Judy Romero-Oak and Rhoda Parker

Spiritual direction is usually considered an ancient practice. Today, it is being rediscovered in the emerging culture that is changing every religion, including the church. According to speakers and church leaders at the Emerging Church conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, a deeper spiritual consciousness is springing up. According to author and speaker Brian McLaren:

We need to restore contemplation to “know” God. We need to bring back the contemplative practices of spiritual formation and social justice. It’s been amazing for me in my travels to meet so many pastors and other leaders for whom spiritual direction has become an important part of their spiritual lives. I think we need a growing corps (and core) of trained people for whom spiritual direction is a primary vocation.

Shane Claiborne, who is helping organize emerging communities around the world, said the young generation of emergents are recognizing their need for deeper spiritual training. “We are recognizing that we need help,” said Claiborne. “We need some seventy-year-olds living in our communities for spiritual direction, spiritual disciplines.”

The emerging church is part of the Great Emergence which is the cultural, technological, global, economic and spiritual movement that is affecting all of civilization. No one started it, but we are all part of it.

 “We have been set up for the contemplative mind,” said Fr. Richard Rohr, a Franciscan priest who founded the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque. “We have, however, become the dualistic mind. We have left to will power what should be out of the flow of non-dualistic thinking.” The Center for Action and Contemplation sponsored the conference March 20-22.

New Mexico spiritual directors hosted a table of information on spiritual direction, and the Seek and Find Guide for people seeking a director. Questions included, what is spiritual direction, and how do I find someone who can help me understand and develop my spiritual life? Many were interested in becoming a spiritual director.

This listening ministry of spiritual direction must be ready to hear what is emerging wherever and in whoever it appears.