Developing a Center for Spiritual Formation

Cherri Johnson has been developing the Ministry for Spiritual Formation for eight years at First United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. See her amazing work at http://firstmethodist.org. Scroll to the bottom of the home page for the link. Here is how Cherri Johnson describes creating the Spiritual Formation focus.

In truth, there was little pastoral support in the initial stages of ministry development. Our senior pastor was focused on education, evangelism, and service. But as the ministry flourished and grew, he became more supportive and affirming. The initial years of development were hard on me emotionally. With little affirmation, I had to rely on God and developing my own inner strength and resiliency. Fortunately, I had established a faith community beyond the walls of the local church. Mentors and spiritual directors encouraged and supported me and held me accountable. I still find these individuals and groups to be most instrumental and important in my own maturation.

The ministry of spiritual formation is becoming the leaven in the Bread of Jesus Christ—gradually forming and shaping the culture and ethos of our congregation. We are raising up spiritual leaders and empowering them in their calling. The ministry provides the container

for a committed core group to delve deeper into spiritual practice. We are enabling members to reach out into the world and become agents of God’s redemptive, saving grace.

I began to offer that which I knew best—one-on-one spiritual direction, contemplative worship experiences, walking and praying the labyrinth. Only a few people attended, and sometimes I simply “held the space” for God. However, some wanted to know more. They would ask: “What is this ministry all about? What is spiritual direction?” I responded, “When are you free? How about meeting for coffee?” I began to notice the deep hunger and need placed right before me—

the young father who wanted to parent as a more committed Christian; the young man who wanted to know more about spiritual direction; the women who were hungry for spiritual renewal. As I listened with the “ears of my heart,” God revealed the way. I offered classes on the language of spiritual formation—Exploring the Way, The Way of Blessedness,

The Way of Discernment, all from the Companions in Christ series. I offered book studies on the saints and mystics, including contemporary authors; and I began small-group spiritual direction. I publicized our many offerings in our newsletter.

A pilot group of young parents formed to explore Christian parenting in more depth and created a curriculum that included spiritual practice. I companioned a young man as he designed a curriculum for men. I began to offer spiritual life retreats. I assisted an older woman in

bringing her heart’s desire to life as we created a Life Mentoring (spiritual companioning) Ministry. In partnership with other denominations, the ministry brought in national speakers. The ministry began to offer opportunities for Centering Prayer and lectio divina. People responded positively; gradually and predictably, a “core group” formed. The spiritual hunger so evident in the beginning was now being satisfied.

From this beginning, a major ministry focus came into being: Two years ago, by the grace of God, First United Methodist Church blessed and opened the doors to the Center for Spiritual

Formation. The ministry of spiritual formation is now housed in a beautifully restored home situated next door to the main church building. Our programming and ministries are highly respected and are considered equal to all other ministry areas. We are now embarking on a

mission to help our congregation understand how education (Bible study), outreach (mission), and spiritual formation (spiritual practice and prayer) are integral to the vitality of the church and how these three areas working together can transform the world. We will launch a

new ministry of spiritual leadership, which we are calling Academy for Spiritual Leadership. This phase of ministry and discipleship is based on the Great Commandment, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27).

It is essential that we, as the church, raise up more clergy and laity steeped in the practice of spiritual formation—accountable to their faith journey, with communities in which they can face their own shadow and do their deeper inner work. I believe this is the call placed on the emerging church—not simply addressing programmatic concerns but raising up and empowering spiritual leadership—clergy and laity committed to the deeper journey, leading others toward authentic transformation.

This in turn will transform the world in which we live.

A Quiet Pentecost Now Available

Release of the book... now available at Upper Room Books

The book is dedicated to Hearts on Fire: Fellowship of United Methodist Spiritual Directors and Retreat Leaders

During the past 30 years, a quiet revolution has taken place in Christianity. People of all ages are finding the need for daily prayer. Many are encountering Jesus anew through ancient yet new forms of prayer.

“Quiet Pentecosts” are happening as Christians engage in spiritual practices. Congregations feel the power of the Holy Spirit at work as they participate in thoughtful reading of scripture, walking the labyrinth, prayerful listening to one another, spiritual direction, and more.

At a time when denominations are declining and the church seems to be fighting for survival, this book describes hope for the future in the practices of spiritual formation.

“The practices of spiritual formation take us outside of the noisy and frenetic activity our popular culture encourages. We need to be taught how to be together in a spirit of respectful listening to one another. We will not learn this art from our television commentators. We will rarely witness such moments of genuine care in national or international politics.”

