Spiritual Formation for Activists

2025-10-10

Michael and Phebe wrap up this season of For the Good of the Public podcast with a talk by James Catford, founding board chair for the CCPL. James shares how spiritual practice is not at odds with activism and public leadership, but rather our spiritual formation is about the very well we have to draw on for our public engagement. He shares practical wisdom to remind us to listen to the longings of the heart and remember the motivations of our service in the first place. Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube! “Ending on this talk is hopefully s...

Michael and Phebe wrap up this season of For the Good of the Public podcast with a talk by James Catford, founding board chair for the CCPL. James shares how spiritual practice is not at odds with activism and public leadership, but rather our spiritual formation is about the very well we have to draw on for our public engagement. He shares practical wisdom to remind us to listen to the longings of the heart and remember the motivations of our service in the first place.

Watch the video recording of this talk on YouTube!

“Ending on this talk is hopefully something that reminds you that you are more than the work that you do. While your work is so valuable, you are a person and a human first.” -Phebe [01:43]

“I think what James gets at here is a level of integration… You take your spirit with you when you protest. You take your spirit with you when you’re knocking on doors or drafting that policy or having a conversation around the dinner table, around politics and civic issues.” -Michael [03:03]

“Well don’t leave your hunger, your longings, unsupervised. Don’t allow your longings to be put to one’s side. Listen to the longings of the heart. Because if you don’t, you will hit what some people have called the wall.” -James [15:15]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] Intro

[05:23] Who formed you?

[11:32] Black and white vs Color

[14:24] Listen to the longings of the heart

[19:22] The importance of spiritual formation

[23:02] How activists can practice spirituality

[28:34] Pray with me

[29:47] Outro

REFERENCES

For the Good of the Public Summit
James Catford, founding board chair for the CCPL
British Bible Society
Theos
Renovaré
SPCK Publishing
Public Life Fellowship
The Colour of Time: A New History of the World, 1850-1960 by Dan Jones and Marina Amaral
Richard Foster