The Rev. Barbara Crafton on the experiment of group spiritual direction

Group Spiritual Direction – How Did It Go?

Editor’s note: Rev. Crafton wrote a two-part article in issues 1 & 2 of PlainViews about starting Group Spiritual Direction – a new area of exploration in spiritual direction. Here, Rev. Crafton writes about the outcome.

It was an experiment in response to a need: can people's need for spiritual direction be met through the creation of a consistent, committed group facilitated by one spiritual director? Will the result of such dilution of the experience lead to "spiritual direction" no longer being an accurate term for it?

The HealthCare Chaplaincy in New York City offered an experience in Group Spiritual Direction, and about 25 people responded – too many for one group, so we offered two. Participants were asked to commit to attending the six sessions in the first period. The format was always the same: brief introductions, an hour's presentation and discussion of some topic relating to spiritual growth chosen beforehand – journaling, prayer discipline, dream analysis, confession, centering, and many other topics – and then a 45-minute "peer pairs" experience: the group breaks into pairs (never the same pair twice in a row) and practice intensive listening and thoughtful responding by turns. A brief closing prayer ends the evening, promptly. The entire exercise takes two hours.

Very early, three who were unable to commit to the six months revealed that fact by disappearing, leaving two committed groups of people who came to know each other well and to enjoy a deep level of sharing and peer support. The structure seemed to work well in accomplishing two things one wants from spiritual direction: actual transmission of information and encouragement in spiritual practices, and the incomparable gift of another listening heart.

At the end of the six months, enough people from the two groups wanted to continue the experience that we decided to combine the two groups into one – a risk, since considerable bonding had occurred in each. But the structure, familiar to both groups, provided a sufficient bridge into the new group configuration. The new combined group is the same size as each of the two previous groups, twelve people.

One clergyman attended a session of one of the groups, finding it a good model for him. But he also found himself unexpectedly inhibited by his Orders – unfree, in a way, to speak his mind, and expressed the wish that there were a similar group for clergy only. We are at this time setting about creating such a group, which will meet at a church in Westchester County.

The good? More people find a place of mutual support and exposure to the wisdom of the spiritual life as transmitted throughout the history of the faith. They learn a listening technique useful in any setting. A close-knit community is formed.

The bad? There is less suggestion of specific prayer practices for specific people's needs than there would be in classic one-on-one spiritual direction. Though the group practices a policy of strict confidentiality, there are times when a closer confidentiality with one spiritual director is needed.

The test? Of the members of the group, twelve in number, three are in classic spiritual direction as well. All the others seem, for the present, to be meeting this need through the group.

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