Shaping the Parish™

Module Two Sessions and Assignments

Saint Benedict Cycle

Benedictine Spirituality: Our DNA (Module Two)

2026  January 9, 16, 23, 30  February 6

Fridays  Sessions begin at 9:00 am Pacific (USA). The room opens at 8:50 am 

  Sessions are all two hours 

 There will be some revisions to this before we begin and as we move through the module. 

 Shaping the Parish Collect

Benedictine spirituality is a significant part of our Anglican root system. It’s part of our organizational DNA. If we increase our understanding of Benedictine spirituality it may help us increase our understanding of Anglican liturgy, prayer, and the nature of community life. We may come to better understand and appreciate ourselves as Episcopalians and as parishes in that tradition. We will also use organization development methods and models that we understand to be congruent with a Benedictine spirituality.  

1 As often as anything important is to be done in the monastery, the abbot shall call the whole community together and himself explain what the business is; 2 and after hearing the advice of the brothers, let him ponder it and follow what he judges the wiser course. 3 The reason why we have said all should be called for counsel is that the Lord often reveals what is better to the younger. 4 The brothers, for their part, are to express their opinions with all humility, and not presume to defend their own views obstinately. 5 The decision is rather the abbot’s to make, so that when he has determined what is more prudent, all may obey. 6 Nevertheless, just as it is proper for disciples to obey their master, so it is becoming for the master on his part to settle everything with foresight and fairness. … 12 If less important business of the monastery is to be transacted, he shall take counsel with the seniors only, 13 as it is written: Do everything with counsel and you will not be sorry afterward (Sir 32:24).    -The Rule of Saint Benedict, Chapter 3

This module will explore both Benedictine spirituality and contemporary ways in which a parish might listen and take counsel. 

Readings & Assignments for Session 1

1. Read in Fill All Things chapter on Benedictine Spirituality. Then do #2 below.

2. Complete two assessments and bring them to the first session.

Benedictine Promise - a overall parish assessment 

Benedictine Promise - personal spiritual life

3. Read in Seeking God: The Way of St. Benedict, Chapters 3, 4 and 5 on Listening, Stability and Change.

4. Read in Done and Left Undone chapter 2 Ascetical Theology for Parish Leadership and Chapter 6 Ascetical Leadership.

       5.Print out hard copy of “Process for Session 1 Module Two” for use during the session.

Optional readings: A series of short postings on “listening.” Fake Listening   Lectio Divina  Not listening: I have the power; get reconciled to it    Seeking parish harmony     Q & A: Take Counsel – Stop Grumbling

Optional readings: These readings may add to your understanding of Benedictine spirituality. 

The Benedictine Spirit in Anglicanism - A Roman Catholic writes on the Benedictine spirit in Anglicanism

St. Benedict - Martin Thornton on characteristics of Benedictine spirituality in Anglicanism. 

Saint Benedict and Anglican Worship - Michael Perham in 2006. 

Saint Benedict on Leadership - Leadership and listening

Session 1 

This session will focus on the Benedictine Promise. In the Order of the Ascension we state the Promise this way - To seek the presence of Jesus Christ in the people, things and circumstances of life through stability, obedience and conversion of life. Three elements – stability, obedience, and conversion of life. How can we better understand the work of the Holy Spirit in our parishes and spiritual life by looking through the lens of the Promise?

Learning objective: To develop an understanding of the Benedictine Promise, its elements and dynamics as a lens to understand our parishes and individual spiritual lives.

Reminder: Bring a hard copy of “Process for Session 1 Module Two”  for use during the session. The two assessments Benedictine Promise - a overall parish assessment Benedictine Promise  - personal spiritual life

Between Sessions 1 and 2

 1. Read “Intervention Theory” in Chapter 6: Implementation and Oversight in Finding God in All Things 

2. View  Intervention Theory - video presentation

3. Read “The Group Development Theory: Leadership Issues model” in Finding God in All Things,  in Chapter 5 Understanding Parish Dynamics      [NOTE: in the St. Benedict Cycle you’re exposed to three group development models - this module’s Leadership Issues model, the first module’s  I-C-O — inclusion, control, openness, and in module three “The Tuckman Model” ]

       4. Summoning the Brothers for Counsel by Philip Lawrence, OSB, Abbot of Christ in the Desert 

5. “Levels of consulting in the parish”

Optional Educational Opportunity - Learning to say the Daily Office on your own: Two weeks doing Morning Prayer on Zoom with two members of the Order of the Ascension (or others). Guidance regarding doing it on your own. A couple of check-ins. No fee. We’ll invite participants to register for this during Module Two. It would be two weeks, Monday through Friday 7:30 am (Pacific). We will also see if there are parishes in the program offering Morning Prayer live stream or Zoom that would welcome such participation. That may prove easier to engage for those on the East Coast. 

Session 2 

The session will deal with two behavior science theories. One having to do with how we help individuals and groups develop strong and sustainable internal commitment. The other is a theory about group development – what stages does a group move through toward a collaborative, productive working relationship between the group and leaders.

