Epiphany Institute of Spirituality
While preaching and missions have been strengths of Baptist spirituality over the past two centuries, 17th century Baptists also emphasized unmediated communion with God and covenant community. The Epiphany Institute of Spirituality (EIS) exists to reclaim and revive these early Baptist emphases within our own historical tradition through adapting teachings and practices of contemplative streams of Christianity from the Latin West, Greek East, and Syriac Orient.
The initials of the Epiphany Institute of Spirituality are “EIS.” The Greek word “eis” can mean either into as “baptized into Christ” or one as in being “one in Christ.” EIS seeks to immerse Baptists into contemplative streams of Christianity to facilitate personal and communal oneness through contemplative teachings and practices.
We chose the name “Epiphany” because in the ancient Christian church the Day of Epiphany was related to the Baptism of Jesus and continues to be so in Eastern and Oriental Christianities. Thus, there is a natural relationship to Baptists that has heretofore been untapped. EIS will seek to enrich Baptist spirituality through cross-fertilization with consonant elements of Christian contemplative traditions, especially the Syriac Orient with its rich baptismal theology and spirituality.
We hope to accomplish the above by:
-
Training Baptists in the art and discipline of contemplative listening to God.
-
Helping people recognize and become epiphanies – manifestations of God.
-
Adapting ancient Christian teachings and practices for contemporary Western Christians.
-
Guiding Christians on the inward-outward journey of wisdom and compassion.
-
Helping Baptists and others follow the fourfold mission of Jesus (our prophet, teacher, healer and leader) through offering retreats, conferences, and other resources in the areas of:
-
contemplative prayer and worship
-
contemplative study and teaching
-
contemplative living and community
-
contemplative work and leadership
Epiphany Blog 