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| Tilden Edwards serves as the keynote speaker for "Bountiful Feast," a Spiritual Formation Network dinner held prior to Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s General Assembly, which begins today at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center. Stanley Leary photo. |
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship launched a new network linking individuals with an interest in spiritual formation at a special dinner event called "Bountiful Feast" featuring spiritual formation author Tilden Edwards as the keynote speaker. The event came on the eve of the Fellowship’s 14th annual General Assembly, which begins today at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Center.
The Spiritual Formation Network is the first of its kind among Baptists. It was formed in response to the growing number of people in the Fellowship who are interested in spiritual formation as a way of living faithfully in the Christian journey. The event included a variety of techniques for spiritual enrichment such as community, music, laughter and inspiration.
Daniel Vestal, the Fellowship’s national coordinator, said the establishment of the Spiritual Formation Network was crucial for the future of the organization.
"The convergence that comes with spiritual formation is integral to everything that we do and everything that we are," Vestal said. "This is a very significant moment for CBF and the future of the moderate Baptist movement."
The Spiritual Formation Network is growing out of the experience of dozens of churches and of hundreds of Fellowship Baptists completing Companions in Christ, according to Eileen Campbell-Reed, spiritual formation consultant for the Fellowship, referring to a group study spiritual formation resource published by Upper Room Ministries. "They want to bring the approach they’ve learned to their larger congregation, and they want to be able to continue practicing their faith in meaningful ways, connecting with others and growing spiritually."
Edwards, an Episcopal priest and founder of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Bethesda, Md., is widely recognized as one of the most influential writers in the field of spiritual formation. The Shalem Institute is an ecumenical organization that offers extension programs, retreats, workshops and media resources for laity and clergy.
Campbell-Reed, who helped start the Spiritual Formation Network, said people are learning a new way of spirituality.
"Baptists are people who know and love the Bible, and who take prayer seriously," Campbell-Reed said. "They also tend toward an active type of spirituality, putting lots of energy into meeting the needs of others through ministry and missions.
"The complement to this type of active spirituality is a more contemplative or reflective spirituality. This reflective approach takes time to reflect on the action, and to rest from the action in Sabbath, and to put energy into prayerful discernment, deep listening and daily practices of faithful living. Historically, we have put the emphasis on the active. Now some folks are expressing hunger for a balance, attention to the reflective as well as the active."
"Bountiful Feast" was sponsored by CBF Congregational Life and Upper Room Ministries.
Friday, network organizers will conduct a workshop at the General Assembly, which includes the history of the spiritual formation movement and description of current projects, including a Spanish version of the Companions in Christ series. For more information on this workshop and other activities of the General Assembly, visit www.thefellowship.info.
For more information or to get involved in the Spiritual Formation Network, contact the Fellowship at (770) 220-1600.
CBF is a fellowship of Baptist Christians and churches who share a passion for the Great Commission and a commitment to Baptist principles of faith and practice. The Fellowship’s mission is to serve Christians and churches as they discover and fulfill their God-given mission.