Learning objectives:

1. Become familiar with the Intervention Theory

2. Become familiar with the Group Development Theory: Leadership Issues model.

Between Sessions 2 and 3

Read: 

1.   Group methods, structures, norms for parish faithfulness and health  

    The material is from two books. Fill All Things, which you will already be familiar with and In Your Holy Spirit: Shaping the Parish Though Spiritual Practice. 

2.   Part of the Diagnosis section of in Finding God in All Things, i.e., the introductory material, Diagnostic Process, What are our objectives in diagnosis?, What to diagnose, Data Gathering Methods (about 6 pages) 

3.     Likes - Concerns - Wishes Process

4.     Look over two booklets – “Faith Sharing” and the “Parish Assessment Workbook”  We want you to have a general sense of the contents of each. You may want to draw on pieces from each in future work. And look over these assessment sheets -  Leadership Assessment: Likes, Concerns, and Wishes, Parish Assessment: Likes, concerns, wishes,  Response to a report: Likes, concerns, wishes, Meeting assessment: Likes, concerns, wishes

           5.     Skim and print out a hard copy of the PDF Assessments. We’ll walk through in the    session. 

Assignment: Out of all that material in the readings, which methods and tools might you make use of in the coming year? We’ll discuss that in the second half of the session. 

Session 3 

Built into the life of the Benedictine monastery are two elements we’ll routinely return to. First, is the threefold rule of prayer – Eucharist, Daily Office, Personal devotions. Michael Ramsey referred to it as the Benedictine Triangle. The second, is a collection of practices that shape a culture of humility, relationship, communication and decision making.  Our focus in this session is about that second element in our parishes.

      We are exploring two sets of practices that may help a parish as we seek to:1) better listen to one another, 2) hear a collective voice, and 3) nurture a common language. First, structures and processes that assist us in that work such as those in Group methods, structure, norms for parish faithfulness and health. And second, a variety of assessment forms.

Reminder: Print out a hard copy of Assessments. We’ll make use of that in the session.

Between Session 3 and 4

Reading:

1. “Reflection” Chapter 4 in In Your Holy Spirit: Traditional Spiritual Practices in Today’s Christian Life, Michelle Heyne, Ascension Press, 2011.  If you want more, you can order the book at Amazon.

2. In Chapter 2 “ Ascetical Theology for Parish Leadership” section titled “Askesis in the Daily Spiritual Practice of Leaders”, Scott Benhase . Done and Left Undone.

3. “John Macquarrie’s Paths in Spirituality” The section “A problem with prayer” explore prayer-as-thinking. Please focus on that (it’s very short). It may be a useful element as you look at how reflection takes place.

[If you want to do more optional reading on his idea: 1) See his chapter on “Prayer Is Thinking” is available on JSTOR.   If you have a subscription through your seminary or library you might read the article. It was an article in The Furrow, Vol. 21, No. 11 (Nov., 1970), 2) Prayer as Thinking” chapter 3 in Paths in Spirituality. 3) In Principles of Christian Theology Maquarrie discusses different kinds of thinking in Chapter 4 Revelation.]

4. Read these PDFs on the Threefold Rule of Prayer. Our assumption is that our reflection is likely to be more fruitful and grounded when it exists within the Threefold Rule. The Threefold Rule Of Prayer (also called the Prayer Book Pattern) .. More detailed posting on the Threefold Rule .. Responsible Thinking .. Chart 

 Advance assignment:

1) Complete the Reflection Exercise. This will be used in the first half of session 4. Download the group process for that session.

2)  Case study and group process. Read the case and make notes in response to the questions. This will be used in the second half of our time.

Session 4 

Reflection by leaders and the parish as a whole

“We should step back, gain perspective, listen to others, and spend time in solitude so we can think reflectively and prayerfully. Such reflective time is a necessary precursor to right actions.” -Scott Benhase in Done and Left Undone

“Moral action only flows from doctrinal truth by grace and faith, that is through prayer.” -Martin Thornton

Our focus will be on two arenas of reflection:

1) Reflection that takes us to moral action and

2) Reflection that results in strategic decisions.

Between Session 4 and 5

1. “Benedictine Action Plan” — Draft a very short action plan of some aspect of your parish’s life you’d like to improve by drawing on Benedictine insights about spirituality, worship, oversight, or community life. Note: if you are part of a parish team, each person needs to complete the assignment themselves.The team may want to have a team meeting after Session 5 to share each person’s work.

3. Review Group methods, structures, norms for parish faithfulness and health

4. Read “God’s Workshop” Rowan Williams, from ‘Shaping Holy Lives’, a Conference on Benedictine Spirituality, 2003

5. Print out “Instructions for Small Groups - Session 5” for you to use during the session

Session 5 

A Benedictine culture for the parish

We’ll spend some time in small groups sharing our “Benedictine Action Plan” and hearing responses from others in the group.

There will also be some whole group time for comments and Q&A