Ethan Walker
The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is a Catholic educational nonprofit organization that was founded by Franciscan Richard Rohr in 1987. The CAC is committed to introducing spiritual seekers to the Christian contemplative path of transformation. It emphasizes the integration of action and contemplation, believing that they are inseparable. The CAC offers a range of programs, including the Living School, which explores Christian contemplative traditions and seeks to support personal transformation and inspire loving action. With its values of humility, simplicity, truthfulness, and solidarity, the CAC welcomes diversity and aims to create a contemplative community that embraces everyone and everything.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Educational nonprofit | Humility |
| Christian | Simplicity |
| Integration of action and contemplation | Truthfulness |
| Franciscan | Solidarity |
| Founded by Richard Rohr | Diversity and inclusion |
| Hosts speakers | |
| Offers courses, books, podcasts, events, etc. | |
| Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico |
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What You'll Learn
- The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is an educational nonprofit
- CAC was founded by Franciscan Richard Rohr in 1987
- CAC's mission is to introduce Christian contemplative wisdom and practices
- CAC has been criticised for nurturing radical feminism
- CAC offers courses, books, podcasts, events and other resources
The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is an educational nonprofit
CAC offers a range of resources such as Daily Meditations, books, courses, podcasts, and events. One of its programs is the Living School for Action and Contemplation, which was launched in 2013. The school combines online study with in-person symposiums, offering an intensive two-year program exploring the Christian contemplative tradition. Students in the Living School deepen their engagement with themselves and the world through rigorous study and contemplation, awakening to God's loving presence in all things.
CAC is committed to diversity and inclusion, welcoming individuals from various backgrounds, including different age groups, races, ethnicities, faith traditions, genders, and sexual identities. It also values humility, simplicity, truthfulness, and solidarity in its pursuit of transformative education. The center is known for its images of whales, symbolizing a call to dive deeper within oneself.
CAC has been associated with Catholic communities and initiatives in Albuquerque. It has been involved with the establishment of the Albuquerque Interfaith, which includes Catholic parishes among its religious community members. Additionally, CAC has been a part of Catholic forums and has been advertised in Catholic bulletins and newsletters, indicating its engagement with the Catholic Church.
The center's founder, Richard Rohr, is known for his teachings on contemplation and action within Christianity. He emphasizes that prayer without action can lead to self-preoccupation, while action without contemplation may cause more harm than good. CAC's executive director, Michael Poffenberger, reiterates the importance of integrating action and contemplation, stating that the center aims to apply deep spiritual traditions to facilitate human transformation.
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CAC was founded by Franciscan Richard Rohr in 1987
The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) was founded by Franciscan Richard Rohr in 1987. CAC is an educational nonprofit organisation that introduces spiritual seekers to the contemplative Christian path of transformation. Rohr founded the centre because he believed that there was a deep need for the integration of both action and contemplation, which are inseparable.
CAC is located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The centre's main building, known as Tepeyac House, is the oldest home in the neighbourhood. The building was formerly the residence of the Gonzalez family. Today, it houses the centre's bookstore, offices, and meeting rooms.
CAC offers a variety of programmes and courses to help people unpack the tradition of Christian contemplation and put it into action. One of their popular programmes is the Living School for Action and Contemplation, which was launched in 2013. The school is led by a team of contemplative teachers, including James Finley, Barbara Holmes, Brian McLaren, and Richard Rohr. The courses are mostly online, but students also attend four community gatherings at the CAC.
CAC is committed to introducing Christian contemplative wisdom and practices that support transformation and inspire loving action. They aim to create a diverse and inclusive culture that aligns with their values of humility, simplicity, truthfulness, and solidarity.
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CAC's mission is to introduce Christian contemplative wisdom and practices
The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is an educational nonprofit organisation founded by Franciscan Richard Rohr in 1987. Rohr, a Catholic priest, established the centre to introduce spiritual seekers to the Christian contemplative path of transformation. CAC's mission is to introduce Christian contemplative wisdom and practices that support transformation and inspire loving action.
CAC's founder, Rohr, believes that action and contemplation are inseparable. He says that the most important word in the centre's name is not "action" or "contemplation", but "and". This is because contemplation without action can promote self-preoccupation, and action without contemplation can cause more harm than good. CAC's executive director, Michael Poffenberger, echoes this sentiment, stating that the CAC is meant to be a place where deep, rich spiritual traditions are applied to human transformation.
