Spiritual Direction Goes to Church
Spiritual Direction is finding its way back to the church again. I say "again" because for centuries churches offered spiritual direction conversations to their parishioners, and even housed spiritual directors within their walls. Spiritual direction was what the ancients called "tending the holy." But somewhere along the way we lost our connection to spiritual direction. We stopped offering listening spaces and creating safe places for individuals to wrestle with their faith questions without judgement. We lost the gift of companioning others on their spiritual journeys, just as Jesus did with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
But in this season of global change and cultural upheaval, people are re-evaluating their faith, their traditions, and what it means to be the church. And churches are asking the hard questions about how they can partner with individuals as they re-imagine the possibility of being a faith community. And spiritual direction is one way to minister to the church and individuals exploring their own faith journey. Following are six ways to open the doors for spiritual direction in the church:
CREATE SPACE: Designating a room, or a corner of a room for private one-on-one conversation expresses the church's commitment to encouraging dialogue about the personal spiritual journey with a trained spiritual director. This becomes space set aside and sanctified for these sacred conversations.
ON RETREATS: Invite a spiritual director to join your retreat and offer 30-minute one-on-one sessions to retreatants
ON STAFF: Actually creating a staff position for a spiritual director communicates a strong commitment to everyone’s spiritual journey.
LEASE SPACE: Many spiritual directors are looking for a quiet room/office for their spiritual direction practice where they can meet with individuals and handle administrative tasks. Offer an under-used room in the church for this purpose.
REFERRALS: This one requires no investment -- only an awareness and intention by pastors, staff, or laity who have conversations with individuals wanting to explore their faith journey. Have a list of qualified directors ready to share with individuals who would benefit from the on-going conversation with a director.
LISTENING GROUPS: Small listening groups facilitated or launched by a spiritual director models active listening to one another and prayerful presence to the journey and how the Spirit may be working in their lives.
A full description and information on these six suggestions is available in a free downloadable document by clicking the button below.
Explore more in depth information on Listening Groups including suggested format, group norms, and instruction in active listening in the Appendix of my book, Sacred Conversation: Exploring the Seven Gifts of Spiritual Direction which you can order by clicking the button below.
