LE3 .A278 2019

2019

McNally, John

Acadia University

Doctor of Ministry

D.Min.

Ministry

Acadia Divinity College

This thesis project explores the current renewal of interest in “Celtic Christian spirituality” and its efficacy for parishioners in an Anglican Church in Saint John, NB. It identifies, recovers and adapts five characteristic practices of the Christians of the “Celtic Fringe”. Volunteers were invited to practice these spiritual disciplines for a three-month long “experiment”. The spiritual growth of the participants was assessed with before and after Natural Church Development “Spiritual Style Tests” for measuring its defined church growth “quality characteristic” of “Passionate Spirituality”;and also with post-project Deliberative Discussion Focus Groups. The thesis gives a definition of “Celtic Christian spirituality” and outlines a Biblical foundation for it. A literature review defends the very idea of such a distinct “spirituality” from primary sources and historical scholarship, with particular attention to five selected characteristic spiritual disciplines: Daily Praying the Psalms; engaging in Adventures in Blessing; offering Trinitarian Prayers throughout each day; deliberately experiencing the Holiness of God in Creation, and partnering with a Soul-Friend. The rationale for selecting these practices is presented with reference to contemporary proponents of both Missional spirituality and Celtic Christianity. The adaptation of these practices for the experiment subjects is explained and outlined. The results in their spiritual growth is measured and reported quantitatively, using the numeric value results of the Natural Church Development “Spiritual Style Tests”; and qualitatively, using the participants’own reflections and comments during the Deliberative Discussion Focus Groups

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:3344