Much popular contemporary spirituality is a quest spirituality, mono-polar in its primary direction, with the primary goal of connecting with one’s depths, attuning oneself with essential humanness and shared universal humanity. Traditional Christian spirituality is bi-polar - “to know one’s true self and to know the true God,” said Augustine. Jesus, unlike his followers, did not teach a bi-polar spirituality of such individual encounter with God as the goal of the inner life. He was utterly clear, unequivocal, in teaching authentic tri-polar spirituality — discovering and knowing the self by knowing and loving God through the experience of loving the neighbour who images God.

Mainstream spirituality traditionally affirms poles 1 and 2, rarely a full “3”. Most common is a 1.5 spirituality that worships a god of one’s creation through projection of self onto the divine. In much writing and practice, spirituality settles for a supposed necessary compromise at the point of a “2.5” spirituality that cares about self, God and the neighbour, in-as-far as possible without sacrificing one’s safety or survival, but is willing to sacrifice the other when there is “just cause.” Tripolar spirituality affirms that in one’s love of neighbour, brother, sister, enemy and persecutor, one is loving God, who is present in “the least of these”.

These categories of mono- bi- and tri-polar spirituality open up a more particular way of looking at the familiar and oft-stated. Proponents of Tri-polar spirituality have emerged in many ages and traditions. A few communities have sought to live it out in obedient discipleship; Anabaptism is one of the longest experiments in such faithful corporate tri-polar spirituality. Not always successful in the pursuit, it learns from many others who have sought to embody such faithfulness, but continues to witness to this path of dissident discipleship.

Tri-polar spirituality will be explored in this seminar as a way of understanding love (and hate), compassion (and violence) radical discipleship (and cultural dissidence) that is stubbornly attached to Jesus and His way.

For this fascinating look at Anabaptist spirituality, we are pleased to welcome back David Augsburger, Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Fuller Theological Seminary. Drawing from his new book, Dissident Discipleship, which he began writing at the London Mennonite Centre, as well as from his recent book: Hate-Work: Working Through the Pain and Pleasure of Hate, David will be leading us in this journey about the transforming power of love. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear one of the best-known and most-captivating Mennonite speakers!

NOTE: David’s new book will be available for the first time anywhere on the day of the seminar. If you cannot attend the seminar, you may still order the book from us for shipment on the 10th of April.

David Augsburger is Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is a well-known speaker and the author of twenty books on pastoral counseling and conflict and human relations, including Pastoral Counseling Across Cultures, Conflict Mediation Across Cultures, Caring Enough to
Confront and Helping People Forgive.

Recommended reading: Hate-Work: Working Through the Pain and Pleasure of Hate by David Augsburger (available from Metanoia)

Fee: £20 (£10 unwaged)
Fee includes VAT and meal

To book for the course, download the Cross-Currents Calendar and application form, fill out the application form and mail it, with the fee, to
London Mennonite Centre
14 Shepherds Hill
London N65AQ
For more details or to reserve a space, call 0845 4500 214.