JourneyMen

Our Purpose is to be a men's spiritual support group made up of members with similar desires.

The Rationale is that men need a safe place where we can be accepted as individuals, not for who we are in society or what we can accomplish. We need a space where we can share and be ourselves as we struggle to reclaim our life, become healthier and grow spiritually. Men need mentors and we need to mentor - to be in spiritual friendship with other males. It is the purpose of these meetings to explore those areas of our lives we have ignored and to form supportive relationships.

Ground rules: certain basic values are necessary for our effective sharing and safety.
 

1.      Confidentiality - what is shared in the group stays in the group

2.      Honesty – “speak the truth in love”, be authentic

3.      Commitment - be present, be accountable - "how is it with your soul" - be inclusive and keep one another in prayer. .

4.      Boundaries - "We are each responsible for establishing our own boundaries and protecting ourselves emotionally and spiritually as well as physically. Each of us is encouraged to say as much as we want to say but ONLY what we want to say. While we may encourage each other to speak what is on our mind, we must respect the boundaries of each individual."

These vows we make…

1. "Instead of ignoring the messages my body is sending me, I will listen attentively to learn what this part of my self is trying to teach me."
 

2. "I will embrace my limitations, including my mortality."
 

3. "I am going to feel, and I am going to find places to express those feelings!"
 

4. "I will stop numbing my body with any variety of substances, processes, and relationships." ("These include (but are not limited to] alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, food, work, compulsive exercises, objectified sex, addictively dependent relationships.")

 

5. "I will nurture and care for myself as a body-self."

 

6. “I will replenish my senses."

 

7. "I will attend to and care for the earth and its creatures."

 

8. "I will stop competing with, shaming, ridiculing, and otherwise hurting other men."

 

9. "I will actively identify with, care for, and think about what it is like for men similar to and different from me."

 

10. "I will stop under-functioning in certain physical, emotional, and relational areas of my life and stop asking women to do more than their share."

 

11. "I will stop over-functioning in the physical, economic, and sexual areas of my life and resist those sexist dynamics that exclude women from doing their share."
 

12. “I will develop spiritual friendships with women as well as men. “