Rev. Donald Donato discusses mysticism and the spiritual heritage of New England, in this introduction to Mystics of the Commonwealth, a part of the Forbidden Saints lecture series at the Parish of St. Sarah the Egyptian in Boston, MA
The Apostolic Johannite Church has a series of informative and engaging lectures and discussions planned at Conclave 2012 this year in Sydney.
As we are slowly but surely approaching this anticipated retreat, we’d like to offer you a more in-depth look at our lectures- this time with a look at our weekend workshops.
At the AJC, we feel it is important to always have a take-home component to our Conclaves- and this year, we’re presenting a series of workshops and lectures covering history and theology as well as a hands-on practical look at Esoteric Christianity, Hesychasm, Meditation and Centering Prayer.
For more information on Conclave including registration- please visit http://conclave.johannite.org
Introduction to Johannite Tradition and Spirituality
Mar Iohannes IV and His Grace Dr. William Behun
An introduction to the the Johannite Tradition covering
Introduction to Gnosticism, Ancient and Modern
His Grace Dr. William Behun
Hesychasm
His Grace Dr. William Behun
The practise of Hesychasm (stillness) within the Eastern Orthodox churches represents a tradition that goes back almost sixteen centuries. It has been the source of a great deal of controversy both within Orthodoxy and between Orthodox and other forms of Christianity. It has as its goal the experience of the Uncreated Light, which is identified with the light of the transfigured Christ.
It involves the quieting of the conscious mind and a turning inward toward the stillness of the soul through the use of repetitious prayer. Most often, the simple “Jesus Prayer” is used as the basis for this meditative practice. In this workshop we will examine both the history and theory of Hesychasm before embarking on the practise itself. Ultimately it is only in the practise of stillness that we can find and hear the voice of the divine speaking to us.
Meditation
Fr. Bray Weaver
There are so many different styles of mediation, from manydifferent systems around the world; however, they all have very similar
goals and making use of very similar mechanisms. This session focuses on facilitation and explanation of mediation for leaders as well as developing a comprehensive and individually tuned meditation/prayer regimen.
Centering Prayer
Bishop-Elect Tim Mansfield
An introduction to the modern contemplative prayer form known as Centering Prayer. Developed within the Trappist community in the 1970s, Centering Prayer draws on the spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers, the Cloud of Unknowing, St John of the Cross, Fr Jean-Pierre de Caussade and the writing of Thomas Merton. The method is a simple, deeply effective transformational tool now practised all over the world. This workshop gives an introduction and a chance to practice the prayer.
The Practice of Christian Mysticism
Bishop-Elect Tim Mansfield
Building on the Centering Prayer session, this workshop explains three other classic practices in the Christian mystical tradition: psalm chant, lectio divina or sacred reading and the eucharist or holy communion. Christians all over the world sing, read the Bible and attend services – attending to the stillness within these everyday activities reveals a powerful system of transformation practice.
The Apostolic Johannite Church has a series of informative and engaging lectures and discussions planned at Conclave 2012 this year in Sydney.
As we are slowly but surely approaching this anticipated retreat, we’d like to offer you a more in-depth look at our lectures beginning with our topics planned during the week itself.
We will be following up with a second post later on to outline our open lectures and hands on workshops planned for the weekend.
For more information on Conclave including registration- please visit http://conclave.johannite.org
Rev Fr Tim Mansfield
James Fowler’s popular book “Stages of Faith” outlined for a general audience the results of a long-term study of how one’s faith – one’s holistic orientation to and relationship with the universe – develops through life. Fowler’s model of faith development provides a framework for guiding and companioning each other as our faith shifts and changes. This session outlines and explores Fowler’s model through a sequence of experiential exercises, drawing participants recalling and reflecting on their own journey of faith and that of the people around them.
Vivian Baruch
Vivian’s presentation on “Self-Care for Caregivers” focuses on preventing the negative impacts of our work so as to promote thriving and well-being, while at the same time developing various capacities we have as humans. Her approach is strongly influenced by Ken Wilber’s (2008) Integral Life Practice (ILP), which is summarised as exercising “… body, mind and spirit in self, culture and nature”. She will outline the five core modules of a comprehensive approach to self-care which are Body, Mind, Spirit, Shadow and Ethics and lead participants through experiential exercises for each module. As a group she will explore how these five core modules are enacted in our social systems (with spouses, family, friends, peers, work, study, mentors, hobbies, sports and spiritual communities) as well as within the wider contextual environment of our towns and cities in nature, each of which have reciprocal influences on us.
