“We needed something to ground us again, to encourage Christian growth.”

Janet Mabie
Special to Spur Ottawa

“Urban” and “monastery” are words few would consider compatible. The quiet, reflective rhythms of monastic life is a stark contrast to the noise and energy of an ever-moving city. Yet uniting these two ideas is exactly the solution Doug Ward, pastor of Kanata Baptist Church, proposed to address the growing problem of social disconnect.

“I came up with The Urban Monastery to engage with the world, but when we pull back and reflect on [the world] we do it in community.”

Early in the pandemic, Ward sensed his congregation beginning to fall away from the things of the Spirit. “People were feeling disaffected, disoriented, disconnected from other people, and there was no sign that was going to abate anytime soon.”

Ward felt increasingly distressed watching the Church begin to fragment, lose contact with one another, and lose contact with God and His call.

“We needed something to ground us again, to encourage Christian growth, done in community, using technology to do some things that we had not done before,” shares Ward. “We needed a recovery of the spiritual disciplines that the Church has celebrated for thousands of years.”

Doug Ward, pastor of Kanata Baptist Church, founded The Urban Monastery as a way for believers to deepen their foundations through ancient the disciplines of the Faith. Photo courtesy of Doug Ward.

Ward established The Urban Monastery as a community of believers committed to a rhythm of personal spiritual disciplines within their urban lifestyle. Participants engage in prayer, scripture reading, intentional sabbath, spiritual friendship, solitude, hospitality, community, digital disengagement, and fasting.

Each day begins with prayer and a devotional, Seeking God’s Face by Philip Reinders. At midday, participants reflect on the morning and recite a prayer, often the Lord’s Prayer. In the evening participants follow a “Prayer of Examen”, an ancient Christian tradition of reflective prayer to review the day with God and prepare for tomorrow.

Participants read God’s Word every day and rest from digital devices for at least one hour each day. Weekly, participants commit to 30 minutes of silence, as well as fasting and worship. They also gather in monthly small groups, called triads, either in person or online.

“Its about friendship first,” says Ward. “Out of friendship flows accountability, to check in with each other.”

Periodically, the entire Urban Monastery community meets on Zoom to discuss a spiritual practice or listen to a guest speaker.

“COVID accentuated the need to embrace something that allows people to continue growing and see that God is involved in everything.”

“For me, The Urban Monastery has been really helpful, giving structure in personal discipleship and growth,” says Helen Reimer, a member of Kanata Baptist Church who joined The Urban Monastery right at the beginning. “I really appreciate the time praying, sharing, and discussing with the others in my triad. It’s been invaluable.”

“Having a triad—two others who you really get to know, pray for, and meet with—for me, knowing we are praying through the same devotional each day is so special,” shares a participant who wished to remain anonymous. “This has allowed me to finally feel comfortable to open up and share in a way I have never been able to before. [It is] a connection I have never experienced and did not expect.”

Reimer hopes The Urban Monastery will continue post-COVID. “COVID time or not, my hope would be for anyone on this journey to continue. Everyone can benefit from the structure and healthy rhythms, regardless of their circumstances.”

Ward says COVID heightened the need to be grounded and aware of how God is working around us.

“COVID accentuated the need to embrace something that allows people to continue growing and see that God is involved in everything, including COVID, and is speaking to us in the midst of all that’s boiling around us. The Kingdom is fully embracing what is going on in our world right now.”