Dancing with change: a spiritual response to changes in the church

Richard J McCorry

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Dancing with change: a spiritual response to changes in the church

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MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Richard J McCorry. Dancing with Change: a Spiritual Response to Changes In the Church. Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/99006137-74d9-473f-b4b6-f8d35dad8aed?q=2003.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

R. J. Mccorry. Dancing with change: a spiritual response to changes in the church. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/99006137-74d9-473f-b4b6-f8d35dad8aed?q=2003

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Richard J McCorry. Dancing with Change: a Spiritual Response to Changes In the Church. Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/99006137-74d9-473f-b4b6-f8d35dad8aed?q=2003.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

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Richard J McCorry

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Abstract

Generally speaking most people have difficulty with change that they have not had a hand in brining about. This paper explores the topic of change, in light of the many changes occurring today in the Roman Catholic Church. Drawing upon scripture, church history, contemporary secular change management literature, spirituality (especially spirituality employed in the past during times of change), and certain theologies, this paper charts one spiritual path people can follow during times of change in the church. It begins with an exploration of the process of change in general. What are the reasons people resist change, especially changes in the church? What are some of the emotions we can expect to feel as we are going through change? Do these emotions hold up to the light of scrutiny? Sometimes when we examine our feeling in light of reality we find that the feelings are baseless or have a basis in something other than the immediate change to which we are trying to adapt. Change within a religious context is explored, and some theological approaches to change are considered. Finally, the author describes a unique spiritual approach to change which has been successfully offered as reflection sessions during the years 2001-2003 in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, NY. These reflections are entitled 'The LEAP of Faith,' with LEAP being an acronym representing four essential components of this particular approach: Learning, Experience, Action, and Prayer. Participants in these reflection sessions have included professional Diocesan and parish staffs, volunteers, clergy, professed religious and parishioners. The overwhelming majority of participants, across all categories, have reflected favorably upon this unique spiritual approach to change.

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