Gathering 2008, the 89th convention of the Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches will be held in Montreal July 10-12, as I have been informed by the back cover of my latest issue of the MB Herald. One of its featured speakers will be Bruxy Cavey, the teaching pastor of The Meeting Houses churches ("a church for people who aren't into church") in the greater Toronto area.
My daughter Jenna over at her blog abideinthedoctrineofchrist was able to beat me to the chase and do some research on some of Cavey's teachings. (Good work, Jenna). Be sure to check out her post by clicking on her blogsite. Cavey has posted a "roundtable podcast" entitled "Enjoy the Silence", a discussion promoting the practices of contemplative prayer via solitude and silence. Jenna's post was recognized by rollovermenno. Several comments regarding Jenna's post have been left there, including some by Bruxy Cavey, that you might be interested in reading.
In May 2007 the BC Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches held a Pastors & Spouses Retreat featuring Peter Scazzero, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, a book described as "a groundbreaking work on the integration of emotionally health and contemplative spirituality in our discipleship and formation in Christ." (As reported by lighthousetrailsresearch. See the entire report). Click to read part 1 and part 2 of a review of Scazzero's book done by Carla at Books and Things.
The President of MB Seminary at Fresno, Jim Holm, is also teaching contemplative spirituality as part of the Spiritual Formation course there in Spring 2008. Please note the contemplative terms lectio divinia, apophatic prayer, the prayer of examin, creativity prayer, labyrinth prayer and a celebration of the eucharist (Roman Catholic) in the syllabus.
It has become very clear to me in the past two years that the MB Conference is promoting the contemplative pathway to its members. This is one of the main reasons my husband and I have chosen to withdraw our membership from our MB church. Although our local church is not promoting this, this is the only way we can separate ourselves from the Conference itself at the present time. The contemplative pathway is one which bypasses the cross and those who promote it are unwittingly placing themselves in the same position. A very dangerous place to be spiritually, I would say.
My daughter Jenna over at her blog abideinthedoctrineofchrist was able to beat me to the chase and do some research on some of Cavey's teachings. (Good work, Jenna). Be sure to check out her post by clicking on her blogsite. Cavey has posted a "roundtable podcast" entitled "Enjoy the Silence", a discussion promoting the practices of contemplative prayer via solitude and silence. Jenna's post was recognized by rollovermenno. Several comments regarding Jenna's post have been left there, including some by Bruxy Cavey, that you might be interested in reading.
In May 2007 the BC Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches held a Pastors & Spouses Retreat featuring Peter Scazzero, author of Emotionally Healthy Spirituality, a book described as "a groundbreaking work on the integration of emotionally health and contemplative spirituality in our discipleship and formation in Christ." (As reported by lighthousetrailsresearch. See the entire report). Click to read part 1 and part 2 of a review of Scazzero's book done by Carla at Books and Things.
The President of MB Seminary at Fresno, Jim Holm, is also teaching contemplative spirituality as part of the Spiritual Formation course there in Spring 2008. Please note the contemplative terms lectio divinia, apophatic prayer, the prayer of examin, creativity prayer, labyrinth prayer and a celebration of the eucharist (Roman Catholic) in the syllabus.
It has become very clear to me in the past two years that the MB Conference is promoting the contemplative pathway to its members. This is one of the main reasons my husband and I have chosen to withdraw our membership from our MB church. Although our local church is not promoting this, this is the only way we can separate ourselves from the Conference itself at the present time. The contemplative pathway is one which bypasses the cross and those who promote it are unwittingly placing themselves in the same position. A very dangerous place to be spiritually, I would say.
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