Has FOTF Canada Chosen the Contemplative Pathway?

This might be a long one so you might want to pour yourself a cup of something...

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In his February Newsletter, James Dobson writes with conflicting emotions that the U.S. of A. is at a crossroads in history. I can totally relate. While this is very true, the sad thing is that at the same time, FOTF Canada has been at it’s own crossroads, which I'll explain soon. As previously mentioned, many of us associate FOTF with Dr. Dobson's radio program back in the days when we were doing that tough job of parenting through those difficult toddler years. And then came the teen years. Dr. Dobson's was a familiar voice in our households as we welcomed every word of timely advice from him and his guests. And where would many of us be without the voices of Mr. Whittaker, Connie and Eugene that gave us half an hour of bliss every evening while our kids snuggled in bed by the radio with Adventures in Odyssey. Our daily FOTF shot in the arm helped to keep us mommies sane. Not that I always agreed with everything on the program, but I must admit FOTF was a big part of my life until I grew out of that needy stage. I quit listening when it got too political, but I never forgot those days when dear Dr. Dobson was there to help me, and have kept a few dust covered boxes of cassette tapes to prove it. Therefore, it is also with conflicting emotions that I write the following regarding the fork in the road that Focus on the Family Canada has chosen at the 'contemplative crossroads'...

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Last week it was drawn to my attention that in this September's 2009 FOTF magazine is a very pleasant ad that says the following:

KERITH CREEK
Refreshing Those in Ministry

October is Clergy Appreciation Month
Send your pastor to a refreshing retreat in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies.

Kerith Creek (kerithcreek.com) renewal and retreat center, situated on 66 acres in Alberta, Canada, has been under the direction of Focus on the Family Canada since 2008 (although it has existed since 2003). At this very nice place they offer a seven day small group retreat for clergy based on a program established by Son Scape Retreats (www.sonscape.org).

As I tried find out what these Son Scape retreats are like, I noticed that their website is somewhat vague about what they teach at these retreats, however there was this:

"Mornings are spent in personal silence, solitude and meditation before God, followed by pointed and meaningful group teachings focused around ministry issues and spiritual formation." -sonscape.org

I also read what they are NOT: "Not a conference where the days are filled with one seminar after another. "

Small warning bells began to ring. Could this be a contemplative retreat center? I was still not sure when the second little bell of caution jingled. I was browsing Son Scape's website when I noticed an endorsement of their retreats given by a previous guest. It was none other than author/speaker Tony Campolo. As you may already know, Tony Campolo has said that he was born again by centering prayer and repeats a mantra every morning to get into "the thin place." In fact, just this spring he spoke to our local Christian school prinicipals at another retreat, and told them how he has tapped into Roman Catholic spirituality, St. Ignatius and Thomas Keating, and centering prayer, and experiences God by going into a deep silence every morning (read about this retreat here). This is why I began to seriously wonder about Campolo's endorsement of Son Scape. Could this mean that their retreats suit his brand of (self confessed) Roman Catholic mystical spirituality?

Just as I was thinking about these things, I came across the biggest indication as to what they are teaching at Kerith Creek as I clicked on their resource page. Their recommended reading list for these seven day retreats consisted mostly of books by H.B. London. But wait, what was this? Also listed here were some heavy duty contemplative resources that nearly popped my eyeballs out - Peter Scazzero's books The Emotionally Healthy Church (& workbook) and Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Having studied both these books in detail (and one workbook) several years ago, I have personally concluded that the kind of spirituality Mr. Scazzero teaches as 'healthy' in both these books is neither spiritually healthy nor biblical.

That said, I can almost understand why FOTF would gravitate towards the first book and it’s psychological aspect, which I will get into more later, but I CANNOT understand why they would condone, and even recommend, the second one which is totally over the mystic edge.

Click here to discover what Emotionally Healthy Spirituality is about:

EHS Part 1
foolsonly.blogspot.com

[By the way, since 2006 the Focus on the Family on-line book store has sold the Emotionally Healthy Church workbook (here) and the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality book (here). Also see here.]

As shocking as it is to see that FOTF is promoting such books and things, this does not come as a complete surprise. As was already observed way back in June of 2005, according to CCN (Clergy Care Network, a ministry based out of Focus on the Family, Canada which promotes the Scazzeros), there were two Pastor Spouse Gatherings hosted by FOTF in Western Canada - see picture here (NOTE: Scazzero is wearing the pink shirt). Those who attended these events got a “free continental breakfast, an update from Focus on the Family and the Clergy Care Network, a free gift package for each couple, and a message from our very special guest speaker Peter Scazzero.” (This was a previous quote from the Clergy Care Network site that I gleaned from some old research.) Today they are promoting Kerith Creek (see HERE @ www.focusonthefamily.ca):

Kerith Creek Ministry Retreats

For married or single ministry leaders, Kerith Creek offers a seven-day, small-group retreat located near Calgary, AB. It's a safe haven where you can learn, reflect and be renewed in a beautiful setting. During the week you will receive personalized care and group instruction to help rekindle your personal marriage and vocational commitments.

To many, this promotion might look pretty benign, and there is no doubt that Kerith Creek is a lovely place for much needed rest and renewal, but the questions is, what exactly might pastors and their spouses be exposed to at these seven day retreats with no newspapers or outside communication? To name a few things, if you don't already know, Lectio Divina, the Daily Office, silence, mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, and centering down, are what they will learn if they read the recommended books by Peter Scazzero. This is all part of slowing down and entering the contemplative life, as Peter Scazzero's church (New Life Fellowship) website explains. It's something called the Rule of Life...

New Life Fellowship Rule of Life (document may be found here)
September 2008
At New Life we are exploring an ancient practice used by communities of Christians for almost 2000 years called a Rule of Life.

What does this Rule of Life look like on a personal level? Among other things, the New Life document mentions that part of it means to "Befriend silence" and "integrate contemplative practices and rhythms (e.g. Daily Office, Sabbath - keeping) to slow down my life."

This "ancient practice" of contemplative spirituality and rhythms this is referring to is all about going into the silence. Peter Scazzero writes about it - alot. Tony Campolo does it - alot (every morning). And now the new concern is that this may be what pastors, church leaders and even missionaries are learning to do at Kerith Creek - and all under the direction of FOTF. As long as they are recommending resources that teach these very things, what reason would there be to assume otherwise? There are some important questions that need to be asked of Focus on the Family. Like, does James Dobson know about this? His website states that he is still deeply involved in Focus on the Family — as its chairman. If he knows about this, does he think it's okay?

For anyone who has opened up their copy of Focus on the Family's magazine and read the nice retreat ad, if you are considering sending your pastor to be refreshed at Kerith Creek, please reconsider before it's too late and your pastor returns with a new kind of (ancient) spirituality to teach to his church.

[Note: It may be too late for some - FOTF has apparently been doing this retreat since 2008.]

It might be a good idea to look into these things a bit more over the next few days. Stay tuned...

*In the meantime, if you think it's no big deal that pastors could be learning to chill out in the silence with centering prayer, as Peter Scazzero teaches in his book, please check out this article from Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry:

Centering Prayer
www.carm.org

And after reading that, if you still think this is no big deal, and that I have made far too big a thing out of nothing, then perhaps you had best not read the next few posts I will be making this week lest you end up choking on some of that sand your head is buried in.