Episcopal Press and News
Diocesan Bishops Explore Spiritual Life
Episcopal News Service. November 9, 1977 [77366]
NEW YORK, N. Y. -- The Center for Christian Spirituality at The General Theological Seminary is sponsoring a conference for diocesan bishops on the topic, "Apostolic Spirituality: Rejoicing in the Episcopate. " The conference, in preparation for the 1978 Lambeth meeting, will be held at a Manhattan retreat house from November 14-18. About 24 bishops are planning to attend.
The theme of the conference will be spiritual growth, nurture, and oversight as it relates particularly to the episcopate. Such topics as the bishop's own spiritual life, his responsibility for the spiritual development of the laity, his role as spiritual guide to clergy and to a diocese, will be covered. One obvious purpose is to help the bishop with his own spiritual growth and development, and to provide a "free and friendly space" which is both relaxed and challenging.
The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Stuart Yarworth Blanch, Archbishop of York, will address the bishops on "Discerning the Will of God: for the World, the Church, and the Bishops." He will also preach at a Festival Eucharist to be held at The General Theological Seminary on November 15. The Presiding Bishop will be the Celebrant that evening.
Other people participating in the conference will be
- The Very Rev. Victor de Waal, Dean of Canterbury, The Rev. Canon A. M. Allchin, Canon of Canterbury, The Rt. Rev. David Richards, Director of the Office of Pastoral Development, The Rev. Dr. Brian Hall and Mrs. Diane Hall of the Center for the Exploration of Values and Meaning, The Rev. Stewart Wood, Rector of Christ Church Glendale, Ohio, The Rev. James Fenhagen, Director of The Hartford Seminary Foundation, The Rev. Dr. Alan W. Jones, Director of the Center for Christian Spirituality, The Rev. Sister Rachel Hosmer, O. S. H, Associate Director of the Center for Christian Spirituality, The Rev. Mark Dyer, Canon Missioner of the Diocese of Massachusetts
A book, Apostolic Spirituality: A Study Guide for Christians, will be published by The Seabury Press in 1978, in time for the Lambeth Conference, and simultaneously published in England. The book will make the material gathered at the conference available to the Church at large as a discussion guide of Apostolic Spirituality.