Experienced spiritual director Alice Fryling presents an overview of what group spiritual direction is and how it is practiced, offering practical step-by-step guidance for those who would like to start, lead or particpate in group spiritual direction.

Much has been written about the practice of one-to-one spiritual directions, but much less about small group communities that offer in-depth mutual spiritual support and guidance to its members. But small groups are most likely the more usual setting for spiritual companionship and have strong biblical, theological and historical foundation in the Christian tradition. This book offers a detailed presentation of ten small group models, plus guidance in group leadership dynamics. It also presents material related to group retreat work, spiritual guidance with organizations and peer supervision/consultation model for supporting leaders of spiritual companionship groups and retreats. Church leaders, spiritual directors and educators are looking for the kinds of resources this book provides to assist them in understanding and leading groups and retreats.

Written from an ecumenical standpoint as a practical aid for moving those experienced in individual spiritual direction toward group practices This book responds to the movement to expand spiritual direction beyond the classic on-with-one model. Group spiritual direction has the potential to offer the rich experience of individual spiritual direction to a much wider audience, yet very little has been written to provide guidance for starting such groups. This book responds to that challenge. It outlines ways that a diverse and ecumenical group of spiritual directors worked to initiate groups in multiple contexts. It examines the many variables-among directors, directees, even meeting spaces-that affect and enliven this ministry. And it summarizes pitfalls, success, and discoveries.

These moving, positive essays witness the experiences of participants in Shalem Institute's group spiritual direction workshops. Each author relates what he or she learned as a member, mentor or facilitator of a spiritual direction group--a community gathered together to seek and share a desire for God in communal silence, dialogue, intercessory prayer and discernment--and adapts it to a specific setting--the family, workplace, congregation, seminary, the homeless. The result is this collection--a loving, gentle testament to the power of spiritual direction groups--that enables young and old, clergy and laity of all faiths to realize, celebrate and proclaim a commonality of greater spiritual purpose. Fluid and well-honed, The Lived Experience of Group Spiritual Direction is of great value to seminarians, graduate students, church organizations, clergy and laity of all faiths, as well as to anyone seeking guidance on the value of group spiritual direction. It features biographies of its numerous contributors. +