Panel Discussion: Navigating historical and contemporary views to bringing your spiritual community into the 21st century

On 10 September 2026 we had a panel discussion which raised several interesting points. The topic was the challenge of navigating historical and contemporary views to bringing your spiritual community into the 21st century while honouring the past. This document summarises some of the points made on each of the eight questions considered.

“When we look back at the early pioneers of Spiritualism in New Zealand, what values or principles do you believe are just as important today as they were then?”

Early pioneers were breaking ground. This required courage especially while the Witchcraft Act was still in place. But they asked questions and explored Spiritualism, seeking the truth. With this they brought their wisdom, compassion, strength, authenticity and loyalty to their beliefs. They applied their experience and skills and were persistent in their cause even when others did not understand or tried to undermine them. They established communities that created a sense of belonging and helped build connections. These values remain just as important today.

“Society has changed enormously over the last 150 years. Why do you think people continue to seek spiritual connection, healing and evidence of life beyond death?”

Despite huge social changes, people continue to seek spiritual connection because they intuitively sense there is more to life. They want to find likeminded people who have similar experiences and to be around people they can relate to. They need to find their community and sense of belonging as well as affirmation of their beliefs. People know there’s a deeper meaning to life and want to explore this in a safe environment. We’re still asking the same questions as 100s of years ago – Who am I? Where do I come from? Where do I go when I die? People are curious and find comfort in finding answers to these questions and being able to talk with people who understand these concepts.

“Many people today begin their spiritual journey through meditation, mindfulness, yoga, energy work or personal development rather than through a Spiritualist church. How can Spiritualism meet people where they are without losing its own identity?”

In many ways, the Spiritualist Church is the ideal place for exploring these spiritual practices. The Seven Principles that guide us support the different ways people like to connect with Spirit. Spiritualism is open to different perspectives and doesn’t need to compete with these practices. We acknowledge they encourage spiritual growth. Spiritualism won’t lose its identity as the Seven Principles form the foundation of our core beliefs while remaining open to practices that reinforce or compliment them. While keeping our core principles, we can change and be flexible to meet the needs of the modern world.

“Which traditions within Spiritualism do you think should always be preserved, and where is there room for evolution and fresh thinking?”

The essence of Spiritualism, its philosophy, the Seven Principles, spiritual development, and healing, should all be preserved. We must also retain our integrity in the way we practice our skills, such as mediumship, healing and psychic readings. At the same time, Spiritualism can evolve by embracing new methods such as discussions, meditations, webinars and workshops, many of which can be run online. We need to be open-minded and incorporate new ways of thinking and doing things. We realise that younger people coming through are living in a different world to the original founders and will bring new ways. These approaches will encourage greater participation and inclusion without alienating people or appearing old fashioned.

“The language people use today has changed – we hear terms like energy, vibration, consciousness and intuition more often than mediumship or psychic development. Has the experience changed, or simply the language we use to describe it?”

Language evolves naturally over time. Experiences have also changed because we have wider understandings now, though still based on the same fundamentals. Our language reflects this growth and people speak more openly and regularly about energy, vibration, consciousness, and intuition. Working with energy and intuition is a personal experience that we develop over time. In contrast, practices such as mediumship, healing, and psychic readings involve energy flowing through us, but they are also more external because they follow established protocols and training. Our culture and the timeframes we’re living in now means our language has changed a lot. But ultimately, it’s about the experience and enquiry of self, and how we interpret or represent that through language.

“Early Spiritualism placed great importance on providing evidence of survival after death. In today’s world, where people often seek healing, wellbeing and personal growth, what role does evidential mediumship still play?”

Evidential mediumship is a defining aspect of Spiritualism because it offers a genuine opportunity to explore the question of survival, rather than relying solely on philosophical ideas. When practiced well, it can bring profound comfort to those experiencing grief. But mediumship must never slip into entertainment or spectacle. The goal is not dramatic demonstrations or proving something at all costs; it is responsible, honest communication. Quality always matters more than quantity, and mediums need solid training, humility, ongoing development, ethical awareness, emotional maturity, and a clear understanding of their own limitations to serve Spirit and always demonstrate integrity.

“What do you see as the greatest opportunity—and perhaps the greatest challenge—for Spiritualism over the next twenty years?”

Digital communication offers Spiritualism an extraordinary level of accessibility: it allows us to reach people who may never walk into a church, removes geographical barriers, helps younger generations discover Spiritualism in familiar environments, supports online learning in philosophy, history, and mediumship, connects isolated Spiritualists, and builds national and international communities. One of the greatest strengths of digital communication is that people can find community, education, and spiritual resources regardless of where they live. At the same time, the digital world brings challenges around credibility and depth. It can result in misinformation, sensationalism, spirituality being treated as entertainment, untrained individuals presenting themselves as experts, the temptation to prioritise followers over truth, and the loss of depth in fast‑paced content. It is critical we continually maintain strong ethical standards.

“If someone who knew nothing about Spiritualism walked through our doors today, what would you hope they experienced, and what would you want them to take away?”

Someone walking into a Spiritualist space for the first time should feel welcomed, accepted, and included. They should experience connection, care, and the freedom to explore and ask questions without judgement. People should feel they have the freedom to be themselves and to express their curiosity. They should be able to take what resonates and use it to enhance their lives and make sense of the world. Ideally, they’d leave inspired to continue their spiritual enquiry, confident that they can seek their own truth rather than being told what to believe.