Peace and Blessings! This society of religious, clergy and the laity is dedicated to the prayerful scholarship of contemplation.
The goal of the Society is to integrate and disseminate a knowledge-base on the practice of prayer and contemplation gleaned from monastic traditions, with emphasis on their meaning and value within a Christological context. Ultimately, the Society's research has the purpose of elucidating spiritual exercises that will deepen the spiritual seeker's ever more enriched prayer life on the road to its highest expression -- the prayer of union with the Living God.
The Society is an ecclesiastical community sanctioned by Te Deum. It invites the enrollment of men and women of good character who are themselves inclined toward the study of prayer and who are committed to ongoing scholarship and research of this kind. The Society is committed to the free expression of ideas and the celebration of an hermeneutics of prayer. Members must agree to a Code of Ethical Conduct and tolerance for differing practices and respect for the dignity of ideas from all members.
Our activities are defined primarily by the exchange of ideas on a wide variety of topics related to the practice of the Divine Presence within and among us, drawing value from the writing, research and especially experiences of both Eastern and Western Christian and Non-Christian traditions. Through true dialogue and shared time in meditation on retreats, we are enriched, and we collectively advance the intention to "pray without ceasing."
Anyone of sincere spirit committed to this kind of research and fellowship is welcome to apply for membership in the society. Simply follow the email link below to send the Director an email expressing your interest. We will promptly send you an application.
All members receive a quarterly Newsletter, invitation to gatherings in the northeast and invitation to publish their research studies with us in the Society's Journal, PLEROMA.
There are five levels of membership: Student, Affiliate, Associate, Lay Theologian, and Pastor-Theologian.
Student members: Those in school as seminarians or individuals in pursuit of lay certificates.
Affiliate Members: Those interested in supporting the work of the Society and receiving the Newsletter & Journal but who are not themselves interested at this time in participating directly in the dialogues and the research.
Associate members: Individuals who wish to receive the benefits of Affiliate status PLUS contribute to the dialogues through direct sharing of their meditative experiences and their profession as Lay Ministers, Priests, or Religious.
Lay Theologian: Those who hold earned Masters and Doctorates in Biblical scholarship and/or Theology who wish to make ongoing contributions to the dialogues and research projects of the Society.
Pastor-Theologian: Those who hold earned Masters and Doctorates in Biblical scholarship and/or Theology who wish to make ongoing contributions to the dialogues and research projects of the Society AND who are serving their churches as duly ordained ministers, and consecrated Bishops who wish to advance ongoing research and practice in this area.
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