I serve as an Elder/Pastor of Christ Community Church in Jackson, Tennessee. Guided by Benedictine spirituality and inspired by Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, many in our congregation have bought homes in close proximity to each other for living and working together. We strive to balance the mission of proclaiming the Gospel through our sacramental life of worship and personal witness with the reality of physical work and hospitality-driven ministry. Within this cluster of homes, I helped establish The Sanctuary Home, a home for Christian discipleship among young men where a couple from our congregation provides a common life loosely based on the Benedictine Rule. Spending twelve weeks in Cannon Beach, Oregon would provide opportunity for:
1. Daily devotional practices of praying the Daily Office, prayer walks and reading to nourish my soul along with recreational activities such as kayaking and hiking with my family.
2. Research of Christian communities from across the history of the church to the present so that I might imagine and inspire new avenues of ministry.
3. Retreats to the monastic communities of St. Meinrad Archabbey, and Mount Angel Abbey.
4. Documenting our journey as a congregation in book form.