Our Programs ~ Center for Christian Spirituality ~ CCS Beyond the Close
CCS Beyond the Close
The Center for Christian Spirituality at General Theological Seminary co-sponsored Contemplative Ministry Experience with the Contemplative Ministry Project at Holy Cross Monastery in July 2006.
Contemplative prayer will bring me to where I need to be.
Sharon Manning-Lew, GTS Senior and participant
Theological education, by its very nature, must manifest an integration of academic learning, practical skills for a variety of ministries, and personal and spiritual formation. Modern seminaries and schools of theology excel in the first two categories, but in recent history have paid less attention to personal and spiritual formation. The contemplative dimension in the formation of lay and ordained church leaders must be reinstated with equal priority because it is a fundamental aspect of Christian life.
The Rev. David Keller, GTS ’61, Co-Founder of the Contemplative Ministry Project
For a week in July, members of the extended family of GTS, gathered at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY to engage in a program focusing on the place of contemplative ministry in theological education. The stellar list of facilitators included Thomas Keating, David Keller, Nancy Roth, and General’s own Jonathan Linman, Director of the Center for Christian Spirituality and Associate Professor of Ascetical Theology. In all there were twenty-nine participants from the USA, Canada, and Australia: including faculty, students and alumni, clergy and laity, from three seminaries or schools of theology, representing five denominations
The purpose of "An Experience in Contemplative Ministry", as the week was called, was to provide an example of graduate level theological education and spiritual formation in a contemplative manner. The intent was to demonstrate that Christian learning, personal transformation, practicum, and ministries proceed from and are influenced by intimacy with God. This has been true for all Christians and should be a special intention in the education and formation of church leaders, lay and ordained. The goal was to model ways of learning, knowing, praying and being in community that will mentor individuals, and the community that is formed during the week, in contemplative ministry, itself. This purpose and goal was manifested and tangible in all that took place in our community life during the week’s curriculum and praxis, as well as in the internal experiences and growth of each individual (some very personal). During the week, participants were able to integrate substantive academic learning; a variety of forms of contemplative praxis; individual, small group, and plenary group reflection; Sabbath time; corporate liturgical worship; exercise; common meals; and community life in a way that involves and influences the whole person (body, mind, and spirit).
The schedule fit wonderfully into the beautiful monastic setting on the Hudson River. Each morning began with an hour of group contemplative prayer, followed by breakfast and free time. The remainder of the morning included a presentation from one or more of our facilitators, and small group response and reflection. The morning ended with Diurnum with the monastic community, followed by lunch. After lunch there were two and a half hours of personal time, followed by an hour called "Spiritual Exercises" where participants learned to listen to the prayers of our bodies as well as ways to express prayer with our bodies. The emphasis was on the body as a sacred gift, fully involved in our spiritual growth and transformation. Following a break there was a presentation by a facilitator, a short break and Vespers with the monastic community. After supper we gathered for plenary reflection on our experiences and learning during the day and week, thus far, followed by group centering prayer.
Some of the topics for presentations and discussions included: "Binding Head and Heart: Integrating Rational Knowledge, Practical Experience and Prayer", "The Human Condition: Contemplation and Divine Therapy", "Stewards of the Mysteries of Christ: Being Contemplative Leaders", "Contemplation in a World of Action: What are Contemplative Ministries?", "The Seminary and Parish as Environments of Grace: Mentoring Seminarians and Communicants to Become Persons of Prayer" and ,"Ecology of the Soul: Stewardship of our Lives and Our Work". At the final session, David Keller affirmed and supported this intentional community’s growing awareness that the aspects of theological education and spiritual formation modeled during the Contemplative Ministry Project (CMP)/GTS Holy Cross 06 week should be an emphasis in congregational life as well as in seminaries and schools of theology.
The benefits from this week were quite deeply experienced by each participant. As MDiv senior, Sharon Manning-Lew reported, "At first when I considered a full seven days in a contemplative prayer setting, I wondered what I was getting into. By the end of the week the project taught me what contemplative prayer is and how truly to practice it. Facilitators gave information on how to continue the practice and enabled access to a great website to continue our contact and on-going support with the small groups that had been formed. I learned that as a future priest, contemplative prayer helps to further communication with God. Also, as we find ourselves in our ministries, we have a need to be grounded and to find grounding. Contemplative prayer will bring me to where I need to be. These seven days took me from being a frazzled Middler to a centered senior, one who is ready to face the upcoming challenges of GOE’s and job hunting." Rachele Grieco, a student in the Master of Arts in Christian Spirituality program, commented "The range of topics not only increased my understanding of what is comprised by contemplative practice, but helped me to engage more deeply with the Spirit in unpredictable ways. I particularly enjoyed the regular group contemplative prayer sessions, participating in a contemplative Eucharist, practicing lectio divina, and moving in body prayer exercises... Our time together ended with the hope that we will continue upholding one another in our desire to incorporate contemplative prayer more fully into our individual lives, and in our efforts to recapture this ancient and vital spiritual practice for the benefit of the larger community."
In summary, as David Keller will note in an upcoming article, "the study of the rich traditions of Hebrew and Christian scriptures, theology, liturgy, and pastoral ministries is incomplete without first-hand experience of the presence of the living Christ and the power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit. Theological education has a sacred responsibility to include the contemplative dimension of the Gospel through spiritual guidance, a variety of opportunities for gradual development of personal contemplative prayer, and study of Christian spirituality and its influence on human lives and society. Theological education must be a transmission of experience of God as well as acquisition of learning and skills. Its focus must be on the whole person. In order for lay and ordained leaders to be good stewards of the soil of local congregations, their own theological education in seminaries and schools of theology must plant a variety of seeds that include learning, skills, and experience of the indwelling of God’s Spirit. These seeds will support their prayer-filled lives, learning, and caring ministries as leaders in congregations and help bring forth a harvest of the fruits of the Spirit among the people they serve."
This week was a tremendous success on many levels! The Center for Christian Spirituality and General Theological Seminary look forward to continuing to learn and grow from our mutually beneficial relationship with the Contemplative Ministry Project in the months and years to come.
