Tutu Lenten Series

Six Week Lenten Series on

Desmond Tutu's Spirituality

(Reflecting on the book "Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa's Confessor")

Presented by the author

Michael Battle

and

a South African Team (Rene August, Althea Banda-Hansmann and Edwin Arrison)

Thursdays, Starting March 3rd, 2022

7:30 PM to 9:00 PM (South African Time)

12:30 PM to 2:00 PM ( US/Canada Eastern)

11:30 AM to 1:00 PM ( US/Canada Central)

Sponsored by

Using Desmond Tutu’s spiritual and life journey as a mirror to see God, other humans, the rest of creation, and yourself more clearly, we will deepen belief and engage in creative action for justice, reconciliation, and peace. 

Join us for a weekly Lenten Program where the Very Rev. Michael Battle and a South African team will lead us to learn about Tutu's spiritual practice that was the foundation upon which his heroic life rested. Rev. Dr. Michael Battle and the SA team will reveal insights they learned from Archbishop Tutu over several decades of the Archbishop's life, witness and ministry.

This series will focus on the spirituality of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, within the framework of the mystical cycle of Purgation, Illumination and Union. Throughout the six weeks, participants will be exposed to various spiritual exercises, ubuntu circles and spiritual music. There will be time for sharing. The series will be presented by the Very Rev. Michael Battle, Ph.D. (USA), Rev Rene August, Althea Banda-Hansmann and Rev Edwin Arrison (South Africa).

The series schedule and topics are:

• March 3rd: Purgation - What do we need to be purged of to move closer to God? How did this happen in Desmond Tutu's life?
• March 10th: Purgation, part 2

• March 17th: Illumination - What were the sources of illumination in Desmond Tutu's life? How can we access them?
• March 24th: Illumination, part 2

• March 31st: Union - How did Tutu experience union with God? How can we experience union with God?
• April 7th: Union, part 2

Each session will begin with spiritual exercises led by Althea Banda-Hansmann, Edwin Arrison and Michael Battle will present, followed by contemplative silence and other spiritual exercises. There will be additional presentations by Rene August on Tutu's approach to God's Word. Group-work along with time of sharing will round out each session.

Presenters:

Very Rev. Michael Battle, Ph.D.:

A featured keynote speaker and leader of many clergy and lay retreats, Rev. Battle is currently appointed as Herbert Thompson Professor of Church and Society and Director of the Desmond Tutu Center at General Theological Seminary in New York,

In his PeaceBattle Institute he works on subjects of diversity, spirituality, prayer, race and reconciliation. He has also served as chaplain to Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Congressman John Lewis, the House of Bishops and, in 2008, was chaplain to the Lambeth Conference of Anglican Bishops. 

Rev. Battle has published eleven books, including his latest: Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa’s Confessor. He has an undergraduate degree from Duke University, received his master’s of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary, a master’s of Sacred Theology from Yale University and a PhD in theology and ethics, also from Duke University. He was ordained a priest by Archbishop Tutu in 1993.

Click here to read more on Michael Battle's website.

Rev. Rene August:

Reverend René August lives in the lands of The Khoi and the San Peoples, in a country now known as South Africa, in a city now known as Cape Town. She longs to see the reign of God become a more visible sign of God’s love for all creation. As a strategist, thought leader, disciple maker, speaker, author, co-conspirator, trainer, reconciler, friend, and a peacebuilding specialist at Tearfund, René seeks to mitigate against the systemic causes of poverty, injustice and conflict in the world.

Althea Banda-Hansmann:

Althea is the Founding Director at Transforming Moments Consulting. She has a deep, lived understanding of transformation and contextually responsive spirituality at individual, group, organisational and societal levels. Althea facilitates transformative processes in South Africa, the Middle East and the U.S. As a spiritual director she supports individuals and groups to notice God’s active presence in their lives. Her spiritual direction approach is centred on expanding awareness through contemplative prayer and a body spirituality that is trauma-informed. Having faced the violence of Apartheid, Althea is keenly attuned to the impact of interlocking oppressions, racial healing and God’s invitation to deep rest and freedom. She practices a contemplative spirituality and is a spiritual director at Luther Seminary, in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. In 1991, Althea was awarded the Desmond Tutu Scholarship to complete her undergraduate degree at Occidental College, Los Angeles.

Rev. Edwin Arrison:

Rev. Arrison is an Anglican priest who was ordained by Archbishop Tutu in 1992. He is the Chairperson of the Centre for Christian Spirituality and Development Officer for the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation in Cape Town, as well as the Director of the Volmoed Youth Leadership Training programme, of which Tutu was the patron.

About the Centre for Christian Spirituality:

The Centre for Christian Spirituality was started by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in 1986, under the leadership of Francis Cull. It has become an ecumenical center in the Western Cape, South Africa and its library is now located at Volmoed Retreat Centre near Hermanus (https://volmoed.co.za). It continues with its ministry amongst prisoners and young people.

Registration Information:

This will be a Zoom workshop. A video recording of the event will be made available to all who register, in case you cannot attend and wish to review the series at a later date.

Ticket price for the entire series:

This Tutu Lenten Series seeks to model God's economics (oikos) revealed through Jesus in which economies of scale promote the underserved.

• Global minority economies: $100 USD - (Countries where average daily personal expenditure exceeds $20 USD per day, for example: USA, Canada, European countries.)
• Global majority economies: $16.40 USD [ R250 ZAR equivalent] - (Countries where average daily personal expenditures does not exceed $20 USD per day.)

All tickets, in particular global minority tickets, help to support the important work of the Centre for Christian Spirituality in South Africa. Your support of the Centre is appreciated. Please note that partial scholarships (sliding scale prices) are available if your situation prevents participation at this price.

For scholarships, please contact event-coord@centeringprayerchicago.org for more information.

If you can give more to support the Centre for Christian Spirituality, information about making a donation can be directed to edwin@tutu.org.za

The Zoom link and any additional pre-series materials will be emailed to you by one of the team members.

If you wish to buy the book Desmond Tutu: A Spiritual Biography of South Africa's Confessor by Michael Battle:

The South African version of Rev. Battle's book is available at: https://naledi.co.za/product/desmond-tutu-a-spiritual-biography-of-south-africas-confessor/.

For USA, Canada and other global minority countries, Rev. Battle's book is available at: https://michaelbattle.com/product/desmond-tutu-a-spiritual-biography-of-south-africas-confessor/.

Questions?

Please email edwin@tutu.org.za if you have any questions.