Spiritual formation

I was doing searches on Practical Theology and came upon the term 'spiritual formation' being used a lot. Basically by this term the mainstream church is wrestling with the fact that is lacks a practical element in what it is doing. The Work would be an example of a system of spiritual formation (but only if connected to the commands and teachings of Christ).

Here is an article that gives a good sense of why the mainstream church is skeptical of 'spiritual formation' and also why it needs it:

http://www.dwillard.org/articles/artview.asp?artID=81

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This really is where we see the intersection of the Work and Christianity. There is nothing new under the sun, so it follows that there would be some connection. The key to seeing it is in how the mainstream church has perverted, so to speak, the discipline of Practical Theology. They have really buried it, first, but then redefined it to mean 'pastor studies' and what not. Yet it is what it sounds like it is: taking systematic theology to the practical, doing level.

Now it's being called spiritual formation. To get a good sense of what is going on with it just google the two words spiritual formation and follow the links.