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Note #6699 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Office of Spiritual Formation Presents “Thomas Merton: the Man and His
Message”
13-June-2001
GA01141

Office of Spiritual Formation Presents “Thomas Merton: the Man and His
Message”

by Emett Barfield

LOUISVILLE, June 13- The Spiritual Formation Office of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) presented a stimulating discourse on the life and work of
the “spokesman for the contemplative life,” Thomas Merton.

Robert G. Toth, director of the Thomas Merton Foundation, was the lecturer
for the evening. The Thomas Merton Foundation supports the Thomas Merton
Center, which is located at Bellarmine College here in Louisville. The
organization is “dedicated to raising awareness of the spiritual
discipline and contemplative practices of Thomas Merton as means of
addressing global issues and assisting them to realize peace, justice and
the sacred in the personal and public.”

Speaking of his years at the Abby of Gethsemani, Toth said “Merton
found that in awakening to a new level of reality one becomes aware of whom
one is in God.” He realized that prayer is a source of personal
freedom. During those years, Merton was to become increasingly aware of
issues of political life. He became so outspoken that he came to be called
by many the conscience of the peace movement of the Sixties.

The dinner guests were provided with information concerning the creation of
the Spiritual Formation Leadership Network under the leadership of Brad
Kent. The network provides a way for Presbyterians who are looking for
spiritual formation leadership to connect with Presbyterians who can provide
it.

The meeting adjourned with a prayer of Thomas Merton from Thoughts in
Solitude.

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