Pneumatological communal discernment and the possibility of including unheard voices in decision-making.

Abstract

Communal discernment is the idea of involving the group in decision-making as opposed to decisions by individuals. Previous studies worked within the ecclesiological perspectives and highlighted the key principles of communal discernment such as the communion of believers, the communal reading of scripture, the communal discernments of spirit(s), and the common commitment to carrying out the decision reached through communal discernment. This article proposes a pneumatological discernment based on the encounter with the Spirit, the hermeneutical Spirit, and the Holy Spirit discernment. The pneumatological discernment is relevant for the communion of spirit-filled believers, the communal reading of scripture, the discernment of spirits, and taking common decisions. The main aim of this article is to demonstrate that pneumatological communal discernment has a possibility of including those who are in the margins including women and children when it comes to making decisions. There are key principles that make this possible. First, the Spirit has been poured upon all flesh including the women and the children. Second, the hermeneutical Spirit responsible for the illumination of scriptures also lives upon those in the margins. Lastly, the task of discerning between the Holy Spirit and the evil spirits is not only reserved for the elite but also for those who are in the margin. Therefore, communal discernment should not only be understood from an ecclesiological point of view but also as a pneumatological phenomenon.