A toolbox of wisdom to develop, nurture and encourage teachers, small group leaders and pastors in their teaching ministry.

	Multiple Intelligence and Spiritual Type (Part Two)

Spiritual types emerge in the classroom (and elsewhere) and add a dimension to the class dynamics that may be felt greatly, but remain largely hidden. What are spiritual types?

Corinne Ware has worked with the foundational work of Urban Holmes to describe four types. The typology is developed from the intersection of two pairings. Visualize a grid with a horizontal axis to reflect how we understand God (along a continuum from transcendent to immanent) and a vertical axis to reflect how we relate to God (along a continuum from head to heart). Thus are formed Quadrants One, Two, Three, and Four.

• Quadrant One: Head spirituality, shown by relating to God by way of the intellect, study, alignment of theology and practice.
• Quadrant Two: Heart spirituality, shown by relating to God by way of emotion, feeling, personal experience, seeing God at work in daily affairs.
• Quadrant Three: Mystic spirituality, shown by relating to God as mystery, in union with God in a way that transcends words and experience and enters directly to the heart.
• Quadrant Four: Kingdom spirituality, shown by a strong emphasis on the majestic God in control for justice and righteousness, infusing social action with prayer, working for the accomplishment of the Kingdom.

The spiritual types have a lot of influence on how we experience God in general and worship in particular. (Think of the conflicts and difference of opinion regarding this in your own church!) In classes and small groups, these educational and spiritual inclinations blend. To include all types, our sessions should include opportunities to think theologically and make connections between Scripture and church tradition and life; to reflect on personal experience and application; to focus intentionally on how we see God at work, perhaps through personal story-telling; to have time for quiet and for inner work; and to plan for ways to put hands and feet to theology and ideas.

As you lead a class or work with leaders,

• Do you know your own type? (See Discover Your Spiritual Type .)
• Do you know the spiritual type of your leaders or group members?
• How might your class or leadership be different if it acknowledged variations in the ways persons know and relate to God?
• How does your own type influence the youngest learners or the persons who are the most new to the faith?

Diana L. Hynson is Director of Learning and Teaching Ministries at the General Board of Discipleship.

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