Highlights from the world of science and social research on the subjects of religion, spirituality and ministry
Compiled by Anton Jarrod
Liturgy for the “spiritual but not religious”
The May 2015 edition of the peer-reviewed journal Liturgy explores aspects of the growing challenge for conventional religious communities (in this case the Christian community) to provide a liturgy for that growing sector of society: those who describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. There is, perhaps, much food for thought for One Spirit ministers in three particular articles. E Bryon Anderson’s article on music and meaning for the “spiritual but not religious” highlights some of the challenges that ministers to highly diverse communities encounter as they strive to create a sacred space that is inclusive. Though more theoretical than practical, the discussion points to possible resolutions of some of these challenges.
Jana Bennett’s article on faith formation would be particularly interesting to those engaged in spiritual counselling or direction. Through the discussion of how a Christian minister is confronted by diversity and the individualism of the spiritual but not religious seeker, it is possible to find a response to the challenges met in the interfaith arena where entirely other backgrounds present themselves to be seen in their wholeness.
Shawnthea Monroe’s article on “preaching” to the spiritual but not religious might raise a few hairs for the non-preacher aspect of One Spirit ministry, but again through the discussion it is possible to follow the themes and reflect on key issues for ministry in all contexts: the need for discernment, authenticity and engagement with diversity, whatever one’s own path is.
(Three articles can be found in Liturgy, 2015. 30:3, pages 1-56. ISSN: 0458-063X (Print) 1557-3001 (Online) Journal homepage: http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/ultg20)
The value of spirituality in counsellor training programmes
The One Spirit training programme involves counsellor training and the development of the role of spiritual counsellor in the trainee. A recent and interesting study from the US looked at the role that a training in religion or spirituality played in standard, secular counsellor (or “counselor” in American English) training programmes.
What the study found, and perhaps not surprisingly to most readers of Gracevine, is that there is a real lack of training in religion and spirituality in counselling programmes, and the implication is that perhaps the needs of such a diverse world population are not
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There was a lot of interesting research relevant to One Spirit ministers to review for this edition, of which the following is just a small selection!