05. For Churches
See how we can serve local churches and pastors.
“The Order of the Common Life doesn’t exist for its own sake. Our work is directed to the service of church communities, through which we see Christ working to rebuild and restore creation in local contexts.”
How can we support your work of formation?
Explore how the Order of the Common Life can resource local churches and pastors for deep formation in the love of God.
Congregational Way of Life
A set of shared practices for churches, discerned together
The Order of the Common Life can help churches discern and develop a “congregational way of life”—a set of shared practices founded in broader community commitments aimed at deep spiritual formation.
This begins with us guiding leaders from your church through a six-month cohort exploring the four rhythms and 12 commitments in our rule of life, followed by a six-month process of discerning and implementing the commitments and practices your church is being invited to lean into together (piloting in 2024).
Module 1: Centering on the Love of God (two-day event)
Module 2: Discerning Commitments Together (half-day event)
Module 3: Discerning Practices Together (half-day event)
Module 4: Entering Commitments Together (half-day event)
A Contemplative Foundation
An eight-week group introduction to contemplative tools
Offer your congregation and small groups a gentle introduction to the foundational tools of a contemplative life, including:
Noticing the shape of our life
Developing interior awareness and attention
Practicing silence and stillness
Discerning interior movements of the spirit
Our video- and practice-based course is free to churches and individuals, easy to faciliate, and ready to begin at any time.
Apprenticeship in Spiritual Direction Cohort
A cohort designed to train spiritual directors for the Church
Gather a cohort in your church to train as spiritual directors over 24- to 36-months, rooted in historic formational theology and oriented toward serving the local church.
Our hybrid cohort combines a high-touch apprenticeship model with regular cohort meetings so apprentices receive both individual attention and the support of a local learning community in their congregation.
Spiritual Exercises (19th Annotation) Retreat Cohort
A nine-month retreat in everyday life, alongside others
Take part in a 500-year-old journey through Scripture and prayer, supported by a specially trained spiritual director and a cohort community of others in ministry.
Weekly individual spiritual direction
Monthly 90-minute cohort calls with other pastors
Daily guided prayer and reflection from the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius