Date of Project: September 2018 – May 2019
Target Participants: African American Disciples of Christ Clergy
Sponsors: The Black Leadership Project has generously donated 8 scholarships for the duration of this project. In addition, The Devoted Life has donated one session per participant.
Requirements:
As a spiritual director, I participate in an ancient practice of accompanying another on his or her quest to a deeper relationship with God. This involves holy listening, often quietness, sometimes laughter, other times tears and an opportunity to grow and deepen one’s spiritual life and attunement to God. It is my great joy to work with fellow Christians in this manner.
As part of the completion of my Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Counseling, I did a research project centered around studying the use of ancient spiritual practices for the treatment of anxiety and depression in religiously serious women. Ancient spiritual practices have served humanity well for hundreds or even thousands of years for the treatment of souls. These practices continue to be of use to us today.
I would like to implement what I have learned about the benefits of disciplined, regular spiritual practice with Disciples of Christ African American clergy. My goal is to have clergy participants do spiritual direction with me on a monthly basis via a video conferencing service. In between sessions, they will be encouraged to continue practicing as well as to journal about their experiences.
The hope is that through regular spiritual direction sessions, clergy will become more attuned with God, able to better discern God’s direction for their lives, be less anxious or depressed and to feel more spiritually integrated and less like a “professional holy person,” as Barbara Brown Taylor would say.
This project invests not only in the well-being of the individual clergy person but also in the overall well-being of the entire congregation as a well-adjusted, spiritually attuned pastor or minister can focus better on his or her ministry when feeling less anxious and depressed or distracted by the cares of the world. Further, regular spiritual direction helps individuals practice better recognition of God’s presence in a moment and increased ability to discern God’s way forward for the individual clergyperson as well as congregation.
Rev. Dr. Dara Cobb Lewis,
Spiritual Director & Pastoral Counselor
If interested in participating in this project, please email Dr. Dara at thedevotedlife@gmail.com. You will be notified by August 31, 2018 if you have been selected to receive a scholarship for participation in The Examen Project.
Target Participants: African American Disciples of Christ Clergy
Sponsors: The Black Leadership Project has generously donated 8 scholarships for the duration of this project. In addition, The Devoted Life has donated one session per participant.
Requirements:
- Be willing to meet for 10 sessions including a consultation and 9 spiritual direction sessions. 2 sessions will take place in September 2018. The remaining 8 sessions will take place monthly between October 2018 and May 2019.
- Have a stable wi-fi connection in order to conduct video conferencing sessions.
- Commit to continued spiritual practices in between sessions, including journaling.
- Complete a confidential survey regarding spiritual well-being at the beginning, middle and end of project.
- Cost is $75/session. Scholarship participants pay $10/session.
As a spiritual director, I participate in an ancient practice of accompanying another on his or her quest to a deeper relationship with God. This involves holy listening, often quietness, sometimes laughter, other times tears and an opportunity to grow and deepen one’s spiritual life and attunement to God. It is my great joy to work with fellow Christians in this manner.
As part of the completion of my Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Counseling, I did a research project centered around studying the use of ancient spiritual practices for the treatment of anxiety and depression in religiously serious women. Ancient spiritual practices have served humanity well for hundreds or even thousands of years for the treatment of souls. These practices continue to be of use to us today.
I would like to implement what I have learned about the benefits of disciplined, regular spiritual practice with Disciples of Christ African American clergy. My goal is to have clergy participants do spiritual direction with me on a monthly basis via a video conferencing service. In between sessions, they will be encouraged to continue practicing as well as to journal about their experiences.
The hope is that through regular spiritual direction sessions, clergy will become more attuned with God, able to better discern God’s direction for their lives, be less anxious or depressed and to feel more spiritually integrated and less like a “professional holy person,” as Barbara Brown Taylor would say.
This project invests not only in the well-being of the individual clergy person but also in the overall well-being of the entire congregation as a well-adjusted, spiritually attuned pastor or minister can focus better on his or her ministry when feeling less anxious and depressed or distracted by the cares of the world. Further, regular spiritual direction helps individuals practice better recognition of God’s presence in a moment and increased ability to discern God’s way forward for the individual clergyperson as well as congregation.
Rev. Dr. Dara Cobb Lewis,
Spiritual Director & Pastoral Counselor
If interested in participating in this project, please email Dr. Dara at thedevotedlife@gmail.com. You will be notified by August 31, 2018 if you have been selected to receive a scholarship for participation in The Examen Project.