Theology: Spirituality: Group

Over the Past few decades mainline Protestant congregations have not easily embraced the notion of spirituality. As much as any aspect of church life, spirituality has been misunderstood, misused, and resisted by both clergy and laity. Yet times are changing. Today many people feel a deep spiritual hunger and are out looking for fulfillment in a wide variety of settings. In this new context, mainline congregations need to awaken to the presence of the Spirit in their midst and equip leaders to nurture both the personal and corporate spirituality of their congregations. Beyond the Ordinary is explicitly written to help church leaders who have had no formal training in spiritual formation. Drawing from years of experience teaching Christian spirituality, Ben Campbell Johnson and Andrew Dreitcer explore the spiritual dimensions of leadership, looking in depth at the meaning of spirituality as it relates to the tasks of ministry. This friendly, inspiring book will enable readers to erase the negative stereotypes of spirituality and develop vital models and practices for the church today. The book introduces a faithful understanding and practice of the spiritual life to those who have not yet dipped into the well that is Christian spirituality. For those who have already tasted this water and still thirst, it offers a way to dip even more deeply. Chapters discuss the issues surrounding a meaningful spirituality for our changing times, the importance of holding prayer and mission in tension, and the crucial role of Scripture in the formation of our lives. The authors also underscore the importance of vision, myth, and discernment in the spiritual life of the church. And they discuss the power of spiritual practices like discernment and visioning for enhancing the spirituality of congregations and helping them become agents of social transformation. Intended for personal and group use by pastors, elders, other church leaders, and those preparing for service in the church, the book includes questions for reflection and discussion as well as journaling exercises to encourage learning and growth.

This book responds to the movement to expand spiritual direction beyond the classic on-with-one model.  Group spiritual direction has the potential to offer the rich experience of individual spiritual direction to a much wider audience, yet very little has been written to provide guidance for starting such groups. This book responds to that challenge.  It outlines ways that a diverse and ecumenical group of spiritual directors worked to initiate groups in multiple contexts.  It examines the many variables-among directors, directees, even meeting spaces-that affect and enliven this ministry.  And it summarizes pitfalls, success, and discoveries.

Practical aspects of group spiritual direction, with an interfaith appeal.

Every church has a staff. Some have only a pastor, with unpaid lay persons assisting in the work of the church.  As the church grows in size or ministry other paid persons may be added in various roles, part or full time. Team Spirituality is an examination of the process for defining needs and for acquiring, developing and utilizing local church staff in ways that are practical, productive and spiritually-energizing in support of the ministry of the local church. It is a comprehensive introduction to biblical foundations and staff dynamic for churches of all sizes. It addresses such questions as when staff should be added, where to find them, team building, increasing staff members' effectiveness and integrating them into the life of the congregation, along with guidance for general staff administration. Various instruments are provided to assist the staff team and the pastor in assessing and addressing needs and encouraging team building, along with suggestions on how to use the instruments. William Carter believes that the center of the Body of Christ is spirituality and places a major focus on elevating the spiritual vitality of staff persons in order to increase their effectiveness in meeting the spiritual needs of the congregation. Beginning with the record of the formation of the first church staffs as told in Acts, he moves on to the present day, confirming the value of staff persons and suggesting ways that they may effectively impact the church and community. Using insights gained by 28 years as pastor of local churches of various sizes and fifteen years of leading retreats and seminars in and for local church staff development, he encourages the pastor and staff persons to work closely together, sharing through personal relationships and communicating ministry plans and church dynamics freely with one another at all times. Convinced that all members of the team are in the same ministry, he asserts that each must be an integral part of all ministry, respected and affirmed. Team Spirituality may be read by pastors, personnel committee members and/or staff persons for personal enrichment and skills development or it can be used by the senior pastor, the church administrator, or the personnel committee to provide material for staff training and retreats. Instruments included may be reproduced for use with local church staffs. "Team Spirituality provides biblical and theological foundations for a spirituality that is deeply grounded in the diverse gifts of the whole body and inextricably centered in the vital mission of the church. Carter's work is filled with practical advice and sound principles for staff development. It contains a variety of helpful, up-to-date resources that promise to enrich the corporate life of the staff and the spiritual life of the congregation. For Carter spirituality is not simply a coveted 'extra dimension' but an essential element of what it means to be a Christian and part of the body of Christ."  --Justin W. Tull