New Monasticism

What is New Monasticism?

Good question. It’s not about trying to be pious and dressing up in long habits. It is about responding to a stirring of the Spirit across churches and nations. There are many different expressions of new monasticism but people are coming together to form new communities shaped (in the main) by these four commitments:

1. A commitment to a Rhythm of Daily Life

This means shaping the day to find a balance of prayer, work, rest, meals and study. The Community House holds a rhythms of prayer three times a day: morning, lunchtime and night (compline). We also eat our weekday evening meals together, and encourage one another in taking a Sabbath or rest day.

2. A commitment to contemplative forms of prayer and meditation

Monastics have always prioritised prayer and sought to deepen their awareness of God’s presence through contemplation and meditation on the Scriptures. (Bear in mind that we’re not a silent community – there will be times for being noisy, and for enjoying exuberant praise and worship too!)

3. A commitment to spiritual practices and radical community

Spiritual practices are the habits we choose to practice which help us grow into Christ-likeness (e.g. periods of solitude, keeping Sabbath, fasting and feasting). Radical community means making ourselves vulnerable and accountable to one another within an agreed Way of Life.

4. A commitment to missional loving service as an individual and as a community

This hardly needs explaining, but it does need saying because people often imagine that monasticism is inward looking and out of touch with the real world. In new monasticism, people are exploring ways of balancing action and contemplation believing that the deeper communion with God will lead us to deeper and more fruitful engagement in God’s mission.

Abide in me, and I in you.

John 15:4 (KJV)