Calvinists Promoting Contemplative Books and Things

The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship describes themselves as an organization that promotes the study and renewal of Christian worship around the world. Their intended target is a wide ecumenical audience, while respecting and cultivating "the strengths of the Reformed, evangelical tradition in which Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary stand, as well as to engage Christians in other traditions." They work in close partnership with Calvin Theological Seminary, and have also partnered with professional organizations, parachurch organizations, colleges and seminaries via publishing and educational events. Through their programs they claim to have mentored over 50 students at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary.

But what the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship (CICW) has not mentioned in their description of themselves is the fact that they are also leading Christians straight into the emergent/contemplative spiritual formation movement.

For example, some of the things that CICW has promoted, or is promoting, include the following:

*Tenebrae worship services (Roman Catholic service of darkness from the middle ages [1]), under Holy Week Worship Services, at the following links:
http://www.calvin.edu/worship/services/holy_week/1-10-03t.php
http://www.calvin.edu/worship/services/holy_week/4_08_04.php

*The ecumenical Taize [2] (www.taize.fr), under Worship - LOFT - Resources here:
http://www.calvin.edu/faith/worship/loft/resources/

*Then there's 'Silence's Scintillating Divine Speech' by Joyce Ann Zimmerman, C.PP.S. who teaches on the benefits of silence [3], here:
http://www.calvin.edu/worship/worshipers/particip/zimmerman_silence.php

*Dallas Willard resources, under Worship and Spiritual Formation, here:
http://www.calvin.edu/worship/worshipers/formation/

*Also on the same Worship and Spiritual Formation page at CICW is a link to A Spiritual Formation Matrix (www.riverrockchurch.org) from River Rock Church, Folsom, California. Those who click on the Matrix link will not only learn about the spiritual formation system of River Rock Church (affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church in North America), they will also learn how to connect in sacred space at monthly cistercian trappist Monastery retreats at the Abbey of New Clairvaux (www.newclairvaux.org/).

*Ancient contemplative practices for teens is another thing that CICW is recommending for teens under Resources, at the bottom of the page here ('Way to Live' link):
http://www.calvin.edu/worship/worshipers/youth/richter.php

Those teens or youth leaders who click on the 'Way to Live' link will be directed to a website (www.waytolive.org) that promotes "Way to Live - Christian Practices for Teens," which is also a book by Dorothy Bass and Don C. Richter. This Upper Room book (2002) is described on the Upper Room [4] website as follows:

“...Some ancient Christian practices turn up as ways to deepen awareness of God's presence in our lives today. Discover how to use your imagination when reading the Bible — á la Saint Ignatius — and practice tuning in to God like Brother Lawrence of the 17th century.

This fun graphics-filled book will start teens on the spiritual journey of a lifetime!”

-http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/description.asp?item_id=88439

Author Dorothy Bass directs the Valparaiso Project, which is all about the education and formation of people in faith (www.practicingourfaith.org). This is a Lilly Endowment project based at Valparaiso University. (Bass is also on the board of Holden Village,[5] a Lutheran retreat center in the North Cascades Mountains.)

The goal of the Valparaiso Project, in a nutshell, is to teach Christian practices through seminars, books, interactive resources (to adults and youth), using new strategies to get them involved in doing spiritual practices in their daily lives. The project launched PracticingOurFaith.org as an extension of the 1997 book Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People. The book and website both explore twelve ancient practices used by the Christian community over the centuries. They even provide a grant to support activities that help communities integrate such Christian practices into their way of life. The Valparaiso Project is funded by Lilly Endowment and is based at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana.

These emerging contemplative leanings among the Calvinists that we are now seeing may be the result of the Calvin Symposium on Worship that was held a few years ago (January 26, 2006), but most likely they were already headed that way when Brian McLaren and Eugene Petersen were among the speakers at The Last Thirty Years: What We've Learned along the Way. It also comes as no surprise to discover that the supporting foundations of the CICW include the Lilly Endowment and The Henry Luce Foundation. (Note: The Lilly Endowment [6] is notorious for funding ecumenical, contemplative projects. Henry Luce, founder of Time magazine, was reported to have been a member of a secret society [7].)

Regardless of the source of this repackaged ancient spirituality, there is no doubt that many students coming through the Calvin Theological Seminary and College today are being subtly influenced towards contemplative spiritual mysticism.

Endnotes:

[1] See A Thing Called Tenebrae.
[2] See Understanding Taize Worship.
[3] See The Silence.
[4] Find out more about Upper Room here.
[5] One of the blogs listed or related to Holden's community members is that of Nadia Bolz-Weber (Sarcastic Lutheran).
[6] See There's Something about Lilly.
[7] Source: Bonesman vs. Bonesman by Gary Kah and Skull And Bones Secret Yale Society Includes America's Power Elite (60 Minutes, CBS News).

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Related reading:

CALVINIST CONTEMPLATIVE SPIRITUALITY/MYSTICISM?
apprising.org

Also see:

*See what other colleges promote contemplative spiritual formation...
Christian Colleges that Promote Contemplative
(i.e., Spiritual Formation)
www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com

*An older but good article on the steps of ecumenism... ECUMENISM ... Where do you draw the line?
by Sandy Simpson (1998)
www.deceptioninthechurch.com