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READERS RESPOND

(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4) people doing spiritual direction less than full time. I did
spiritual direction occasionally (less than twenty hours
who are not full time spiritual directors. It reminds me of per week) and then part-time before going full-time, and
my Baptist youth days when it was made crystal clear that if I know how challenging spiritual direction can be at every
you really wanted to be close to the heart of God, you should one of those levels.
choose to be a “full time” minister, for only those who gave Clara Brower is right though that “occasional” would
their all to service could expect to get divine affirmation. have been a better choice of words than “casual.” I didn’t
While Tallman seeks to affirm the ministry of all spiritual mean to imply that spiritual directors who work at it less
directors, regardless of the amount of time that they actu- than twenty hours a week are not serious about their work.
ally can or do devote to their ministry on a weekly basis, it Like every spiritual director I know, I try not to get
is absolutely clear that in his hierarchy of values, it is only seduced into serving God and mammon. That’s why in
the full time spiritual directors who really get it and will be my book Finding Seekers I stress basing your ministry
the ambassadors for fulfilling his fantasy of impacting in and service upon God and prayer. I am more than will-
ten years the lives of 50 million people. I didn’t think that ing to reduce my fee for those who cannot afford it, and I
the ministry that I love, and frankly do quite well at in my have provided spiritual direction free of charge.
small scale format, has now become a megachurch focus on Bruce Tallman, PhD
numbers. And what about this focus on money? Have we London, Ontario, Canada
become so coopted by the prevailing values of our culture
that we too suffer the illusion that we can serve God and Dear Editor:
mammon at the same time (Matthew 6:24)? James Juma, MHM’s article, “African Worldviews:
It is particularly troubling that Mr. Tallman, in seeking Their Impact on Spiritual Direction, from a Healing and
to distinguish the different levels of endeavor—or perhaps Transformation Perspective,” in the March 2014 issue
he really means commitment—that directors devote to moved me deeply. His research “addressing spiritual prob-
their ministry, chose the word “casual” to identify those lems within the African context” goes to the very heart of
who give less than part time (twenty hours) to their min- spiritual direction for me: listening and paying attention
istry. While the dictionary offers a variety of meaning for (noticing). The information presented is valuable for a
the word “casual” such as aimless, unpredictable, random, better understanding of a certain group of people on the
incidental, and such, it is only in the middle of these huge African continent. And, he notes the very different
rather negative characterizations that it is also defined as (Western) training of most spiritual directors. For me, his
occasional. The choice of this term clearly denigrates those work serves as a reminder of how true this is in my practice
who have not achieved, and may not want to achieve, his of spiritual direction. I ask myself, am I really listening
level of full time ministry. to all that is this person? Do I pay attention to how they
Certainly, if Bruce Tallman is able to manage a full time experience their world and what their expectations are?
career as a spiritual director, he is to be commended. But And, do I pay attention to my assumptions, my experi-
I know from conversations with my other full time col- ences, and my expectations? Thank you, SDI Presence, for
leagues, it is not an easy path, especially if you are sensi- publishing this important article. Thank you, James Juma,
tive to the diverse economic realities of many spiritual for your work of compassion and grace.
directees who cannot afford the exorbitant fees that some Debra Garfinkel, MDiv
directors want to charge for their ministry. But, let’s not Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA ■
diminish the ministry of those who choose not to go down
that full time pathway. Correction
Clara E. Brower In the June 2014 issue of Presence, we mistakenly
referred to the book Great Mystics and Social Justice as
Bruce Tallman responds: the basis for Susan Rakoczy, IHM’s article “Women and
My article was not meant in any way to denigrate Spiritual Direction.” We regret the error. ■

60 Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction