Many were rightly shocked by the statistical assessment of males in our society by Hanna Rosin's article The End of Men (July-August Atlantic Monthly). Rosin argues that modern, postindustrial society may simply be better suited to women and that an unprecedented role reversal with vast cultural consequences is now under way. What does she have to teach us? What can this perspective offer us? How is Rosin a "stand in" for what many women have been saying to, for, and about men?
Unless men can find an inner path that can transform their pain rather than transmit it, men's contributions may be more destructive than healing, and they may become increasingly absent and irrelevant in the places where their energy is most needed. Sadly, neither our culture nor our churches really encourage an inner life for men.
After working with men for the past twenty years, Fr. Richard Rohr, Franciscan priest and founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has come to the conclusion that most men will not engage on a serious inner journey unless they have to -- often only after great suffering. He has been quietly working with groups of men all over the world to build a new model of male spirituality.
Based on decades of his own study and centuries of wisdom teaching around the world, Richard has created a transformative initiation experience called Men's Rites of Passage. An international network of Men as Learners and Elders (M.A.L.Es) has been created to extend this work to local regions around the world. This growing network seeks to reclaim the spiritual initiation of men through experiential journeying into the True Self, creating a tradition for future generations and building a vision for the next five generations of men.
This event signals the start of Men as Learners and Elders in the Washington DC Region. We warmly invite men and women in our area to join us on Sunday, October 24, 2010, to listen to Richard Rohr's exploration of these questions, and to have a chance to ask questions and dialogue together about how to extend this work in our area.
The presentation and discussion will be held at Crossroads United Methodist Church, 43454 Crossroads Drive, Ashburn, VA 20147, 2-4:30 pm (gather at 1:45 pm for seating). Registration Fee: $25 (or $15 student/fixed income). Live Webcast (for those who cannot attend): $10. We encourage everyone to register online at Center for Contemplation and Action, but you are welcome to come whether or not you have pre-registered or can afford the registration fee. Childcare is available. Llet us know your needs ahead of time.
Register online at the Center for Action and Contemplation:
http://www.cacradicalgrace.org/conferences/webcast/2010-series/end-of-men/
Also mark your calendars for October 12-16, 2011 (yes, one year away), when Richard will return to our area to lead our region's first Men's Rites of Passage at Rolling Ridge Retreat Center near Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. See dc.male-spirituality.net for more information about this and other regional events, and for details about how to register.