Discipleship Discernment and Support Group

This face-to-face facilitated group is open to up to twenty congregants from among all grant congregations. The group’s aim is to bring a denominationally, socially, and culturally diverse group of Christians together to explore their own call to discipleship and support other members in exploring theirs. Ministry professionals Dedra Herron-Slack (Liberty Community Church, Minneapolis) and Scott Brazil (St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, Wayzata) will facilitate.

The group will come together for shared practice, support, and mutual accountability in following Jesus.

Submit an interest form for the next cohort

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Below are some frequently asked questions about Contemplative Discipleship Discernment and Support Group.

Can you tell me more about the group leaders?

Dedra and Scott are part of our practice leader community. Learn more at the links to their Bios listed below:

Dedra Herron Slack - Bio

Scott Brazil - Bio

What will happen in this group?

The group follows a group spiritual direction model in which member share important parts of their faith journeys and their interests and commitments as Christian disciples. Each session begins with a reflection and check-in, and each session will include a shared spiritual practice. These are followed by deeper sharing. The group’s purpose is both to help members discern new and/or deepened commitments as Christian disciples (by which we mean simply how they want to follow Jesus out into the world for its healing and their own ongoing transformation) and to support members as they engage in discipleship. Its purpose is NOT to try to convince members to follow any particular path of discipleship. Discernment always and only arises from their lives and interests of individual Christians.

When does this group meet and how often?

The group’s nine monthly in-person sessions (second Thursday evening of each month, September 2026-through May 2027) will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at St. Catherine University—with light refreshments served at each session. It is designed as a face-to-face group, so that members can get to know one another well, though it will be possible for members to come in by Zoom very occasionally if their schedule makes that necessary. Again, we really ask that members commit to attending in-person for most sessions. Exceptions will be made individually on a session-by-session basis.

Are there any prerequisites?

There are no educational or experiential prerequisites. We do intend this group more for Christians who are not in formal positions of Church or congregational leadership. The only real prerequisites are a desire for deeper discipleship and an openness to sharing one’s own journey with the group and to supporting others as they share their journey.

What are the next steps if interested in joining?

The next step is simply to express your interest by filling out the short interest form. Filling out the form does NOT commit you to participating in the group and it does not guarantee a spot in the group. Instead, it indicates your interest in exploring further whether the group is for you. One of the facilitators, Dedra or Scott, will contact you to talk further about your interest and engage in further discernment with you. (You are also welcome to contact any member of the grant leadership team with questions.) Thank you for your interest!

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