A black and white photograph with a dark colored singing bowl sitting to the right and a stack of weathered old books sits to the left while a glass of water is in the background.

Building on Richard Rohr’s Founding Vision

We continue to partner with teachers who live and teach from this same vision, broadening our programs and their reach to serve a new generation of seekers.

Our Teachers

As Father Richard enters his last chapter of public life, the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) faces a unique opportunity to build upon the legacy of his five decades of teaching in support of the emerging contemplative renewal within Christianity.

A key priority for us at the CAC has been to effectively partner with an expanding team of gifted faculty to serve as elders, teachers, and spiritual leaders to continue serving and building on Father Richard’s founding vision for many years to come—potentially even more powerfully than ever before.

Learn more about Contemplation.

Core Faculty of the Center for Action and Contemplation

In 2019 the CAC and its Living School were blessed with the additions of Rev. Dr. Barbara Holmes and Rev. Dr. Brian McLaren, joining Father Richard Rohr, Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, and Dr. James Finley as the core Faculty of the CAC.

We continue to partner with teachers who live and teach from this same vision, broadening our programs and their reach to serve the spiritual needs of a new generation of seekers. In all things, we remain committed to our founding mission to offer Christian teaching that transforms and liberates individuals and communities in service to the healing work of love and compassion.

Learn more about what we do.

Richard Rohr

is a Franciscan priest of the New Mexico Province. He is the founder of the Center for Action and Contemplation and academic dean of the CAC’s Living School. An internationally recognized author and spiritual leader, Fr. Richard teaches primarily on incarnational mysticism, nondual consciousness, and contemplation, with a particular emphasis on how these affect the social justice issues of our time.

Cynthia Bourgeault

is a modern-day mystic, Episcopal priest, writer, and internationally known retreat leader. She divides her time between solitude at her seaside hermitage in Maine and a demanding schedule traveling globally to teach and spread the recovery of the Christian contemplative and Wisdom paths.

James Finley

is a contemplative practitioner and clinical psychologist. 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 occasional retreats.

Barbara holmes

is a spiritual teacher, activist, and scholar focused on African American spirituality, mysticism, cosmology and culture. She is President Emerita of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities (2012-2016), and also served as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Memphis Theological Seminary (2005-2010).

Brian D. 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.