Last fall during the annual Fall Spiritual Emphasis Days, students at Ambrose University College of the Christian & Missionary Alliance in Calgary, Alberta (Canada), were taught contemplative spirituality with the theme of Listening to God. Ambrose alumnus Steve Kerr, pastor of Gateway Church in Caledonia, Ontario (a C&MA church) taught sessions about Listening to God. Other contemplative workshops were facilitated by Ambrose staff and faculty.
Students were invited to participate in a diverse array of workshops, like “Centering Prayer: A Pathway to Experiencing God’s Presence,” taught by Dr. Miriam Charter. Students learned that “Centering Prayer is a gift to us from the Desert Fathers who sought a way to deepen their relationship with the living Christ. It is “listening” prayer that may become for the serious pilgrim a pathway for receiving and experiencing the gift of God’s Presence.”
Additional workshops included “Hear the Divine Voice…Make the Right Choice,” by Dr. Charles Nienkirchen, “Hearing God through Nature: A Walk Through the Ambrose Aspen Stand,” by Wally Rude, “Making (Some) Sense of the Pain: Hearing God in Times of Difficulty and Suffering,” by Dr. Gordon Smith, “Lectio Divina” (Divine Reading) with Kevin Cawthra, “Going Global? A Conversation about Discerning God’s call to Serve Internationally,” and “Hearing the Voice of Jesus through Imaging,” with Joy Ulrich.To Hear, To Contemplate, To Act
https://ambrose.edu/news_and_events/hear-contemplate-act
Ambrose University College Seminary is a merger of the Christian & Missionary Alliance (Canada) with The Church of the Nazarene (Canada). Ambrose’s new president Gordon T. Smith (previously Vice President and Dean of Regent College), has written several books. In The Voice of Jesus, Smith’s ideas are built on Roman Catholic spiritual traditions of John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Ignatius of Loyola. Alone With The Lord is a self guided prayer plan adapted from The Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits. (Read more about this here: Ambrose University College hires Jesuit-educated contemplative spirituality proponent as its new president.)
Is there any question as to whether this seminary is leading their students over the contemplative bridge to Rome?
Related:
What is centering prayer?
http://www.gotquestions.org/centering-prayer.html
Who Were the Desert Fathers?
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/desertfathers.htm
“Who are the Jesuits, and what do they believe?”
http://www.gotquestions.org/Jesuits.html
Christian & Missionary Alliance Workers will soon be learning Ancient Spiritual Disciplines
https://muddystreams.wordpress.com/2009/12/02/christian-missionary-alliance-workers-will-soon-be-learning-ancient-spiritual-disciplines/
Christian Missionary Alliance and Focus on the Family Canada leading Christians across the Contemplative Bridge
https://muddystreams.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/christian-missionary-alliance-and-focus-on-the-family-canada-leading-christians-across-the-contemplative-bridge/
Yoga Class at Christian & Missionary Alliance Church
https://muddystreams.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/yoga-class-at-christian-missionary-alliance-church/
Ambrose Seminary teaches contemplative spirituality in 2009-2010
http://suspiciousberean.blogspot.ca/2010/02/ambrose-seminary-teaches-contemplative.html
Are Ambrose Lecturers Leading Students into Muddy Waters?
https://muddystreams.wordpress.com/2013/02/06/are-ambrose-lecturers-leading-students-into-muddy-waters/
Ambrose University (CMA & Nazarene) Full Speed into Contemplative/Emergent
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=1452
NEW:
Letter to the Editor: Christian & Missionary Alliance OK With Ruth Haley Barton and Other Contemplatives
http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/?p=11640
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