What would a Christian community look like that took seriously working for justice, the wisdom and practices of the Christian tradition, and the insights of contemporary psychology? How could it draw on the marks of New Monasticism and the latest technology to create a community of people, dispersed across time zones? How could it form and support people to takes vows to: 1) a New Monastic rhythm of life, 2) ongoing conversion of life 3) hearing and responding to the cry of the Earth and the cry of the poor? What would be the right mix of online and in person gathering? Who would pay the bills? How would success be measured? How would the dispersed community support and train members to seed local projects and communities?
I know others who have pondered these questions. Fr. Adam Bucko - Episcopal priest, spiritual activist, author, and Director of the Center for Spiritual Imagination at the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, NY - has wrestled with these questions in reality as cofounder of the Community of the Incarnation, a dispersed New Monastic community based out of the Center for Spiritual Imagination .
For more background on this podcast go to: https://duncanhilton.substack.com/
Helpful links related to our discussion:
· Adam’s most recent book: Let Heartbreak Be Your Guide: Lessons in Engaged Contemplation
· An overview of the marks of New Monasticism and Adam’s book about the topic, The New Monasticism
· The Center for Spiritual Imagination is the center which Adam directs. The New Monasticism page at the Center provides more details and contact information to learn about joining the formation which Adam describes in the podcast.
· Upcoming public events at the Center
· Guided audio meditations and written directions for the prayers which Adam discusses
· For more on the collective Dark Night of the Soul, see Chapter 9 of Let Heartbreak Be Your Guide. You can also listen to an interview here with Andrew Harvey, one of Adam’s mentors, about the topic.
· Background about Liberation theology, including theologians Leonardo Boff and Gustavo Gutierrez
· CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education)
· The Contemplative Outreach website has information about Fr. Thomas Keating and the method of prayer, Centering Prayer, which he championed and which Adam discusses.
The prayer/poem which Adam closes the interview with is “Dream Me God” by Dorothy Soelle
