Summary of "Spiritual Styles: A Roots resource exploring different routes to Christian spirituality"

Key Wellness and Spirituality Strategies from the Video

Understanding Spiritual Styles

People connect with God and express spirituality in different ways. These can be categorized into four overlapping spiritual styles.

Four Spiritual Styles

Word-Centered Spirituality: Focuses on learning about God through words, scripture, and accurate communication of spiritual matters.
Emotion-Centered Spirituality: Centers on deep emotional experiences, often through music or performing arts, as a connection to God.
Simple-Centered Spirituality: A mystical, abstract approach using parables, metaphors, symbols, and rituals to sense God’s presence beyond words.
Action-Centered Spirituality: Involves experiencing God through working for justice, peace, and healing in the world.

Balanced Spirituality

Healthy spirituality involves a balance among all four styles rather than favoring one exclusively.

Inclusivity in Ministry and Worship

Being aware of different spiritual styles helps leaders avoid designing worship and programs solely based on their own preferred style.
Creating “harmoniously dissonant” environments meets diverse spiritual needs and encourages growth by exposing people to different styles.

Practical Application

Incorporate spiritual styles in various parts of faith community life, such as gathering time, hearing/responding to the word, and sending.
Use this framework to help churches become inclusive spaces that nurture varied spiritual experiences.

Presenter

Dave Stennis Author of Children’s Ministry That Fits, doctoral student, and teaching for ministry fellow at Emmanuel College, University of Toronto.