Interest in the practice of spiritual direction has grown in recent years. With the increased number of people seeking direction have come a number of new issues confronting spiritual directors.
This volume of essays by seasoned spiritual directors from a variety of faith traditions addresses issues of concern to directors today such as direction with: abused persons, the poor, church drop-outs, and gays and lesbians. Other essays look at spiritual direction in new contexts, such as the congregational setting, the corporate arena, spiritual direction and generational issues, and direction at the turn of the century. The final section of the book addresses some specific circumstances: working with the addicted, with those who are dying, using art in spiritual direction, and direction and social justice.
Contributors include: Joseph D. Driskill (Pacific School of Religion, Berkeley, CA); Juan Reed (Chicago, IL); Rich Rossiter (Oak Park, IL); Sandra Lommason (Davis, CA); Howard Rice (Santa Rosa, CA); Tom Cashman (Federal Way, WA); Steven Charleston, Episcopal Divinity School; Barry Woodbridge (Rancho Cucamonga, CA); Margaret Guenther (Washington, D.C.); Betsy Caprio Hedburg (Culver City, CA) and Kenneth Leech, (London), Janet Ruffing, and Norvene Vest.
The Spiritual Directors International Series – This book is part of a special series produced by Morehouse Publishing in cooperation with Spiritual Directors International (SDI), a global network of some 6,000 spiritual directors and members.
Norvene Vest has been involved in Christian formation for 30 years through one-to-one spiritual direction, leading retreats and workshops, and writing books. She is the author of Preferring Christ, Still Listening, and Tending the Holy. She lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.
"...engaging, thought-provoking essays by seasoned spiritual directors from a variety of faith traditions...Still Listening is very highly recommended reading for both the pastoral community and the non-specialist general reader with an interest in spiritual approaches to life issues, circumstances, and challenges."--The Midwest Book Review"Through her invitation to twelve other experienced spiritual directors 'to share their thoughts on cutting-edge issues in the field,' Norvene Vest has offered us a great gift... breaks some new, fresh ground in this ancient field, as well as plows older rich soil in creative ways...some chapters would be excellent for parish pastors, some for training programs, some I could use in an introductory course in spiritual direction."-- Barbara B. Troxell, Presence"To the extent that crises often set people off on the spiritual journey, such conversations can be pastorally challenging. A good resource for that challenge is Still Listening. The writing is uniformly excellent. Spiritual direction may be a ministry of kindly silence in many regards, but Norvene Vest has brought together spiritual directors of uncommon verbal skill. Her book also offers fascinating insight into what pastoral work actually demands. This is a richly useful book."--Anne Kelsey, Saint James' Episcopal Church, Fremont CA, Anglican Theological Review