CAC offers a variety of programmes, books, courses, podcasts, events, and other resources to help individuals deepen their engagement with themselves, the world, and God. One of its programmes is the Living School for Action and Contemplation, which was launched in 2013. The Living School combines online study with in-person symposiums, offering an accessible yet thorough examination of the Christian contemplative tradition. During the two-year programme, students explore topics such as non-dual consciousness, mystical traditions, and human and cosmic incarnation. They delve into the works of mystics and contemporary figures, seeking to awaken to the pattern of reality and embrace the rich heritage of Christian mystical traditions.
CAC is committed to diversity and inclusivity, welcoming individuals from various backgrounds and identities. It also values humility, simplicity, truthfulness, and solidarity in its pursuit of transformative work that contributes to healing the world.
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CAC has been criticised for nurturing radical feminism
The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is a Christian educational nonprofit organisation that was founded by Franciscan Richard Rohr in 1987. Rohr established the centre to integrate action and contemplation, believing that the two are inseparable. The CAC has been criticised for nurturing radical feminism.
Donna Steichen, writing in Ungodly Rage, criticises the CAC for hosting speaker Rosemary Radford Ruether in the winter of 1996. Ruether, a radical feminist, proposed that women:
> 'must emancipate themselves from Jesus as redeemer and seek a new redemptive disclosure of God and of human possibility in female form.'
Ruether's proposal involves discarding the "traditional masculine imagery" of Jesus as Messiah or divine Logos. This is an example of how radical feminists seek to abolish the patriarchy and liberate women from an unjust society by challenging existing social norms and institutions.
The CAC has also been criticised for its association with the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF), founded by Saul Alinsky. The CAC, as the primary Call to Action (CTA) member in New Mexico, has assisted CTA in propagating its We Are Church referendum. Some believe that the "power language" of Alinsky and the IAF does not align with the teachings of the Bible or the Catholic faith.
In addition to Ruether, other notable speakers at the CAC have included '60s war protester Daniel Berrigan. The CAC has also offered alternative spirituality programs, such as instruction in the elements of Zen practice. The centre has been described as providing "a faith alternative to the dominant consciousness."
While the CAC has been criticised for nurturing radical feminism, it is important to note that the centre's offerings are diverse and include Daily Meditations, books, courses, a podcast, events, and other programs. The CAC's Living School for Action and Contemplation, launched in 2013, invites students to deepen their engagement with themselves and the world through rigorous study and contemplation of Christian mystical traditions.
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CAC offers courses, books, podcasts, events and other resources
The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is an educational nonprofit organisation that integrates action and contemplation in the Christian contemplative path of transformation. CAC was founded by Franciscan Richard Rohr in 1986 or 1987 and is based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
CAC offers a range of courses, books, podcasts, events, and other resources to help people deepen their spiritual practices and understanding. Here are some of their offerings:
Courses
CAC offers various courses, including the Living School for Action and Contemplation, which was launched in 2013. This two-year program invites students to deepen their engagement with themselves and the world through rigorous study and contemplation of Christian mystical traditions. The courses are mostly online, but students also make four trips to the CAC for community gatherings. Another course offered by CAC is "Falling Upward: Life as a Spiritual Path", which invites participants to embrace their unique journey into the second half of life.
Books
CAC has a bookstore located in the Tepeyac House, the center's main building. The bookstore offers a range of books on Christian contemplation and related topics.
Podcasts
CAC produces podcasts that explore various topics related to Christian contemplation and personal transformation.
Events
CAC hosts events, such as their annual fall conference series, which explores topics like "Explore Christianity as a Living Path". They also host community gatherings for students of the Living School and other events that promote spiritual growth and transformation.
Other Resources
CAC also offers daily meditations, online education, and a monthly email series called "We Conspire", which features wisdom and stories from the growing Christian contemplative movement.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) is Catholic. It is an educational nonprofit that was founded by Franciscan Richard Rohr in 1987. The CAC is dedicated to introducing seekers to the contemplative Christian path of transformation.
The CAC's mission is to introduce Christian contemplative wisdom and practices that support transformation and inspire loving action. They believe that action and contemplation are inseparable and that both are necessary for spiritual growth and a more compassionate world.
The CAC is grounded in values of humility, simplicity, truthfulness, and solidarity. They welcome diversity and value the contributions of individuals from various backgrounds, fostering an inclusive and respectful community.
The CAC offers a range of programs, including the Living School for Action and Contemplation, which is a two-year intensive program exploring Christian contemplative traditions. They also provide daily meditations, books, courses, podcasts, events, and social justice initiatives, such as helping establish the Albuquerque Interfaith community.
