Spiritual Formation and Direction Ministries

Located in Indianapolis, IN,  each learning cohort (8 to 12 participants) is trained in a classical approach to spiritual direction. Participants gather at the Abbey for five (two-day) intensives per year for two years. 

Year One provides a strong introduction to spiritual direction and is a year of discerning one’s calling to spiritual direction. 

Year Two is for those who feel called to offer spiritual direction (formally or informally) and provides more in-depth knowledge and skill-based training in the art of spiritual direction. 

Every intensive in Year One and Two is a combination of process and praxis. In addition, throughout this program strong focus is given to the deepening of each participant’s spiritual life and contemplative practice. A bonus are the lifelong friendships often forged through this small cohort experience!  

For more information or to request a syllabus, please contact Beth Booram at beth.booram@fallcreekabbey.org

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Certificate Program in Spiritual Formation & the Art of Spiritual Direction

This certificate program in Spiritual Formation and the Art of Spiritual Direction provides participants with the contemplative experiences, knowledge, and wisdom necessary to deepen their awareness of God, self, and others. A series of four residencies and two praxes form the core of this two-year training experience with faculty guidance and peer interaction between residencies using virtual formats.

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This two year course out of the Anglican Diocese in New England seeks to equip mature and skilled spiritual directors grounded in Anglican sacramental theology and the Catholic contemplative tradition. It is led by ESDA member Susan Skillen.

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Functioning much as an evangelical order, Imago Christi is an international and cross-cultural covenant community that develops spiritual formation resources and provides coaching for Christian leaders so that they may minister out of a deepening love for God and personal transformation in the image of Christ. Three-day “Spiritual Formation Discovery” events, offered throughout the world, are the primary means of introduction to the order, and are complimented by various print resources.

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The Journey is more than a two-year retreat-based training process, it is a catalyst for holistic life and leadership transformation. The Journey was created to refresh and inspire leaders who listen to God, follow Jesus' rhythms of life and lead from the overflow. We invite you to benefit from a seasoned training process that has matured for nearly 30 years.By integrating spiritual formation and leadership development, the Journey cares for leaders at every level.

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KidZ at Heart International is a global Christian community that trains, partners with, and mobilizes networks of leaders to help children fall deeply in love with Jesus. Grafted Life Ministries is partnering with KidZ in the development of formation-based church curricula for children and youth.

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Leadership Transformations exists to cultivate vibrant spirituality and attentive discernment among Christian leaders and teams by offering a two-year certificate program in spiritual direction, spiritual leadership communities, soul care retreats, discernment consultation, sabbatical preparation, online surveys (church health, family health, etc.), and a myriad of online resources on spiritual formation topics.

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By learning the lifestyle rhythms of Jesus first through our Journey process, our spiritual direction training process is unique and deeply transformative. Our formal spiritual direction training is enhanced by the student bringing into the training a lifestyle already deeply rooted in the rhythms of Jesus. In addition to training spiritual directors in a cognitive learning style, our prayerful goal is to also provide opportunities for lifestyle transformation that result in an abiding life with Jesus that flows into and empowers the ministry of the spiritual director.

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Located in San Francisco, Nuos Formation provides a 2 year training program in Spiritual Direction.

This course seeks to harness both the richness of the tradition of spiritual direction as well as the contributions of object relations psychology and even more recently, interpersonal neurobiology. For this reason, the content spans the spectrum of graduate level and popular level reading, personal prayer and reflection assignments, as well as rigorous clinical practicum (second year). Nuos training meets all requirements meant for membership for ESDA.

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The vision of PAX is to integrate spiritual formation into the life of worshipping communities seeing our local communities of faith as the foundation for spiritual formation. At the heart of our vision is to be “contemplatives in action.” As contemplatives, we seek to nurture a vibrant & healthy spirituality rooted in the love of God. With Love as our foundation, we humbly move into action seeking justice & peace as co-laborers with Christ for the sake of others, & to the glory of God.

PAX programs are designed around experiential learning & community to nourish & equip you to facilitate spiritual formation ministries in your church, or other spheres of ministry.

Certificate Training in Spiritual Direction: A 2-year training program grounded in contemplative listening designed to help you experience & grow in the art of spiritual direction.

Certificate Training in Spiritual Formation: A 9-month program where you will be equipped to lead others in spiritual formation ministries & dive deeper into the unique dynamics of Christian Spirituality. You can read more and register for this online cohort community here.

Certificate Training in the Enneagram: A unique program designed specifically for spiritual directors, counselors, & life coaches in the use of the Enneagram as part of your ministries of 1-on-1 soul care. This program is facilitated by spiritual directors & authors, Revs. Doug & Adele Calhoun. You can read more and register here.

For more information, visit our website or reach out to contactpaxcenter@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook & Instagram at @paxcenter.

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