A Quiet Pentecost recounts the stories of more than 40 congregations being transformed by spiritual practices. This book addresses the following topics:

• evangelism and spiritual formation
• praying the scriptures (lectio divina)
• spiritual practices in small groups
• healing prayer
• multisensory worship (evening prayer and Taizé)
• congregational discernment
• prayer ministries
• health and wellness ministries
• centering prayer
• and much more!

I invite you to celebrate this outpouring of the Holy Spirit among us and to be inspired for spiritual formation practices in your congregation and community. The book is designed to be used to help design or enhance your spiritual formation ministry within your congregation.

I will guide a 6-week on-line continuing education course applying the book to your setting starting June 3. Visit Rueben Job Institute for Spiritual Formation for information and registration.

Teaching Prayer in the New Year

We all Need Prayer -- Teaching Prayer in the New Year

Beth Fender, Coordinator of New Streams for Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church, describes the need to teach sustained spiritual practice within congregations:

Many local churches need help with teaching the basics. In our day, when many of our new members did not grow up in the church and are unaware of much that lifelong church members take for granted, there is a great need for introductory sessions for adults on a variety of topics. Furthermore, since we now have several generations of church members who grew up in an era in which the church valued membership over discipleship, many faithful, lifelong members may be ill-equipped in many of the same spiritual practices. One important topic for both new and lifelong church members is prayer, particularly an introduction to a variety of prayer practices.

Prayer needs to be taught for those who have never attempted the regular discipline of a daily devotional practice, as well as for those who have unsuccessfully attempted such a practice in the past. Many of the church leaders (both laity and clergy) with whom I work have attempted to establish a regular pattern of spiritual practices or daily devotions with varying degrees of success. One does not often rise to leadership in a church without encountering this often unspoken expectation. However, I frequently encounter leaders who express frustration at their seeming inability to sustain the spiritual practices necessary for effective ministry. While there are many reasons for this struggle, three in particular seem to be the most prevalent: a devotional regimen that is incompatible with the leader’s personality or stage of spiritual development; a lack of familiarity with various spiritual practices; and a lack of accountability structures to encourage adoption of and long-term commitment to spiritual practices.

Often church leaders have been encouraged by some well-meaning mentor in the past to practice spiritual disciplines that may be a poor fit for their personality. For instance, while journaling is a wonderful tool for spiritual growth, asking someone who thrives on movement and creativity to spend significant time sitting and writing is unlikely to produce positive results, even if you provide colored pencils. On the other hand, this person may enjoy body prayer or liturgical dance—practices that might frustrate someone who prefers structure or needs to spend significant amounts of time in silent meditation. Unfortunately, many people believe that prayer means being seated with hands folded and head bowed—and must always involve words. With such a mind-set, it is clear that liturgical dance could not possibly be considered “real” prayer, and an opportunity for spiritual growth is suppressed or lost.

Other church leaders may have learned to practice certain spiritual disciplines that worked well for them at an earlier stage in their spiritual development. Those practices may have worked so well that now the leader has grown spiritually to the point that new practices are needed to sustain continued growth.

What a great time of year to renew your prayer practice and to make plans to each others.

Entering Darkness & Silence on the Longest Night

Entering Darkness & Silence on the Longest Night --

Finding Mystery

             Darkness begins to settle, and the shadows cast from dozens flickering candles create a shadow dance on the walls of the dimly lit sanctuary. The profile of the cross, backlit to dramatic effect, calls us to lift our eyes and turn our minds toward Christ. The aroma of freshly baked bread permeates the air we breathe in anticipation of the meal we will share. The faithful who are called to this discipline enter and gather in silence, each immersed in his or her thoughts. Taizé music plays softly in the background.

At the hour, the chime calls us into awareness of our oneness within this group and with the whole church as we share in the timeless rhythm and practice of Evening Prayer and Eucharist. The vesper candle is lit and the leader intones, “Light and peace in Jesus Christ,” and the response is chanted, “Thanks be to God.”

Thanks be to God indeed for the gift of Evening Prayer, in which we join our prayers with those of the whole body of Christ in unceasing prayer and praise to the one who made us. We settle into the rhythm of song and prayer, intercessions, scripture, and silence that I have come to understand as story and relationship. Through those simple means we affirm who God is and who we are in relationship with the Holy One.

