Grafted Life is pleased to offer the following organizations as helpful resources in the area of spiritual direction and spiritual formation.
You can filter this list by Training Programs, Direction Organizations, or Formation Ministries
This cohort-style program integrates emotional and spiritual development to assist individuals to radically and holistically deepen their relationship with Christ and be inwardly conformed to His image. They offer a one-year Spiritual Formation Certificate, which can be followed by a second year Advanced Spiritual Formation Certificate or a Certificate in Spiritual Direction. Each year is comprised of 4 weekend retreats, located in Mundelein, IL.
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 the Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association (ESDA).
This seminary offers master's degrees, doctorates, and certificates in spiritual direction and spiritual formation, delivered either locally in Oregon or online.
Transformational Listening
Located in Boston, Transformational Listening (TL) is a unique two year training program in Christian Spiritual Direction offered by the PAX Center for Spiritual Formation. TL is made up of two distinct training programs with TL1 being a prerequisite to apply for TL2:
All are welcome to TL1. This is a nine month program where you will experience and grow in the art of contemplative listening. TL1 also offers you the space to discern a call as a spiritual director.
TL2 is a ten month certificate program in the art of Christian Spiritual Direction. TL is an ecumenical program though largely made up of participants from the evangelical tradition. The training program is decidedly contemplative in its approach with holy listening being grounded in our relationship with God.
For more information about TL, please contact Rama Ziegenhals at ramapax@gmail.com.
Located in Atlanta, GA, Richmont offers a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction through a series of five 3-credit hour courses. They also offer a fully accredited Masters of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Direction that incorporates the Graduate Certificate courses. The programs are based around intensive residencies and synchronous on-line learning. They are rich in hands-on spiritual direction practice, while they focus on the historical roots of spiritual direction and the role of spiritual direction within the Kingdom of God. Topics are explored and experienced in a growing community of learning, prayer, and intentionality. Please contact Dr. Joshua Rice, the Dean of the School of Ministry at Richmont (jrice@richmont.edu) with questions.
Selah is a 2-year certificate program in spiritual direction which is intentionally Trinitarian in theology, contemplative in style, and biblical in grounding. This program’s participants and graduates represent over 20 states and 3 foreign countries from a variety of evangelical Protestant backgrounds. Both Selah-East (New England) and Selah-West (AZ) are offered within the context of a residential model. Selah nurtures spiritual direction’s foundational understanding of the theology of spiritual formation through faculty teaching during retreat Residencies (5 retreats over 2 years), as well as reading and reflection assignments in between Residencies. Selah also develops spiritual direction’s central practice, through small group experience during retreat Residencies, as well as individual experience of offering spiritual direction and reflecting on it with a Selah faculty Supervisor (in person or by phone) in between Residencies. Download a brochure or contact Selah Director Susan Currie for more information: Susan@ltinc.org.
The Listening People to Life: Training in Spiritual Direction Program at Sioux Falls Seminary fills a unique need by providing specialized training to individuals who “listen people to life” on their spiritual journeys. This is a conversational style of learning program complemented with readings, teachings and retreat. Students can obtain a Certificate of Completion for Training in Spiritual Direction or a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership Degree with a certificate in spiritual direction.
Soul Shepherding helps you to thrive with Jesus in life and leadership through resources, spiritual mentoring, and training. Founders Bill and Kristi Gaultiere are Doctors of Psychology and Spiritual Directors who were personally mentored by Dallas Willard. They have developed a unique model for training pastors and leaders to thrive in their apprenticeship to Jesus Christ, personal wholeness, and ministry to others. Their two-year Institute in Orange County, CA features twenty days of experiential learning and soul care for cohorts of 20 people in residential retreats. Also you have the option to earn a certificate in Spiritual Direction through monthly online group supervision. Soul Shepherding was started in 2009 and reaches thousands of people every week. Their Institute has trained men and women in ministry from ten different countries.
Since 2008, Sustainable Faith has offered accessible, practical, and affordable training in spiritual direction. The program is cohort-based, with 1st and 2nd year training located at multiple locations throughout the U.S. and Europe. Their focus is on preparing pastors, church staff & lay leaders to be effective directors through integrative study and hands-on practice. Cohorts meet for five weekend intensives over the course of training. This contemplative, experiential Christocentric approach is open to Christians of all denominations. For more information email janice@sustainablefaith.com.
Located in Toronto, Canada, this evangelical seminary offers both an MDiv and an MTS in Spiritual Formation which can include training in spiritual direction.