Clergy

Welcome, Clergy!

This area is intended for all clergy who have attended a Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis, or other Three-day movements, and clergy who have not attended a Three-day movement and are interested in knowing more.

If you have attended a Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis, or another Three-day movement, and you would like to serve the Atlanta South Walk to Emmaus community in a clergy role (called a "spiritual"), please review the Clergy Criteria by reading below and using the menu on the left. Then complete and submit the "Clergy Application Form" (contact us to receive the form via email).

If you are new to the Walk to Emmaus and would like to attend an Emmaus weekend before serving on a weekend(which is required), please request the "Clergy Interest Form" (contact us to receive it via email) .

Clergy Criteria for Emmaus and Chrysalis

(updated on May 30, 2012)

(These updated criteria replace and supersede the section on clergy qualifications found on pages 29-31 of The Upper Room Handbook on Emmaus (2nd. edition), and on pages 63-66 of the Upper Room Handbook on Chrysalis).

Clergy are critical to The Walk to Emmaus and Chrysalis. These movements depend on a solid partnership between laypersons and clergy. Emmaus and Chrysalis expect this partnership to carry forward from Emmaus and Chrysalis weekends to enhance and support the ministries of the local church.

It is important to have:

  • a thorough understanding of the role of the clergy in Emmaus and Chrysalis, which are designed to be lay-led movements
  • clarity about what is expected of the clergy who serve Emmaus and Chrysalis
  • a good understanding of how men and women are recognized as clergy and what qualifies them to be called "clergy"

Emmaus and Chrysalis teams are a ministry partnership between clergy and laity. This partnership represents these persons' equality before God, as baptized members of the body of Christ; while, at the same time honoring their distinctive roles in the ministry of the church. This relationship is lost if communities become lax about the criteria for selecting Spiritual Directors.

Chrysalis and Emmaus both seek to overcome clergy domination of Christian ministry by moving laypersons forward as the front-line of ministry in the world through intentional partnership and mutual respect--not by diminishing the historic and essential role of the clergy.

Note: Emmaus and Chrysalis lay leaders should never discount the role of clergy or convey an anti-clergy attitude. Those persons who are unwilling to honor the ministry partnership and the validity of clergy leadership should not be selected as leaders for eitherEmmaus and Chrysalis.