.D. in U.S History from the University of Oregon.
Worship Leader–Nate Macy
Nate Macy is a producer, musician, and pastor. He has his Masters in Spiritual Formation from George Fox University and has spent time as a youth pastor, worship leader, speaker, worship consultant and musician. Nate has worked ecumenically and in a variety of settings including Quakers, Free Methodists, United Methodists, Covenant & others.
Getting from Here to There–Bruce Murphy
Bruce Murphy is a long-time educator and pastor, having served as President of Northwestern College, Provost of Seattle Pacific University, Professor at Whitworth University and Northwestern College, and Pastor of Presbyterian churches in Seattle and San Diego. Bruce participated in Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life, a year-long program which included spiritual direction. He has taught spiritual formation courses, led prayer retreats, and served several years as a spiritual director. He is married to Di, and holds an MA/PhD from Northern Illinois University and a BA from Wheaton College.
Clearness Committees & Listening Meetings–Patricia Thomas
Patricia Thomas is a Recorded Friends Minister in Wilmington Yearly Meeting. Patricia is currently serving as clerk of the Executive Committee of WYM and is an active member of Campus Friends Meeting. She’s teaches Intro to the Bible at Wilmington College, writes regularly for Fruit of the Vine, and is the author of Cast Me Not Away,a pastor and professor mystery.
Group Discernment in the Life of the Local Church-Lorraine Watson
Individual Discernment–Lorraine Watson
Lorraine, a Recorded Friends Minister, serves as pastor of North Seattle Friends Church, Seattle, Washington. After 20 years working as a medical technologist, Lorraine earned a Masters Degree from Western Evangelical Seminary in Portland, OR and discovered that she is called to pastoral ministry. She has pastored at churches in Vancouver, Spokane, and Seattle, WA. Lorraine is the assistant clerk of Northwest Yearly Meeting and a board member of Good News Associates. Her undergraduate degree is from George Fox College.
The Adventure of Group Discernment, Steps in the Discernment Process -Lon Fendall and Jan Wood
Interface of Spiritual Gifts and Discernment Processes
-Jan Wood
Jan, a Recorded Friends Minister, serves as the Executive Director of GOOD NEWS Associate in Seattle, Washington. Her professional experiences include pastoring, serving as a campus minister, college religion professor and academic administrator. She is a spiritual director, organizational consultant, a national speaker and workshop leader. Among her publications are Christians at Work: Not Business as Usual and Practicing Discernment Together: Finding God’s Way Forward in Decision Making. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of California at Berkeley and her graduate degree from Seattle Pacific University in Christian Ministries.