Simon Mundy
The intersection of spiritual practice with western psychological models provides fresh perspectives from which to view progress and blockage on the path. John Welwood’s formulation of “Spiritual Bypassing” is a major example echoed by other western writers and is complementary to Chogyam Trungpa’s compassionately acerbic prescriptions for episodes of “spiritual materialism”. This session will explore some of the obstructive personal states which can clothe themselves in spiritual garb, and provide some practical views for spiritual guides and facilitators working with affected spiritual aspirants and their aspirations.
Rev Fr Greg Tillet
In the Coptic Orthodox Church it is held that teachings about the rituals of the Sacraments and other services were transmitted orally from the Lord to his Apostles and Disciples, and then to the early Fathers. Such teachings were not committed to writing, and were not communicated to non-believers. A Coptic Orthodox Priest is not permitted to celebrate the Divine Liturgy or administer any Sacrament until he has completed a period of instruction in the unwritten and secret tradition which is referred to as “The Forty Days”. This session examines the nature of the secret tradition in the Coptic Orthodox Church and its means of transmission. Father Gregory was trained in the Coptic liturgical tradition by the former Abbot of the Dair Anba Bakhum (Monastery of St Pachomius) on the edge of the desert near Edfu in Upper Egypt, one of the most fervently traditional and conservative monasteries in the Coptic Orthodox tradition. He was the first non-Egyptian to be given permission by His Holiness Pope Shenouda to undertake the traditional “Forty Days” instruction after ordination as a Priest outside a monastery in Egypt.
Rev Fr Bray Weaver
This session covers core rapport skill from counseling and its application in speaking with people whether it be building relationships or in a more pastoral counseling or chaplain environment. The session covers pacing and leading, building rapport, some basics of body language, etc. The art of rapport in my mind is the art of listening and being with another person wherever they are. My methods are heavily influenced by Jacquelyn Small, parts and integrative therapies, Carl Jung, Milton Erikson, Dr. Ernest Rossi, Thomas Moore, and a number of body reading modalities.
Rev Fr Tim Mansfield
The Gospel of John, according to Australian scholar Dr Mary Coloe, pivots on two key symbols: the Temple and the Household. The symbol of the Temple lays out a narrative through the Gospel explaining that God dwells amongst the members of the community. The symbol of the Household details the forming of the community as a kind of divine household. This session gives an overview of Dr Coloe’s theology of the Johannine community and reflects on its relevance for a Johannite church in the 21st century.
Part Two of Dr. Behun’s talk on the Gnostic Restoration:
Dr. Behun continues his talk on the journey of Jules Doinel, his life and work, and follows up with some of the figures and organizations that came after him. Dr. Behun also looks at how the Apostolic Johannite Church connects and relates to these traditions and their histories.
His Grace, the Primate of the United States, Dr. William Behun, discusses the Gnostic Restoration of Jules Doinel at Conclave 2011. Due to problems with the audio on the video, we’ve put up a separate audio recording made of the lecture. Enjoy.
The Apostolic Johannite Church is proud to present the thirteenth AJC Conclave – 22-29 May, 2012 in Sydney, Australia.
Each year the people of the AJC, friends and family gather together to socialize, learn, build our skills and deepen our community. This is our first time bringing Conclave to the Southern Hemisphere!
Conclave has lectures, workshops and panel discussions selected to develop ministry skills, support the work of church leaders both lay and ordained and deepen and enrich the spiritual lives of attendees. Conclave is also rich in social time, time to eat, talk, pray and practice together. It’s like a retreat and a conference all rolled into one.
As always, we welcome you, no matter who you are or what your spiritual path, to join us for this unique week together. You can come for all or part and participate as much or as little as you’d like. However you choose, we welcome you into our household.
Events and Speakers;
To make it easier for working people to participate, we’ve structured a few packages:
For full details, please see http://conclave.johannite.org
The Apostolic Johannite Church is pleased to announce the ordination of Deacon Donald Donato to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood this fall. Rev. Donato will be ordained to the priesthood by the Patriarch of the Apostolic Johannite Church during an official visit to Boston in October.
Reverend Donato has served as Rector for St. Sarah-the-Egyptian Parish in Boston since August 2010. He is responsible for the business of the parish and administering the Sacraments. He was ordained to the Diaconate in 2009, serving as Assistant Rector at St. Sarah’s between 2009 and 2010.
A native of Boston, over the past 20 years Rev. Donato has worked as a writer, editor, researcher, translator, and grant-writer. In this capacity, Rev. Donato has worked for the implementation of economic, social and cultural rights with Dignity International (2002-present) and Somerville-Cambridge Elder Services (2008-present), an agency which serves low-income older adults and people living with disabilities in the cities of Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts.
