Prayer & Spirituality

Spiritual Formation in the Diocese of Southwark

Spiritual Formation in the Diocese of Southwark

Spiritual formation work has been going on for as long as the church has existed! However the Diocesan Spiritual Formation Group began its life early in 2009, set up by the Diocesan Mission Group to resource individuals and local churches in the areas of prayer and spiritual development.

It is chaired by John Ansell, Vicar of St. Peter and Paul, Mitcham and is made up of lay people and clergy who have expertise and passion in this field.

Chris Chapman, as half-time Spiritual Formation Adviser, has been working with group members to discern needs and how they might be responded to. 

We have provisionally identified the following key areas of work:

  1. Resourcing the local church by providing resources and tools for spiritual growth,  for the benefit of individuals and for transformation of congregational life
  2. Meeting the spiritual needs of identified groups of people, for example people at different stages of life.
  3. Developing and promoting centres offering resources and opportunities in the area of spiritual growth and renewal
  4. Providing courses in prayer and spiritual development, aimed primarily at individuals or local groups.
  5. Networking and resourcing ‘practitioners’ [for example: spiritual directors / leaders of prayer groups or quiet days]. 
  6. Creating ongoing spiritual development groups for lay people and those in authorised ministry
  7. Exploring ways of meeting the needs of spiritual seekers who are on the edge of, or beyond local church life.
  8. Publicity and promotion of spiritual formation work within the diocese, and sharing of resource material