Mary, that is precisely (from my POV) what I mean. I read the diversities of gifts passage along with Christ's promise to the Church to mean exactly that sometimes I should ask other people in the Church who have Spiritual gifts I don't have. I understand God to have promised gifts to the Apostles and to their successors.
Your opinion seems to be that you don't need to look for somebody who has a gift you don't have but can ask God to give you the theological discernment you want without any of that pesky obedience stuff.
I'm ont saying right or wrong, (it's clear which side I'm on, though, I'm not pretending it isn't) I just don't see how what you say squares with Paul.
I'm not saying that at all, MD. If you ask a person with the gift of discernment or healing or whatever gift they have, I don't consider that 'the church,' which I figured you meant as the church hierarchy. Sorry if I misunderstood.