CAC Faculty
Building on Richard Rohr’s founding vision, our faculty inspires transformative reflection and compassionate action.
At the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC), our core faculty embody a journey of transformation that draws on centuries of Christian contemplative wisdom and builds on Richard Rohr’s founding vision. They guide us in exploring life’s deepest questions—not to provide all the answers, but to foster inner healing, compassionate action, and a sense of belonging in a world that needs genuine connection.
CAC Core Faculty
Richard Rohr
CAC Founder & Faculty Emeritus
An internationally recognized author and spiritual leader, Fr. Richard Rohr teaches primarily on incarnational mysticism, nondual consciousness, and contemplation, with a particular emphasis on how these affect the social justice issues of our time.
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Brian McLaren
Dean of Core Faculty
Dr. Brian McLaren is an author, speaker, activist, and public theologian. A former college English teacher and pastor, he is a passionate advocate for “a new kind of Christianity” that is just, generous, and working with people of all faiths for the common good.
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James Finley
Core Faculty
Dr. Jim Finley is a clinical psychologist and contemplative practitioner. Drawing from his experience as a former monk and spiritual directee of Thomas Merton, Jim offers trustworthy guidance for the spiritual journey through this website, online courses, and retreats.
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Barbara Holmes
Emeritus Faculty
Rev. Dr. Barbara Holmes was a spiritual teacher, activist, and scholar focused on African American spirituality, mysticism, cosmology and culture. She was President Emerita of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Memphis Theological Seminary (2005–2010).
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Cynthia Bourgeault
Emeritus Faculty
Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault is a modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, internationally known retreat leader, and CAC Faculty Emeritus. She divides her time between solitude at her seaside hermitage in Maine and traveling globally to teach and spread the recovery of the Christian contemplative and Wisdom paths.
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Affiliate Faculty
Carmen Acevedo Butcher, PhD
Affiliate Faculty
Carmen Acevedo Butcher, PhD, is an award-winning author, poet, and translator of spiritual texts. She teaches at UC Berkeley, focusing on language evolution and inclusive communication. Her work highlights the power of words and the connection between personal and global healing.
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Mirabai Starr
Affiliate Faculty
Award-winning author, contemporary translator of sacred literature, international speaker, and world-renowned teacher. A certified bereavement counselor, Mirabai helps mourners harness the transformational power of loss. She teaches on the the mystics, inter-spiritual dialog contemplative practice, and the transformational power of grief and loss.
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Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley
Affiliate Faculty
Randy Woodley, PhD, is the co-founder of Eloheh Indigenous Center for Earth Justice and Eloheh Farm & Seeds, promoting sustainable farming and Earth justice. Randy, a retired professor, writes and speaks on American culture, faith, justice, race, and Indigenous issues, emphasizing the natural world’s role in our lives and Indigenous wisdom.
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