Pastors, seminarians, students, and teachers need a reference work on spiritual formation that gives them concise and clear explanations. The emphasis of The Upper Room(R) Dictionary of Christian Spiritual Formation is on practical issues of spiritual formation. It also includes many individuals from the United States and distinctive American practices missing from other reference books. The nearly 500 articles are models of competent, concise, and insightful writing by experts in their fields. This book is thorough enough for specialists, yet not overwhelming for students new to the field of spiritual formation. A comprehensive chart compares twelve distinct traditions in spiritual formation. Compiled by Patricia Brown, the chart includes Orthodox Spirituality, Celtic Christian, Quaker, and Wesleyan in addition to more familiar Christian traditions such as Benedictine contributions to spiritual formation. Twelve "Methods and Practices" are set apart in boxes throughout the dictionary. The wide range of subjects includes topics as diverse as Angels, John Bunyan, Enneagram, Henri Nouwen, Elizabeth O'Connor, Orthodox Spirituality, Pentecostal Movement, Perfection, and Isaac Watts. Glenn Hinson, Susan Wilhauck, Wendy Wright, Howard Rice, Gregory Clapper, Michael Battle, and Stephanie Ford are some of the contributors to this reference book.