We all recognize significant change in the structures and institutions in the 21st Century. Dr. Rick Singleton, provost of Queen’s College says, “The challenge in this time of change, is to be prophetic … we must do our best to determine how to prepare for the future. At Queen’s College, that means ensuring people going into leadership must have spiritual resilience. They need to be grounded in spiritual practices that will sustain them in times of challenge but also equip them with spiritual skills and practices that will guide them in their ministries.” This approach at Queen’s mirrors some of the recent invitations of Bishop Geoff Peddle.
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| Clery Conference 2017 |
In response to the Spirit’s promptings, Bishop Geoff, in the fall of 2015, invited leaders from the Shalem Institute of Spiritual Formation (based in Washington DC) to come to the Diocese of Eastern NL to lead a clergy conference on contemplative spirituality. After that initial positive experience of contemplative teaching and practice, the Bishop invited the Shalem Institute back to the diocese again in the fall of 2017 for more practice and encouragement on the contemplative path. Consequent to this conference, and noticing that if we were encouraging the church to deepen in contemplative prayer, we would need to instruct and form local qualified spiritual directors that can companion others. So Carole Crumley, Winston Charles and myself met with Dr.Rick Singleton of Queens, and began discerning the possibility of a Spiritual Guidance Program. Noticing the Spirit’s invitation to further exploration, the circle of discernment widened and we clearly heard the call to move forward with planning and preparation for a Spiritual Guidance Program at Queens.
With guidance, assistance and classroom contributions from Shalem leaders such as Tilden Edwards, Margaret Benefiel, and Shalem graduates of the Spiritual Guidance Program, a three semester/one year program was put into place to start in the fall of 2018. Students could do the course for credit towards their degree, and/or they could do the three semesters and complete a Certificate in Spiritual Guidance.
The first semester focused on the foundations for spiritual formation, and the introduction and practice of contemplative prayer. The second semester centered on the practice of spiritual direction, and, in addition to deepening the practice of contemplative prayer, each student entered into a one to one spiritual direction relationship with a trained spiritual director. And the third semester was a practicum in which students, in addition to continuing in the above, took on two spiritual directees themselves, and began the process of Peer Group Spiritual Direction.
It has been an amazing journey to witness these students deepen in their conscious union with the Divine, and also to deepen in their capacity to listen for and assist the Spirit’s emerging in others.
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| 2019 Graduates of Queens Certificate in Spiritual Guidance Program |
Although this contemplative listening is in the art form of one to one Spiritual Guidance, it is the very same deep spiritual heart listening that the Spirit is inviting the Church as a whole to do in this time of great change and transition. The Spirit is calling us to go deeper into the Heart. Each and every one of us needs a companion or guide along the Way.
