Silent Disorder

Exploring monastic community

SPEAK is a multi-layered initiative which means people can opt in and opt out at different levels, for some people being involved in SPEAK means using Pray and Post card, others its joining a local group for others it is a source of Christian community. For some people connecting in with SPEAK ethos means opting into it as monastic order.

If you feel that you are interested in being part of SPEAK as a community of faith and practice then you may want to consider an informal monastic commitment which links you in with others and is a network within a network.

Filling in the form helps keep you informed with people thinking, reflecting and practicing on this level. It involves working out the core values, and lifestyle in a whole new way and building communities relevant to a society searching spiritually.

There are several different ways to opt in even here:

1. Being kept Informed of meetings and development of this area.

2. Novice Vow; you can sign the novice vow which is just to think about whether or not you want to take the real vows, in 12-18 months time. This is a vow to go on a process of reflection about whether or not you want to take the vows.

3. Consider taking vows; this can involve the ones outlined or you can quite simpler reword them as you like.

*We recommend taking the novice vow first.

Novice Vow

I am committed to take times of regular, prayer/ contemplation over a 12-18 month period in order to consider taking the vows and what they would mean for me personally. I am also going to consider how the core values apply and my commitment to serve the wider network of people seeking to embrace a lifestyle of prayer and activism. I will be considering my role in building a community which seeks reach out by being a voice.

Monastic Vows

Simplicity
A commitment to embrace a journey towards an integrated life, thinking about finances we spend, the products we buy, how we share with our global and community neighbours. We pledge to do this as a journey of grace not legalism.

Devotion
God is the lover of our soul so we are committed to centring our lives on God, through regular meditation, prayer and contemplation. We are committed to searching strengthening and developing community relationships with help us to keep centred.

Chastity
We commit to treating intimate relationships with the respect they deserve.

These are the collective SPEAK vows but the idea is that you can compose and develop your own under each heading in addition.

Silent
"In Acts 4 the more they loved one another and loved God, the more they declared his word. And he manifested himself through them. That is the only possible reason for speaking - it justified speaking without end, as long as speech is formed from silence an brings the soul again to silence". (p101 A year with Thomas Merton).

Dis-order
It is called a dis-order to emphasise that whilst we are seeking to embrace community and be a visible committed expression of this, we don't want to become too institutionalised. Thus, disorder means there is a lot of space for local groups to define what community means for them in their unique setting and for individuals to develop personal aspects to the collective vows. Together we can work serve communications and connections for like minded peoples and help organise times together. Challenging injustice means challenging power structures and we want to build community whilst striving to be free... to be spiritually disciplined whilst not being locked into obligatory relationships. There is beauty in the apparent disordered chaos of creation, which despite looking disorganised to the CONVENT-ional eye, has an underlying order to it's organic life.

UN-CONVENT-IONALNUN-SENSE?

On Line Form

If you are interested you can fill out this form to let us know which aspects you are interested in.

Print off DIY Vows

If you want to print of the vows here then please print off the attachment at the bottom of this page. This means you can personalise your vows and just keep them yourself don't need to send us a copy, just between you and God.

If you have taken the vows and want to be kept in touch with get together /e-mail loops are interested in being involved in organising them please send off the SPEAK silent disorder monastic post card and let us know. Get in contacthere.

Keeping In Touch

If you are interested in being kept in touch with the further monastic developments or networking with others exploring taking vows then let us know. We have a silent disorder e-mail loop that sends you a bimonthly meditation written by people in the network and also lets you know of get togethers. We are planning over the next year to arrange some visits to other intentional monastic communities with similar values such as the Northumbria community.