Snag Group Spiritual Direction: Community For Discernment Penned By Rose Mary Doughtery Accessible In Publication

great overview of the purpose and practice of group spiritual direction, i also enjoyed the suggestion toward creating ministerial groups that are guided by these practices, moving from frustration to discovery, Doughtery does a great job of helping the developer and facilitators understand their role in helping the group to stick with the direction agenda and not get sidetracked by rabbit trails and unhealthy preoccupations.
This book was given as required reading in advance of a group spiritual direction workshop I am attending next month, As I read, I became aware of a slow burn growing inside of me, And when the author described later in the book the structure and guidelines for a "faith sharing group" I recognized this to be my life dream for community,

Over my lifetime, I have experienced such vulnerable, intimate selfdisclosure in a group setting in varying measure, Only to the degree that any of the multiple small groups I have experienced or led in my churches over my lifetime have measured up to some of the criteria offered in this book, have they satisfied this longing.
Even the "Bible study" group materials I have selected as a leader were often chosen on the basis of how well I anticipated that they would facilitate this indepth selfdisclosure.


In the lastyears, my growth and belonging in a Christian contemplative community, which included my training in spiritual direction, has only deepened this longing, It has also expanded my understanding of how attentive listening for the ever present voice of the Spirit is the true gift of a 'faith sharing" group,

But sadly this longing is unmet at this stage of my life, I am not in such a group nor I am aware that any exist in a community of churches that continue to emphasize Bible study and the acquisition of knowledge for their small groups.
But perhaps the experience of reading this book, and the workshop I am about to experience, will translate into a prayer that my longing to belong to a contemplative faith sharing group will be satisfied in these years ahead, especially as my retirement approaches and time and energy cease to become barriers

to seeking out this experience.
Good overview of spirtual direction, both in a group and oneonone setting, Provides helpful insight on group dynamics and spiritual formation practices, Solid practical thoughts about group spiritual direction, Helpful to have some practical formats and stepbystep guidelines for how to do it, Will definitely use it as a reference, Very helpful. I have been running a spiritual direction group for the past year using this model, and it has been really lovely, This is the classic text on group spiritual direction and it does not disappoint written for both those leading group spiritual direction and those curious about what it is exactly Practical guidance for offering and participating in spiritual direction in a group setting.
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