We share the stories of our faith, stories of God’s faithfulness and active presence in the lives of his children throughout many centuries. Hearts open and thoughts soar as we settle deeper into the mystery, “Deep calls to deep at the thunder of your cataracts” (Ps. 42:7). The intercessions, sharing of present hopes and troubles, and lifting prayers for others bring into sharp focus just how much we need that relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; we are aligned with the reality of God active and present, here and now. A deeper knowing assures us that the God who was and is, is also the God who will be always and forever real in our lives. (Suzanne Clement)

Pushing the Pause Button

From the Introduction: Pushing the Pause Button

Teaching contemplative prayer practices, which nurture per­sonal faith, presents two challenges. First of all, these practices are “nonpractices” in the sense that they call us to pause in our busy lives. These are more about listening than speaking. It takes time for people to learn the art of such a pause. Second, these practices, developed in early Christian monastic settings, only recently have returned to pub­lic awareness. We are thus seeking to learn and teach these practices largely “on our own.” Most of us in the Protestant traditions do not have the sustained daily rhythms of a Christian monastic community in which to cultivate this heart of God’s presence. We are seeking to inte­grate such practices into family life and active participation in the world.

The gentle presence that we cultivate in spiritual formation prac­tice is described well in Parker Palmer’s understanding of a “circle of trust.” He contrasts a circle of trust with the circles we ordinarily convene.

A circle of trust is a group of people who know how to sit quietly “in the woods” with each other and wait for the shy soul to show up. The relationships in such a group are not pushy but patient; they are not confrontational but compassionate; they are filled not with expectations and demands but with abiding faith in the reality of the inner teacher and in each person’s capacity to learn from it. The poet Rumi captures the essence of this way of being together: “A circle of lovely, quiet people becomes the ring on my finger.” (A Hidden Wholeness: The Journey Toward an Undivided Life, San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2004, 59)

Does it make a difference if we learn to appreciate one another within our congregations across theological and cultural differences? Today it is essential. It is not a luxury. I’ve come to deeply appreci­ate any practice that puts some space between our quick reactivity and our actions. A few decades ago, such practices were denigrated as self-absorbed navel gazing. Quite the contrary, such practices are essential to break the imprisonment caused by naming anyone differ­ent from ourselves as “enemy.” We must examine such attitudes and break their power over us in the name of Jesus’ calling to compassion. 

How do you "push the pause button?"

Sharing Thin Places

Each month I will post excerpt from A Quiet Pentecost: Inviting the Spirit into Congregational Life (to be published, February, 2013, Upper Room Books). Please respond with your experience or questions related to the practice. -- Dwight Judy

This month's post is from a group of 6 women who have met weekly for 6 years. They follow the method of group scripture reflection (lectio divina) as outlined by Norvene Vest in Gathered in the Word.

After a short period of “coming together” we quiet ourselves by lighting a candle or striking a small Tibetan bowl to prepare ourselves for “hearing the Word.” The leader reads a selected scripture twice after which members are invited to repeat a word or phrase that has stood out for her. Following the next reading we reflect upon and share how the phrase has touched our lives. After a period of silence as the scripture is read once again we listen for an invitation as to how we might respond to the Word in the coming week. Allowing further time for individual contemplation and having listened to each others’ responses, we end with personal prayers that include a prayer for and about the person seated on our right.

As time has evolved, leaders have occasionally brought added material such as poetry, hymn verses, or other short readings. Other formats have been introduced, such as the examen, in which we review life experiences looking for God’s presence, but we have primarily stayed close to the lectio practice.

The group has provided a context for stimulating both discipline and new directions in individual contemplation. It has been a private journey traveled alongside people we have come to love and trust. Certainly we have encouraged each other to keep up daily devotional reading and meditation and we have pondered the meaningful phrases in what we’ve read. We have learned to pray our gratitude and concerns aloud even as we’ve wrestled with our “images” of the God we are addressing.

In a way, being there for each other has become an expression of the “yearning.” We have shared “thin places.” The experience of God’s Presence has been powerfully felt in the weekly prayers for each other and as we have coped with serious illness and the deaths of loved ones. It has been a sustaining energy for one another – a place where we can bring our vulnerability and can count on needed support. The power of this time together remains central in our lives and has provided the bond that keeps us together. None of us has become a mystic, but we have realized that God is in relationships to one another and our loving response to the needs of the world.

While our group itself is not obvious to the congregation, our search for spiritual depth was recognized and supported by our pastoral staff, and over the past six years spiritual formation offerings have become prominent in adult programming.

Have you shared "thin places" with others in your small group experience?

Available, February, 2013, A Quiet Pentecost: Inviting the Spirit into Congregational Life, will be published by Upper Room Books. Over 40 contributors have described significant positive impact within their congregations with use of spiritual formation practices.

This blog will host continuing conversation on these practices and will serve as a place for people to discuss "best practices" of spiritual formation for congregational life.