Happy New Year! If you have been reading The Ecological Disciple for a while, you may have noticed that I have not published anything new for about six months. The primary reason is that, in my role as Executive Director of Circlewood, I have been overseeing the construction of the first building of Circlewood Village. This is a significant step in our vision to create a unique center for learning, transformation, and innovation within Circlewood's 40-acre forest on Camano Island.

A few pictures of the construction.

The building will be called The Sine Center for Ecological Learning, in honor of visionaries Tom and Christine Sine, who initially purchased the land, got the vision going, and then generously passed it on to Circlewood. Tom and Christine continue to do visionary work, and I am so glad that they remain involved with Circlewood.

Circlewood grew out of Mustard Seed Associates, one of the Sines' creative endeavors.

 
These past months have been an intense time of learning, problem-solving, and, at times, exhaustion. As we near the end of the construction phase, I'm pleased with the results and excited about the possibilities for learning and connection that are emerging. I am also eager to catch my breath and return to regular writing. It has been quite a journey! Speaking of journeys....

My Theme for 2025: The Journey of Ecological Discipleship

In my work with Circlewood, I have the privilege of working with a diverse array of people and organizations that are doing wonderful work to care for the earth, meet human needs, and move humanity in a more sustainable direction. We work with traditional churches across the theological and denominational spectrum, as well as exploratory communities on the edges of Christianity. We are part of interfaith groups from various religious traditions and have developed relationships with several Indigenous leaders and communities. We also work with corporate groups, civic institutions, government agencies, and a variety of non-profit organizations.

All of these friends and partners are contributing to what Thomas Berry has called the "Great Work" of our time, even though they bring to the work a wide variety of values, beliefs, and motivations. I have found this diversity of friends and partners refreshing and enlightening. I have also found it difficult, at times, to discern Circlewood's place and purpose within this diversity; what is our particular vocation within the Great Work? We are comfortable in a diverse array of settings but not quite at home in any of them. We often find ourselves moving quickly between groups and communities, adapting to different frameworks, language, and priorities. This can make it difficult to explain to people who we are. It can also be tiring, and I have often wondered if Circlewood should just pick one community to work with and to call home.

A few months ago, however, it occurred to me that the challenge of navigating these different communities and environments has shaped our vocation in a profound way. We are calling people to embark on a journey of discipleship that questions the status quo, explores new ideas and practices, and seeks deeper connection with God and the community of creation. It is a journey that reimagines what it means to be a follower of Jesus in a world that is thoroughly interconnected, and reforms faith in ways that bring healing to the world.

For many, this is new terrain, and guides are needed to help plan for and navigate the journey. It is exciting to see the way in which I, and Circlewood, have been prepared over the years for this guiding role. We are not experts - we are on the journey as well - but we have learned a lot along the way and are ready to guide others as they set out on this exciting and important adventure - the journey of ecological discipleship.

An Invitation

Over the course of this year, I'll be writing about the contours of this journey. No two journeys are exactly alike, but there is a common pattern to journeys of transformation that occur across time and cultures. We will explore eight distinct stages/movements through which ecological disciples travel. We will identify the external and internal journey required for each of these stages. We will look at key practices that help us navigate and learn as we progress. We will make connections to scripture and tell stories that instruct and inspire us. We will identify people and communities who can guide us through each particular stage.

I invite you to join me as we explore this journey together. I will be asking questions with each piece I write and inviting you to share your experience. As always, I can be reached at james.amadon@circlewood.online.

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I want to know: How does a "Journey of Ecological Discipleship" resonate with you? Do any thoughts or questions come to mind?

 
With you on The Way,
James