Featured Resource
Supervision of Spiritual Directors: Engaging in Holy Mystery
Edited by Mary Rose Bumpus and Rebecca Bradburn Langer
Book Description
The last decade has seen increased interest in the practice
of
spiritual direction, both from people feeling called to be spiritual
directors, and from those seeking direction. But with the growth in
the
number of directors has come an increased need to train their
supervisors.
This collection of essays is one of the first
books in the field that
help with the training of supervisors. Written by spiritual directors
who have years of experience in supervision
between them, this book
engages some of the leading voices in the field in an exploration of a
wide variety of issues, including: gender
and sexuality; ethical
dilemmas; working with diverse racial ethnic constituents; working with
the differently abled; the parameters of
supervision; the supervision
of beginning directors, and more. An excellent textbook for those who
feel called to the role of supervisor,
as well as an important book for
those who are already practicing in the field.
About the Author
Mary Rose Bumpus is a
Sister of Mercy of
the Cincinnati Regional Community who has worked in the area of
spiritual direction for twenty-five years. She currently
serves as
Assistant Professor of Christian Spirituality at Seattle University and
was formerly director of the Diploma in the Art of
Spiritual Direction
Program at San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Rebecca Langer is an ordained Presbyterian minister,
spiritual
director, and the coordinator of Supervision for San Francisco
Theological Seminary in the Diploma in the Art of Spiritual
Direction
program. She lives in San Anselmo, California.
Reviews for Supervision of Spiritual
Directors: Engaging in Holy Mystery
"This
volume, edited by Mary Rose Bumpus and Rebecca Bradburn Langer, is a
welcome addition to the relatively limited literature on the
supervision of spiritual directors. The book is divided into three
sections.
The
three essays in Part I deal with the question, “What is Supervision?”
These essays are helpful in exploring what is unique to supervision of
spiritual directors (as opposed, for example, to supervision of
therapists). While the authors take different approaches, they tend to
focus on what might broadly be termed the “contemplative” aspects of
supervision. What is the vocation and charism of the person receiving
supervision? How might God be working in the lives of those with whom
the spiritual director is meeting?
Part
II is entitled “Specific Topics in Supervision” and contains four
essays dealing with support of beginning directors, listening to the
various dimensions of human experience (sensations, emotions, and
thoughts), appropriate attention to sexuality, and avoiding ethical
quagmires. If Part I lays out some theoretical approaches to
supervision, Part II contains practical suggestions and helpful case
studies. Beginning supervisors will especially find these chapters
enlightening, and even experienced supervisors will find insights worth
further mining. This reviewer found the essays on sexuality and on
ethical quagmires particularly helpful.
Finally,
the three essays in Part III explore the topic of “Worldview and
Supervision.” The authors in this section argue that the context of
supervision goes well beyond the one-to-one encounter taking place in
the supervisor’s office. The essays explore issues embedded in social
or institutional structures, in “co-cultures” (or what readers may more
familiarly call sub-cultures), and in the disabled community. The
first essay lays out a helpful model of discussing supervision in
dimensions of human experience which are nonthematic (diffuse and
inarticulate), imagistic (affective-imaginative), and interpretive
(logical, propositional).
A
particularly useful appendix in the book presents a Contemplative
Reflection Form which can be adapted by other supervisors after
receiving written permission. This is a form which supervisees fill in
prior to meeting with their supervisor. This tool is worth considering
for adaptation to other programs.
The
authors in this volume are almost all associated with the Diploma in
Spiritual Direction offered by San Francisco Theological Seminary in
San Anselmo, CA. The advantage of this is that they share a similar
approach to supervision; the disadvantage is that a wider variety of
voices is not heard. Also, several of the articles, in this reviewer’s
opinion, addressed spiritual direction almost as much as they addressed
supervision. A clearer distinction of supervision from spiritual
direction would be appreciated.
Overall,
Supervision of Spiritual Directors is well done and a must read for
those involved in this ministry. Supervisors will find helpful
suggestions both for the theory and the practice of supervision." —Bruce
H. Lescher, Ph.D., Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley. The review
first appeared in "Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in
Ministry," vol 27
“Supervision of Spiritual
Directors: Engaging in Holy Mystery makes a fine contribution to the training
of spiritual directors. I highly recommend it as an excellent resource for new
and experienced supervisors and spiritual directors.” —Cissy McLane, co-founder of the Ignation
Spirituality Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.
To read a review of
the
book on Supervision, from Presence journal, March 2006, click here.
Ministers of spiritual direction tend to their spiritual care ministry by
participating in peer group supervision or meeting with a trained supervisor regularly.
The
Guidelines for Ethical Conduct in Spiritual Direction include a section on
Supervision, “Spiritual directors engage in
supervision by:
a. receiving regular supervision from peers or
from a mentor;
b. seeking consultations with other appropriately qualified persons when
necessary.
Rose Mary Bumpus, RSM and
Rebecca Langer co-authored a book for the Spiritual Directors International
Series about models for
supervision.
To purchase the supervision book,
please click here.
To read a review of
the
book on Supervision, from Presence journal, March 2006, click here.
Click here to view the Web Library of books and videos about supervision.
Thank you Vivienne Joyce, SC and Janet Ruffing, RSM for creating the
bibliography of materials that relate to the supervision element of spiritual
direction.
