Spiritual Formation and Direction Ministries

This seminary offers master's degrees, doctorates, and certificates in spiritual direction and spiritual formation, delivered either locally in Oregon or online.

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Renovaré is a community of Christ-followers who model, resource, and advocate fullness of life with God experienced, by grace, through the spiritual practices of Jesus and of the historical Church. We nurture and facilitate interested folks through events, publications, and consultations.

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A spiritual direction and soul care ministry located in Minnesota.

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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.

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A group of trained Spiritual Directors primarily from a Judeo-Christian background who choose to affiliate based on their Mission Statement. They offer Trainings, casual evenings of Discussion (often around a communal meal) and Formational Events that have a spiritual focus.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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FORMATIO: the art of spiritual formation

A two-year journey in Christian spiritual formation for personal life and ministry. Formatio walks participants through their own experience of spiritual formation, a deepening understanding of the transformation process, and implications for engaging others – both individually and groups. Formatio is for those who have a desire to walk with and learn how to lead others through their own experience of spiritual formation.

For those who have a desire to walk with others in their spiritual journey, we have to learn to be attentive to our own spiritual journey. As we learn to attend to our own souls we grow in the ability to lead others on their own journey. Walking with others in spiritual formation is more than just a set of learned skills, it is a “way of being” in our own lives. Throughout the history of the church, the care of souls has been the focus of our common life. Gregory the Great said, “The care of souls is the art of arts.”

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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.

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