His most recently published works include a contribution to the anthology Disrespect Today, Conflict Tomorrow: The Politics of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, (University of Nottingham Press, 2009), and The Lévitikon: The Gospels According to the Primitive Church (AJC, 2010).
From our friends at the JWMT-
Since 2001, the Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition (JWMT) has worked to publish diverse perspectives on the occultisms, magical practices, mysticisms and esotericisms commonly known as the “Western Mystery Tradition.” The JWMT is expanding the work of the web journal through its first conference.
The JWMT conference is a two-day event open to scholars, students, practitioners, and the public. The keynote speaker is the Journal’s founder and publisher, Dr. Jeffrey S. Kupperman.
The study of western esoteric practices has risen greatly over the last decade, focusing on Antiquity, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Modern magical practices and beliefs, outside of the realm of modern Paganisms and the New Age, have received little attention. Further, practitioners have had little opportunity to present their work, either as papers or in the form of ritual practice, outside of the internet or small groups. The focus of this conference is the movement of contemporary western esotericisms, loosely construed as the “western mysteries,” and their transition from the 20th to the 21st century. The Journal of the Western Mystery Tradition Conference 2012 is seeking abstracts for presentations, panels and practices centered on this broad subject.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
*Esoteric traditions such as Freemasonry, Rosicrucianism, Martinism and chivalric organizations,
*Ritual magical practices from organizations such as the Golden Dawn and the Aurum Solis and modern initiatory Paganisms,
*Esotericisms from earlier periods, such as alchemy, Gnosticism and Neoplatonism, the magical work of John Dee or the medieval grimoire traditions, and their re-emergence and relevancy to modern praxes,
*Theoretical, paedogogical, and methodological approaches to the study of the western mysteries,
*The relation of the esotericisms to orthodox and mainstream practices and society at large.
We welcome presentations, panels and practices focusing on methodological and theoretical issues in relation to the contemporary study and practice of the various western esoteric currents. The conference encourages an interdisciplinary approach and welcomes perspectives from the disciplines of religious studies, theology, anthropology, sociology, psychology, philosophy, history, political science, as well as active practitioners. Papers should last 20 minutes, with time for questions and answers. Panels and practices will be scheduled for up to an hour, with time for questions and answers afterwards as necessary.
Please submit abstracts (approx. 200 words), proposals for a themed panel (with three presenters, moderator as necessary, and short description) or proposals for a ritual practice and discussion to conference@jwmt.org. Deadline for submissions is April 15, 2012.
No attachments please; copy and paste your abstract or proposal in plain text into the body of the e-mail. Submissions are not limited to academics or professional scholars. Include a brief (no more than one page) CV listing any qualifications, academic or otherwise, relevant to your proposal.
The conference will be held at the Best Western Plus Milwaukee Airport Hotel and Conference Center. More information on the conference, registration, fees, accommodation, etc. is available at http://www.jwmt.org/jwmt12.
The Apostolic Johannite Church is proud to announce the election of Fr. Tim Mansfield, Ph.D. of Sydney, Australia to the Sacred Episcopacy for the Apostolic Johannite Church in Australia.
Bishop-Elect Mansfield, the first bishop to be consecrated in the Apostolic Johannite Church in a decade, was nominated by the Patriarch with the support of the Apostolic Council. A Bull of Election was prepared and signed by Patriarch of the Apostolic Johannite Church, the Primate of the United States and His Eminence the Catholicos of the Alexandrian Gnostic Church at the AJC’s 2011 Conclave.
The Bishop-Elect will be consecrated at Conclave 2012 in Australia under the name, title and jurisdiction of Mar Timotheos, Bishop of New South Wales.
During his continuing ministry to St. Uriel’s Parish in Sydney as well as working with members in Brisbane, Melbourne and Auckland, and assisting with members in North America, Bishop-Elect Mansfield has demonstrated the pastoral excellence, spiritual direction and administrative competence befitting of this ancient Order, together with a high degree of integrity and responsibility both personally and organizationally.
The Apostolic Johannite Church is pleased to announce the appointment of Msgr. Scott Rassbach as Episcopal Vicar to the Primate of the United States.
No stranger to leadership roles with the Apostolic Johannite Church, Monsignor Rassbach brings service as a member of the Apostolic Council for the last five years as well as Prefect for Liturgical Rites and Chief of Staff to His Grace, the Primate, to his new expanded role.
The Episcopal Vicar is responsible for representing the Primate of the United States in both a ceremonial and administrative capacity when the Primate’s schedule does not allow him to do so personally or when tasked specifically by the Primate.
He will also be responsible for chairing, opening and closing National Council meetings in the Primate’s absence, as well as conducting Parish and Diocesan visits on behalf of the Primate of the United States in his absence.
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