Is Spiritual Direction Losing Its Bearings?

Paul writes - Although I’m currently completing a spiritual director training programme, I presently share some of Kenneth Leech’s concerns first aired in 1993 in an article he wrote for The Tablet in the UK. The article was titled: Is Spiritual Direction Losing Its Bearings?

“…I stand by my insistence in 1977 that spiritual direction is not essentially a ministry for specialists and professionals, but part of the ordinary pastoral ministry of every parish and every Christian community. Even more so do I stand by my suggestion that the role of "training" is extremely limited, and that this ministry is essentially a by-product of a life of prayer and growth in holiness. Part of our task is to discover, help, and affirm the work of direction which is already being done by unknown people who do not write books or run courses.

A whole chapter of "Soul Friend" [Great title – I love the emphasis on “friend”. Eugene Peterson has a wonderful little book, The Wisdom of Each Other: A Conversation Between Spiritual Friends, which develops the same sentiment – Spiritual direction as “friendship”] was devoted to trying to clarify the differences between spiritual direction, counselling, and psychotherapy, recognizing the significant areas of overlap. I am increasingly worried not only by the tendency in some quarters to blur these distinctions and to assimilate direction into a therapeutic model but also by the uncritical and simplistic adaptation of certain quasi-therapeutic tools…”

Leech’s column for The Tablet still resonates, perhaps more so in 2005. It is therefore well worth a read by those with an interest in the subject.

Richard Buck concludes a useful interaction with Leech’s text, Is Spiritual Direction Losing It’s Bearings? With the following words: 

“Whether we agree or disagree with his analysis, he has put his finger on many crucial points that remain as important today as when he aired them. We ignore them at our peril.”

You can read Buck’s full text here

Comments

[+ Alan]

Oh my - nail on the head - I do think so. I would chime in and say that you can't learn how to be a spiritual director. Now, can you be taught in the context of community by those who are your directors/pastors? Sure - I think that's probably how it should be working. I would definitely agree that it's not some specialty "ministry" but more the natural outflow of what a pastor does and is in a community - maybe others too but generally speaking pastoral roles.

Something else, and I'm not sure he says anything about this, but something I've been sort of concerned with in the past and presently in the talk of "spiritual directors" is the notion that one can go find one somewhere like we would got find a camera. I believe this role, this "thing" that goes on between those who are more mature and those who are less, is something that really needs to be happening (was designed to happen) in the context of a functioning Christian Community. Some knowledge may be able to be passed on by someone who really doesn't know you or isn't in community with you, but I'm not sure if the real spiritual transfer can happen.

Good stuff - will get people thinking well. Peace be with you Father Paul!

[rick]

Nice post. I JUST had this conversation on Sunday. I suspect most any "tradtionalist" would say that it is not a "speciality" field, but rather a friendship. Another priest told me that he would NOT go to a spiritual director who has been "trained" to be a SD. I understood his point, but I think there are obviosuly some great resources (like Leech, Hart, and Guenther).

Speaking of Spiritual Friendship, one must plug Aelred of Rievaulx from the 12th century.

[Tom Allen]

yes absolutely - I become increasingly concerned with the professionalisation of spiritual direction and its compartmentalising in a catagory activity instead of an intrinsic part of what a priest/pastor does. There are concerns in some Diocese in the Church of England that heirachies are moving towards only permitting authorised people to undertake such work - those who have undertaken approved training etc. Ken Leech is a prophet is this area as in his other great lifes work in race relations

[Paul Fromont]

Thanks Guys. I appreciate your thoughts. A couple of e-mails I recieved conveyed similar thoughts. Rick, no worries with the plug for Aelred's book - it's a goodie!

The book, "Inviting the Mystic, Supporting the Prophet" which i have up there in "my reading" on the left is an excellent resource too. It emphasises that "spiritual direction" (the term) is in some ways a misnomer, because our spirituality and therefore our formation can't be separated from all that we are and do - it's a lot more holistic than is often appreciated or practiced. The authors say it better. I may include their words on the subject in a forthcoming review of thier book.

[Jan Bros]

Within our congregation we have a circle of twenty five or so lay people who gather twice a month during the school year to learn and grow in their own formation and in understanding of the ministry of spiritual direction. They are seeds to others within and without our community, to be "holy listeners" among the people.

I happened on Kenneth Leech's article a year or so ago and distributed it to my little band. Their hearts resonated with his words of wisdom.

Thanks for reminding me again of this call. I dream of a church which can "be" this for it each other in everything it is together. I know there are others who share the same dream.