Metanoia of Vermont supports those who seek to live the Way of Christ through prayer, work, and study in relationship with the land.

The Way of Christ

The Way of Christ means living by the teachings of Jesus, following his life and example, and abiding in his living Spirit. This is a path of awakening to the union of God and humanity, and to live from this union as a blessing to all life. We acknowledge this union as the original human nature, although forgotten as a lived reality for our species. We see in the life, teachings, and Spirit of Jesus Christ the restoration of divine-human unity and seek to follow his Way in all that we do. We experience the Way of Christ as a spiritual path, that is progressively experienced and fulfilled throughout a lifetime of metanoia (transformation of heart), kenosis (self-emptying), and incarnation (bringing spirit into form).

 We stand in solidarity with the community of Christian believers throughout history and across the world and also acknowledge the many ways we have all failed to live from the fullness of Christ. We humbly seek to be a part of this great ongoing call of humanity to enter into—and live from—divine union.

Through Work and Prayer

We have chosen to orient our shared life around the Benedictine way of following Christ – with its pillars of daily prayer, work by the labor of our hands, and study and growth in the life of body, soul and spirit. Our hope is that this way of life can be an offering of peace, however modest, to a world in tumult. We envision ours as a working experiment of family life lived with simplicity, stewardship, and spiritual abundance that provides a joyful alternative to the dominant culture of consumerism and isolation.

In Relationship with the Land

Our specific charism is one intricately tied to the land we inhabit. We strive to live in a way that connects us to the earth and its rhythms and promotes the restoration of soil health and ecological vitality. Ours is a life of material simplicity and spiritual abundance that points the way to a future where human beings and nature live in healthy interdependence. In an era of ecological devastation, we seek to restore an awareness of the original vocation of humanity as member, servant, and steward of the community of life.

How We Support

Our ministries of hospitality, formation, and outreach flow out of daily commitments to the Way of Christ and stewardship of the land. We invite others to visit our community and share in our way of life for a time. We are beginning to offer residential training and formation programs, as well as apprenticeships for those wishing to live with us for an extended time. We write and speak about our way of life as a witness to the wider world.