Over the past decade I have been teaching a course, Spirituality for Ministry, at the Churches of Christ Theological College at Mulgrave. This book reflects the development of topics treated in this course. The lectures have also been given, on several occasions, in Oklahoma and Colorado for Phillips Theological Seminary. I have benefited enormously from the enthusiastic participation of students in both Australia and America, who have helped me further develop insights.

      This book is very much a work in progress. I am continually learning. While I am nurtured by what I read, my deepest understandings come from knowing myself more intimately. This is a continuing journey, which is not without its pain.

      The work does not pretend to be comprehensive, or tightly integrated, in spite of an overview that will become obvious as you put the pieces together. Reality is not like this, anyway. What I have tried to do is to draw together a range of topics that relate to ministry - to the spirituality of the minister and of those to and with whom he/she ministers and to the spiritual dimensions of the roles the minister is called upon to fulfil.

      I should also indicate that this volume is not a theological text. Its orientation is experiential and phenomenological. As I do not consider myself a theologian, I invite others to draw the theological implications. All I am trying to do is to tell it like it is, at least for me.

      I have benefited so much from family, friends and colleagues in both Australia and America that it would be impossible for me to list them all. They have supported and challenged me, enriching both my experience and my perceptions. I am particularly grateful to Dr. Bill Tabbernee, who suggested I intentionally explore the area of spirituality, which, from as far back as I can remember, has fascinated me.

      I have used inclusive language throughout the text. When referring to God I have employed both masculine and feminine pronouns. In doing this, I have not followed an established protocol. I honour my intuition and have used whatever pronoun I felt appropriate at the time. God is beyond gender and beyond pronouns. He/she is utterly beyond human cognition. The attempt to speak of God is an exercise in hubris, but must be attempted, nevertheless.

      I invite you to peruse the following chapters. They are not the last word, but they are my offering to you. I hope you will find some benefit in them.

Graeme Chapman
Feb 1998

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