Longing For Spring
A New Vision for Wesleyan Community
by Elaine A. Heath & Scott T. Kisker
Summary
New Monasticism is a movement of the Holy Spirit which has the potential to bring renewal to the church. It has arisen out of a desire for intentional Christian community which focuses on both spiritual formation and outward social action. The movement has roots in the Wesleyan tradition which was based on bands and class meetings that followed a rule of life for personal growth and encouraged members to live and work among the poor and marginalized of the community.
Author’s Website:
Elaine A. Heath - Author
Favorite Quotes
“…the institutionally self-serving ways of Christendom are crumbling and all the privileged, consumeristic, colonizing assumptions of the church are falling apart.”
“Rather than being cloistered away from the world, the new monks form communities to be salt and light for the world…emptying themselves for the sake of their neighbors. Most of them choose downward mobility as a way of life. Yes, very counter cultural. Not at all the American Dream. Which is why this will not become the next big church growth scheme.”
“My suspicion is that if enough new Methodists are stubborn about staying in the church but radical about following Jesus, with or without ordination, with or without financial remuneration for their ministry, they will bring about systemic change.”
“…new monastic communities are by nature small and participatory, with ministry belonging to the members and not to a professional staff. The growth of this form of church is through the multiplication of small communities rather than the bloating of one congregation.”
