Beginnings

For many years a monastery was known as a schola caritas or school of charity. What was meant by caritas/charity is not at all what we have come to understand by charity. Sometimes the word love is used to replace it but that has its own connotations which I do not mean at all. I prefer the word caritas; that in Itself says loads about me. For a handy definition of caritas refer to the Christian Sacred Text of 1 Corinthians 13.
Why the reference to monasticism?
Those who know me and what I am involved in often describe me as either an abbot or novice master for monks who live outside the walls. While I am not sure if this is a very accurate description of me it certainly is better than most.
I am a theologian involved in spiritual formation and spiritual direction. This work is done with individuals and with groups. A good deal of the work I do is done in an outdoor setting. Many folks because of this setting think of me as an environmentalist. I do not think of my self in those terms at all. My work is toward holiness and wholeness/holistic.
I am a stage theorist as far as methodology goes which means growth/maturing occurs in stages it is not haphazard. So to speak for me growth goes from step to step skipping no step. Growth can occur when crisis is upon us not in static situations though crisis does not have to huge/life threatening.
Philosophically/theologically speaking I am a Traditionalist/Catholic/Classicist. By Traditionalist I do not mean conservative, I am not in any sense of that word. Two things I am not that conservative are is antiquarian and holder of the status quo. I am a Progressive Traditionalist one can maintain the traditions without imitating it. By Catholic I do not mean Roman Catholic. I am not willing to surrender that term to Roman Catholicism. Catholic is the noun and Roman is the adjective. One can be Catholic without being roman. Catholic in its classical meaning is " all that was held by all at all times in the Church." Though I am theologically speaking close to Anglicanism I am not an Anglo Catholic. If you must know My credentials; I am ordained and in connection with the United Methodist Church. By classicist I mean I recognize that we stand on the shoulders of those who went before us and we cannot ignore what they said, did and believed. And that what went before is a sound but not complete guide to present saying, doing, and believing.
In the schola caritas there was a rule/regula. For the rule which was general to be fleshed out there were particulars that were specific to place, time, and circumstances. these particulars where for the purpose of conversatio mores/conversion of manners. that we will leave to another post.