Dancing Sarah’s Circle

A Model of Supervision by

Michael Chow M.A. M.Div

Specialist & Teaching Supervisor (CASC)

CASC/ACSS Conference April 14, 2011

“Letting be, letting go, and letting the dialect happen”

“I am convinced that I learn, grow and change, as I am more able to let be, let go and let the dialectic happen. As much as I am able to not be confined by some rational definitions of what pastoral education should be—in other words, stop trying to climb Jacob’s Ladder—and find joy in dancing Sarah’s Circle, I discover the creative coming together of energies, the divine-human synergy.”

Model of Supervision 2002, p. 1Quoting Mathew Fox in A Spirituality Named Compassion, 1979

Invitation to the Dance

John 1: 43-51 Story of Nathanael and Jesus– “Come and see…” (verse 47)

• Invitation to the dance

– “I saw you under the fig tree…” (v 48)• Being known without pretension was important,

and enough, for Nathanael

Attachment Theory grounding

Joining with the student through unconditional acceptance and affirmation of the person without judgment

Mirroring to the student his or her special grandiose ideal of self (v 48)

Idealizing of supervisor by student (v 49) Twinning (verse 50)

Power of Paradox

“As a pastoral educator dancing Sarah’s Circle, the paradoxical power of being compassionate means for me the ability to model for others mutuality, vulnerability and the mystery of the dialectical happening, as Fox would say.”

Model of Supervision, p. 4

Power of Story

“In pastoral ministry as a hospital chaplain, as I am finding in pastoral education, I encounter people who have a story to tell. I no longer underestimate the restorative power of listening to that story; nor the way I am transformed as I listen and am invited into the other’s world.”

Model of Supervision, p. 4

So why dance…?

Spiritual framework– Common life force within each of us– Connects us to divine and each other– Communion or “common union”– Eschatological earthly community– Re-union in fullness of life after death

Spiritual Framework

“For me, the destiny of human beings is that since we come from the divine, in the afterlife, the sacred or divine who dwells within each of us will lead us home in intimate union with the life source from whom we originate. For me, this spiritual stance serves as the foundational framework of my theology of ministry. …..”

Spiritual Framework

“…Whatever I do in the name of service that builds up the human community and prepares us for the ultimate heavenly re-union, can be the domain of ministry. My hope lies in the mystery that living to the full bears both an existential and an otherworldly focus. …..”

Spiritual Framework

“…Living with a sense of meaning and purpose because of whatever we deem sacred in our existence, has its own reward here and now. Nonetheless, my faith is in the fullness of life that is not yet. …..”

Spiritual Framework

“…The ultimate fulfillment for humankind is, as I see it, an evolving, and sometimes-meandering pilgrimage. In my experience, such a worldview has universal congruence for people in the major religious traditions.”– FN: In the Eastern spiritual traditions, “chi” is the

quintessential living breath, and in the West it is understood as “the force” which has been popularized by films such as Star Wars.

Model, p. 5

Use of Power

Diagram of Karl Tomm’s model of ethical postures

Closing Space

Decrease Options

MANIPULATION CONFRONTATION Emphasis on Secret Shared Informed Professional Knowledge Knowledge Collaboration Expertise SUCCORANCE EMPOWERMENT

Increase Options

Opening Space

Can I have this dance?

“I value the unmistakable healing that happens as someone is drawn into the dancing circle, and feels confident spontaneously to try on different view points, beliefs, and behaviours.

The joy is in the dancing!”Model p. 9

And the Dance Goes On…Dancing Sarah’s Circle to the music of

compassion. Come join us …

it will change your life. Listen to the music …

… and join the dance …

… till eternity passes