October academy explores personal spiritual formation

Native American storyteller Ray Buckley and evangelism professor Elaine Heath will lead the Academy of Spiritual Formation on Oct. 17-22 at Canyon Camp.

Open to all, the academy is offered every two years and is sponsored by the Upper Room and the Oklahoma Conference. The event seeks to:

• Provide a comprehensive experience in spiritual formation;
• Educate participants in the history and development of the Christian spiritual life; and
• Encourage participants to live out their call through recovering the disciplines of daily prayer and participating in personal and group spiritual guidance.

Topics will be "The Mystic Way: A Contemplative Vision for Evangelism, Outreach, and Community," by Rev. Dr. Heath; and "When God Changes Your Name: A Spiritual Journey Through Native Traditions," by Buckley.

A native of Alaska, Buckley also is an author and illustrator. His books include "The Give-Away: A Christmas Story in the Native American Tradition." He previously directed the Native People’s Communication Office within United Methodist Communications, and he led Connectional Ministries for the Alaska Missionary Conference.

Heath is the initiator of New Day, a network of missional, monastic faith communities in the United Methodist tradition. She is the McCreless Assistant Professor of Evangelism at Perkins School of Theology and director of the Center for Missional Wisdom at Southern Methodist University, Dallas.

Scholarships are offered for lay and clergy members of the Oklahoma Conference. Registrar is Diana Northcutt, 405-530-2144, dnorthcutt@okumc.org.