Copyright: © 1997 Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada. This document may be freely reproduced for non-commercial purposes with credit and mention of the Lift Up Your Hearts web site http://www.worship.ca/ as the source.

Pneuma is a journal on spiritual direction and formation in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

1. You are aware that a joint catechumenal project with the ELCA and the LC-MS has begun. One of the forms this project takes will be two spring workshops in Florida and Oregon at which several people from the ELCIC will be on staff. Ten members of this network will attend the Oregon event. The project will also see the preparation of new rites for the catechumenate based, in part, on the extant ELCIC rites.

   Workshop participants will prepare for the training event by reflection on the following questions posed by the training team. The questions might be useful for all readers interested in catechumenal ministry. (1) The catechumenate is a ministry that congregations provide to persons who are called to baptismal life. It is an "apprenticeship in the Christian faith." Is "apprenticeship in the Christian faith" needed in congregations in your synod? (b) If so, in what kind of congregations is it needed? In growing congregations? In stable or declining congregations? In congregations that are in stable or declining communities? (c) If so, what are the obstacles that hinder a congregation from incorporating the ministry of the catechumenate into the life of the congregation? (d) What strategies have been used to introduce, invite, train, "sell" this ministry to congregations in your synod? (e) Some have said that the catechumenate lacks a "front porch." Some have said that the catechumenate presupposes a prior ministry of evangelism, that is, that people are to be invited to hear and respond to the call to faith and baptismal living. Is this your perception? If this is an obstacle to making this ministry useful and accessible to our congregations, do you have suggestions for moving forward in a ministry of evangelism?

2. The ELCIC task force on the catechumenate has proposed the preparation of new rites and materials on the baptism of children. A booklet will be developed for introducing baptism and eucharist to children the age of three. These materials will be reviewed by national worship and learning groups.

3. The North American Association for the Catechumenate will hold a training event at Ryerson University in Toronto from May 1 through 4, 1997. The event is titled "The Catechumenate and the Parish: A Training Institute in Catechumenal Process." The contact is Kathie Sandmaier, 811A Indian Trails, Carmel, Indiana 46032. A NACC North group meets regularly in the Toronto area. For information on that network, contact Shirley Griffin, 301 -- 1911 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, M4G 3E4 or at (416) 487-1895.

4. The fourth newsletter to pastors on the catechumenate, "A Vision of Discipleship," will be distributed in the May Communique. It contains two articles of importance: The Rev. Don Johnson writes on two under-emphasized yet critical aspects of the catechumenate -- discipline and conversion; The Rev. Arnold Weigel, professor at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary, addresses the ministry of the catechumenate and how it meets belonging needs and the needs of adult learners in parishes.

5. For some time we have known the need to develop a consensus on the ministry and standards of spiritual direction. The task force on the adult catechumenate is approaching the Triune Foundation for funding for a meeting in order to develop guidelines for the ministry of spiritual direction.

6. You will recall the impressive video on the catechumenate, "This Is the Night," which was previewed at the Mississauga training event. Liturgy Training Publications has released a new video on infant baptism. "New Life: A Parish Celebrates Infant Baptism" opens up the meaning of baptism for parish staff, catechists, parents, and teen and adult members of parishes. A study guide with discussion questions is included with the video. VHS $39.95 US. Contact Augsburg Fortress.

7. Sessions at the Spiritual Directors International conferences are available on audio tape. The following are just a few samples of tapes listed on their website at . Their address is Sounds True, Conference Recordings, PO Box 8010, Dept. S96, Boulder, CO 80306-8010.

   "Deepening Our Vision: Using Art, Poetry and Music in Spiritual Direction" (2 tapes), "Sacred Landscapes and the Music of the Soul" (2 tapes), "Spiritual Direction and the Practice of Intercessory Prayer" (2 tapes), "Spiritual Direction in Late Life: The Journey Inward," "Spiritual Direction in Rural Communities," "Discovering Our Coat of Many Colours: Reflections and Prayer," "Reverencing Our Coat of Many Colours," "A Code of Ethics for Spiritual Directors: Prayer, Reflection and Dialogue," "Men's Issues in Spiritual Direction," "Companions at the Threshold: Spiritual Direction With the Dying," "Self-icide and Intimacy," "Embodying Spiritual Attentiveness," "Challenges of Menopause: Spiritual Direction With Mid-Life Women," "The Holy in Creation: Using Clay to Help Focus a Prayer of Discernment," "Spiritual Direction with the Addicted Person," "Addictions and Grace," "How to Do Spiritual Direction with Adults Who Grew Up in Abusive Situations," "Group Spiritual Direction with Those Who Hope for Healing." Single tapes are $9 US.

8. Recently, the national youth office asked for some words on spiritual direction for youth. The following is a portion of what will appear in their publication. "We hear much today in the popular culture of the 'care of the soul' and the longing for a 'soul mate' to be present with us in our journey. If cultural observers of young people are correct, there are lots of indicators that Generation X-ers, while they may seem to be less concerned with the institution of the church, are more concerned with matters of spirituality and spiritual practice than young people of previous decades. So youth leaders and youth themselves may feel equally drawn to the experience of spiritual direction.

   "The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, through its Task Force on the Adult Catechumenate, in the early part of this decade began to encourage people in our church to train for the ministry of spiritual direction. While previously a number of Lutheran clergy and laity had sought out women and men of other faith traditions for spiritual direction, a few of our clergy and lay people in Canada had already been offering that ministry. It is expected within the next decade that interest in having a spiritual director will become an ordinary practice for Canadian Lutherans. Spiritual direction in our church is, of course, grounded in the Christian faith and is based on the confidence that God will provide people to whom others go to talk.

   "For those who are unfamiliar with this ancient practice, the caution needs to be given that the term itself is problematic. Spiritual direction is neither 'spiritual' nor 'direction' in the usual sense of those words...

   "I believe that all Christians would benefit from talking with someone two, three, or four times a year about how they are getting along in their relationship with God, in their prayer, in their ministry or work, in their interpersonal relationships, or in their leisure. It may not be a frequent ministry but may appear as more of a need at certain moments of our life than others. While it may be likened to a good form of pastoral care, direction has more parallels with low-key companionship than with therapy and counselling. Writers on spiritual direction take great pains to make sure it is not confused with pastoral counselling, psychotherapy, or any of the other psychological sciences.

   "Spiritual direction as we have come to know it is always a relationship of two people and the Holy Spirit. Increasingly young people are seeking spiritual directors."

   Reference is made to contacting church offices for names of those offering spiritual direction.