One of my favorite seminary professors opened her systematic theology class with a gorgeous explication of how doing theology is loving God with the mind. That phrase has always stuck with me. The professor who uttered those words embodied herself not just an intellectual grasp of theological concepts but a prayerful posture toward scholarship, teaching, and living. She may have loved God with her mind, but her intellectual comprehension had moved from the head into the heart. It showed in her kindness and relationships with students, as well as in the way she celebrated the Eucharist in the seminary chapel. Her lectures reminded me of patristic readings, where original thought is seamlessly tied up with quotations or paraphrases of Scripture. She had fully integrated head and heart, and that can only come about through prayer.
This is the ideal of the Christian life, for every Christian and not just “professional” theologians. I think it’s something of what St. Paul enjoins in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 when he exhorts us to “pray without ceasing.” Paul’s injunction is not to siloed prayer and disengagement with the world outside the Church. It’s to living in the world and letting one’s life be a perpetual conversation, spoken or unspoken, with God. Theology is not simply an exercise of the mind; it’s a move from head to heart and to an embodied Christianity on the ground, in the world but not of it.
In just over a month’s time, our Pilgrims in Christ formation group will begin meeting. Pilgrims is a nine-month adult formation journey that seeks to integrate head and heart. It’s not really a class or a course. It’s a deep journey into the heart of being a Christian, undertaken in community. I’m fully aware that to commit to Pilgrims requires a huge investment of time, and that is intentional. The Christian life is demanding, and I believe that our formation in that faith should also be demanding. The idea is to move from intellectual knowledge to personal and spiritual transformation. Pilgrims meets weekly on Tuesdays for nine months, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. It’s structured in four parts, modeled loosely on the ancient catechumenate, which historically prepared people for Holy Baptism. Pilgrims, as conceived at Good Shepherd, is much broader in its intention and is intended for those interested in Baptism, Confirmation, Reception into the Episcopal Church, Renewal of Baptismal Vows, or deepening their own spiritual commitments to Christ.
The first part of Pilgrims is an introduction to the Anglican ethos and spirit. I would encourage anyone who is new to the Episcopal Church to consider attending at least the first six meetings of Pilgrims to understand the lens through which we Anglicans/Episcopalians seek knowledge of God. If you have been previously confirmed by a bishop in apostolic succession, you might desire to be received into the Episcopal Church. Participating in at least the first six weeks of Pilgrims would be appropriate formation for Reception into the Episcopal Church. And even for those of you who have been a part of the Episcopal Church for some time now, perhaps the first six weeks of Pilgrims would be instructive to you as well!
Pilgrims is not just intended for people who are new to the Christian faith or to the Episcopal Church. It is intended for anyone, even especially those who have been Christians/Episcopalians for a long time! Because Pilgrims is a journey in community, the presence of new Christians/Episcopalians and more experienced ones makes for an enriching experience. I would encourage anyone who is interested in participating in Pilgrims to try it out. At the end of each of the four parts, there is an opportunity to elect to continue to participate or not. There’s no judgment in deciding that one can’t continue.
A final word: we live in an age of flimsy commitments, and in such an age, Christianity should stand out as a voice demanding the greatest commitment of all. Long past the days of regular martyrdoms and of furtive practicing of the Christian faith, we can easily forget the claim that discipleship makes on our lives. A robust process of formation like Pilgrims is one effort towards bringing theological and spiritual rigor back to the practice of our Christian lives. Electing to participate in Pilgrims is one way in which we can begin to put God at the center of our lives.
If you’re interested in joining Pilgrims this coming year, you can now register online. You can also see the schedule of classes and topics here. If you are searching for community, Pilgrims is a great way to find it. Leading and teaching Pilgrims each year is one of the highlights of being a priest at Good Shepherd. Should you have further questions about Pilgrims, please reach out to me. I hope to see some (or many!) of you at the first Pilgrims meeting on Tuesday, September 24.
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle