Cursillo

[erin74]

I went to Cursillo over the weekend. Has anyone else done this? I wonder if it is the same all around the world... well how much of it anyway. I know our diocese has adapted it to a more evangelical friendly format, but I wonder how much of it is the same as elsewhere around the place.

[karen freeinchristman]

I haven't been, but I know it has been held in our diocese previously. I don't know much about it, except that people who went spoke very highly of it.

[Finella]

I haven't done cursillo myself, but I've done Vocare, a young adult component of the whole Cursillo-renewal movement thing, and worked with Cursillo people on Vocare. My feeling is that Cursillo is generally pretty evangelical-friendly in the States as well. Its emphasis on a personal relationship with Jesus is what makes the renewal approach what it is, and it's not something you'd find in a more conventional Anglican or Catholic theology.

[No Swansong]

I went to Cursillo over the weekend. Has anyone else done this? I wonder if it is the same all around the world... well how much of it anyway. I know our diocese has adapted it to a more evangelical friendly format, but I wonder how much of it is the same as elsewhere around the place.



I did both Cursillo and TEC as a Roman Catholic. From what I have seen the Anglican version is pretty similar. TEC was great, Cursillo was too contrived for me.

[RedneckAnglican]

I did Walk to Emmaus and Vocare...great stuff...

[cenimo]

We have people in our church who thought it was fantastic, and we've had priests who wanted no part of it.

Personally, I don't think everyone needs it, it sounds to me kind of like a "let's all become born-again Christians all at once, as a group" type endeavor.

When we first started going to this church, the people who had been to Cursillo at first told us how great it was - we had no interest in it - but they persisted to the point where it actually became quite obnoxious. It almost got to the point where we were ready to tell them one more word about Cursilo and we're out of here altogether.

Since a sponsor pays your way, I really have my suspcions that once a person "greadutes" Cursillo they are under some kind of obligation to find someone to sponsor themselves.

Just my $.02, YMMV.

[Polycarp1]

We have people in our church who thought it was fantastic, and we've had priests who wanted no part of it.

Personally, I don't think everyone needs it, it sounds to me kind of like a "let's all become born-again Christians all at once, as a group" type endeavor.

When we first started going to this church, the people who had been to Cursillo at first told us how great it was - we had no interest in it - but they persisted to the point where it actually became quite obnoxious. It almost got to the point where we were ready to tell them one more word about Cursilo and we're out of here altogether.

Since a sponsor pays your way, I really have my suspcions that once a person "greadutes" Cursillo they are under some kind of obligation to find someone to sponsor themselves.

Just my $.02, YMMV.

In what is a scary situation for me, I need to agree with much of what Cenimo says here! ;)

My wife and I were very fortunate to "make" our Cursillo (the translated Spanish idiom is preserved) in a diocese that at that point stuck very close to the original Cursillo ideal. When it is done properly, it provides a great three-day intensive short course in Christian theology and practice, set in an environment full of Christian love and support. It is one of those rare phenomena that can speak to both head and heart, consistenly and effectively, "making and equipping disciples."

Too often, however, it becomes an end in itself, an elitist movement within the church, hijacked to the local theology/piety focus (whether charismatic renewal, ultra-liberal, ACC conservative, or whatever), fractionating rather than strengthening the local church and the diocese.

Those who have been and gotten a great deal from it are understandably enthusiastic about it -- but often that enthusiasm makes it into something more than one good means of achieving a worthwhile end, of renewed learning and enthusiasm for Anglican churchmanship and Christian mission.

When either of these results becomes the "meaning behind" Cursillo, it moves from being a very valuable asset to a liability for the church as a whole.

The one point I disagree on is the sponsorship -- so far as I know, there is no obligation to sponsor other than a sense of "it was valuable for me, and I think you'd make a good candidate for it, that it would be valuable for you." Intelligently done, this is a good thing, equipping potential leaders with the tools and motivation for their ministry; used as a tool to split parishes into Cursillistas and non-Cursillistas, obviously the reverse.

[cenimo]

In what is a scary situation for me, I need to agree with much of what Cenimo says here! ;)

lol
End times alert!
Hey Polycarp1!

The people I'm referring to were so persistent is what like being hounded by multi-level marketing people, thus my comment about being suspcious that they might have a requirement to bring someone else into the fold.

Good insights in your post, maybe that's why a couple of priests we've had wanted no part of it.

[erin74]

In what is a scary situation for me, I need to agree with much of what Cenimo says here! ;)

My wife and I were very fortunate to "make" our Cursillo (the translated Spanish idiom is preserved) in a diocese that at that point stuck very close to the original Cursillo ideal. When it is done properly, it provides a great three-day intensive short course in Christian theology and practice, set in an environment full of Christian love and support. It is one of those rare phenomena that can speak to both head and heart, consistenly and effectively, "making and equipping disciples."

Too often, however, it becomes an end in itself, an elitist movement within the church, hijacked to the local theology/piety focus (whether charismatic renewal, ultra-liberal, ACC conservative, or whatever), fractionating rather than strengthening the local church and the diocese.

Those who have been and gotten a great deal from it are understandably enthusiastic about it -- but often that enthusiasm makes it into something more than one good means of achieving a worthwhile end, of renewed learning and enthusiasm for Anglican churchmanship and Christian mission.

When either of these results becomes the "meaning behind" Cursillo, it moves from being a very valuable asset to a liability for the church as a whole.

The one point I disagree on is the sponsorship -- so far as I know, there is no obligation to sponsor other than a sense of "it was valuable for me, and I think you'd make a good candidate for it, that it would be valuable for you." Intelligently done, this is a good thing, equipping potential leaders with the tools and motivation for their ministry; used as a tool to split parishes into Cursillistas and non-Cursillistas, obviously the reverse.
What you described as your experience has more or less been ours. You describe it so well. We certainly don't have the sponsors paying for the person. Each year when Cursillo is held the delegates are asked to offer whatever they feel they can which then pays for the next years delegates. So in a sense you are sponsoring the next people, but you are also open to contribute nothing, if you are unable to afford it. I know of one couple for whom this was the case, and others will give far more than the cost, which covers the cost for all.

I have never seen the pressure approach to cursillo, nor the exclusivity. How sad that it would be that way. People I knew who had been to Cursillow spoke highly of it, and recommended it, but not moreso than other conferences.

It is good to be aware of the dangers though. Something to keep an eye on. I think probably the need for some secrecy is part of the reason. But it is not nasty secrecy - more don't want to ruin your enjoyment of it secrecy.

Where there is sin, there is opportunity for hurt feelings and conflict. Such is life.

[Mary of Bethany]

When it is done properly, it provides a great three-day intensive short course in Christian theology and practice, set in an environment full of Christian love and support. It is one of those rare phenomena that can speak to both head and heart, consistenly and effectively, "making and equipping disciples."

<snip>

The one point I disagree on is the sponsorship -- so far as I know, there is no obligation to sponsor other than a sense of "it was valuable for me, and I think you'd make a good candidate for it, that it would be valuable for you." Intelligently done, this is a good thing, equipping potential leaders with the tools and motivation for their ministry; used as a tool to split parishes into Cursillistas and non-Cursillistas, obviously the reverse.

This is the experience I had with "Walk to Emmaus" (the Methodist version). It was a wonderful time. I became involved in serving on other weekends for several years, and I highly recommend it.

Mary

[IowaLutheran]

Intelligently done, this is a good thing, equipping potential leaders with the tools and motivation for their ministry; used as a tool to split parishes into Cursillistas and non-Cursillistas, obviously the reverse.

That is similar to the complaints I have heard; sometimes those who have attended form an "in-group" which ends up dividing parishes.

[RedneckAnglican]

That is similar to the complaints I have heard; sometimes those who have attended form an "in-group" which ends up dividing parishes.

I have seen this happen...I did walk to Emmaus...and it ripped the little Methodist Church I went to in half...

[Finella]

I agree with Polycarp, when done well these kinds of ministries can be fantastic. What I loved about Vocare was its focus on the spiritual needs of the Young Adult. It was something that has been lacking in my ECUSA experience, and I was very grateful for that support at that time of my life.

Right now, I am a little uncomfortable with the Vocare "vibe" and view of God, but for that stage in my life it was exactly what I needed. I think it is a great ministry for young adults, and I think there's less chance of it splitting up parishes because, often, it is a diocesan-wide ministry as many young adults are moving around so much they have less firm attachments to particular parishes.

[gtsecc]

our diocese has adapted it to a more evangelical friendly format,
That means they removed the sacramental aspects of it doesn't it? Do you not like sacraments? Or think that the Chruch made them up, but weren't supposed to or what?

[Aymn27]

That means they removed the sacramental aspects of it doesn't it? Do you not like sacraments? Or think that the Chruch made them up, but weren't supposed to or what?
geesh gtsecc...lighten up

[gtsecc]

I think being really clear about the differences in theology help folks ultimately.

[erin74]

That means they removed the sacramental aspects of it doesn't it? Do you not like sacraments? Or think that the Chruch made them up, but weren't supposed to or what?
We had a talk on the sacraments, given by one of the clergy there. It was an excellent talk, although I unfortunately missed part of it as I had to accept a phone call to find out if my youngest was going to be admitted to hospital. It reminds me I should seek out a transcript. Perhaps you could have asked me rather than assuming that is what the change was.

I don't know all the changes, as this is the first year I have been. I have been told by others that it has evolved in the time it has been in our diocese (we were group 34), so as to reflect more closely the views of most churches in our diocese. There were things I was still uncomfortable with, but I assume others were more comfortable with. We are not an anglo-catholic diocese, so it is not surprising we would modify the weekend to reflect the views of those attending. I suspect if it was taken as is into an anglo-catholic diocese they would adapt it to reflect their views.

[erin74]

That is similar to the complaints I have heard; sometimes those who have attended form an "in-group" which ends up dividing parishes.
I can see how this might happen. We were encouraged to meet with others who went away in order to keep one another accountable. However, I have also been told that there is no reason to not include others who did not go. We as christians can all keep each other accountable, and there is nothing secret about the questions and prayers we have for one another. In fact it might encourage someone to go along for themselves.

I hope that those who went will treat Cursillo as a gift not only to themselves, but to the entire congregation. If we are changed by it and encouraged, we should use that to encourage others.

One thing I was encouraged to do is to spend more time reading God's word and reflecting on it. I have also just started listening to sermons online. This is a great way for me to do this, among other ways. You might have noticed I started a thread about how we might be able to do this in a group. I hope that by that I can encourage you also. Hence the encouragement I received at Cursillo might be a way to encourage you also!