A message of thanks from the Rev. Bill Redfield

The Reverend Bill Redfield, our keynote presenter on November 11 at the 227th Diocesan Convention, sent this letter of thanks to the diocese.

​Dear People of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina,

It was my great honor and pleasure to be with you at your diocesan convention. I give deep bows to all the delegates, staff, and others who participated in our work on Saturday morning. It was anything but typical convention fare, but you beautifully and courageously rose to the occasion to do this important healing work. It was both inspiring and humbling for me to witness the integrity and honesty with which you engaged in this work.

As I mentioned that morning, I did not have the time to explain the Wisdom work with which I am currently engaged. So here I want to share at least a thumbnail sketch. 

Cynthia Bourgeault is my teacher and I work within her “Wisdom lineage.” Beyond the level of the intellectual mind, Wisdom seeks to move the person to deeper levels of seeing and knowing beyond and beneath the rational mind. So, Wisdom isn’t knowing more (exactly), it’s knowing with more of us. Beyond the intellectual rational knowing are other centers of knowing that can take us beyond just what we can know and comprehend with our heads. Spiritual practices open us to this deeper knowing, and they open us to experience the truth of the reality we may proclaim with the faith of our mental mind. This shift from mental belief to experience and felt sense marks the trajectory of Wisdom. And this shift is what is experienced in our Wisdom Schools – three- to five-day immersion experiences of a rhythm and balance of prayer, practice, teaching, and conscious work. The aim of these Wisdom Schools is the movement from a perspective of reality that is scattered and fragmented to a deeper and more integral sense of the unity of all. 

My work consists of leading these Wisdom Schools in different parts of the country – although currently I mostly work in the Northeast. I also work with people both in person and on Skype or Zoom in what I call “Wisdom Mentoring.” A little like spiritual direction, this work is intended to assist people in the integration of Wisdom learnings and experiences. My website is: www.wisdomswork.com. You can also consult the website of Northeast Wisdom: www.northeastwisdom.org. There you will find the offerings and writings of mine and other Wisdom teachers. And please, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have or help you in any way I can.

It was a deep pleasure for me to work with your Bishop in bringing this work to your diocese. Although he is no longer technically my Bishop, I remain committed to assisting him in his ministry any way I can. It was a great joy for me to be with him and Bonnie for this past weekend and to renew our deep friendship. And I deeply enjoyed getting to know Rick and Jane and all the clergy and people of All Saints, Hilton Head. The hospitality shown to me by both the diocese and the parish of All Saints was exquisite. My sincere hope is that I will be able to see you and work with you again in the future.

I send my love and blessings.

Faithfully,
Bill Redfield​​