Friends:

We had a wonderful presentation and discussion yesterday
at WTU over lunch. This was the annual luncheon of the
Consortium Faculty Group that is involved with the Spiritual
Formation of lay students.

The presenter was Dr. Timothy Sedgwick–Vice President
at VTS and distinguished ethicist/moral theologian. He offered
his personal reflections on the influence of theological education
on spiritual formation and vice versa.

Actually the two should be
seen as one. Our spiritual formation influences our theologizing and our
theology influences our spiritual journey. We can approach our theological
reading with the ‘mindset’ of lectio divina; we can bring our knowledge of God
and the Trinity into our prayer–perhaps by letting our knowledge change our practices of
prayer.

This was a rich presentation and discussion–filled with practical examples from the faculty
participants.

Dr. Sedgwick has shared his notes with me–so that I can reflect more on all this.
This integration is at the center of what we do–and is of prime importance to ecumenism.

Peace,
John