Spiritual Direction: Foundations
Spiritual Direction: Foundations is the first level of our supervised program for those who want to become spiritual directors or to make spiritual guidance a part of their ministry.
What do Spiritual Direction: Foundations graduates go on to do?
Graduates of Spiritual Direction: Foundations have gone on to become professional spiritual directors, or to strengthen their work in:
- Pastoral ministry
- Chaplaincy
- Counseling
- Denominational leadership
- Neighborhood development
- Local and international mission
Who can sign up for Spiritual Direction: Foundations?
Spiritual Direction: Foundations is open to anyone who has:
- Completed at least one seminary course in biblical studies and one in theology.
- Completed at least one year of monthly spiritual direction.
- Been actively involved in a local congregation.
References from your spiritual director and pastor (or conference minister) are required and will be reviewed by the instructor prior to acceptance into the course. If you have questions about these requirements or can鈥檛 meet any of them, please contact us. Each class is limited to 12 participants.
What will I learn in Spiritual Direction: Foundations?
You鈥檒l grow in confidence and competence as a spiritual director as you learn from Scripture, theology, Christian tradition, ethics, psychology, human development, and of course, practice! Specific topics include:
- Taking the first steps as a spiritual director
- Building up your toolkit
- Discerning the presence of God
- Guiding as part of God鈥檚 mission
- Guiding in different church, social, economic, ethnic, and gendered contexts
- Guiding across the adult lifespan
What kind of work will we be doing?
You鈥檒l immerse yourself in both the theory and practice of spiritual guidance through:
- Studying the literature of spiritual guidance
- Experiencing spiritual guidance (both as director and directee)
- Participating in supervision
- Reflecting on and discussing your readings and personal experience
The amount of work required is equivalent to a four-credit-hour graduate-level course.
What will be expected of me as a participant?
- Practice spiritual disciplines and meet at least monthly with a spiritual director.
- Read three books prior to the first session of the seminar.
- Read two additional textbooks after the seminar begins.
- Participate in all seminar sessions and complete all the readings.
- Provide spiritual direction for two to five different persons, for a minimum of fifteen sessions in total, with a goal of providing at least seven sessions with one person.
- Participate in individual and peer group supervision, which includes preparing a contemplative reflection form and a dialogue form.
Will I receive academic credit?
You won’t receive academic credit, but 5.8 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) are available for completing this seminar.
Schedule
Students in Spiritual Direction: Foundations generally meet once a week during the academic year via Zoom and complete additional work online at their own pace within deadlines.
Contact
Email us or call 574.296.6269.
