School of Spiritual Direction

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Year 3: Beyond Beginnings

The School of Spiritual Direction Year 3: Beyond Beginnings is a post-graduate class for graduates of our own or another 2-year certificate program. Students who can enroll in this course need to fulfill the following prerequisites: forty hours of offering spiritual direction post-graduation, or at least one year after graduating from the SSD, actively offering direction, a sense of calling to the ministry of spiritual direction, and a recommendation from a Sustainable Faith instructor or an interview with the Year Three instructor if the applicant is from another training institution.
It is formatted as a five-module, one-day class. This year of study is designed for those who desire additional and deeper conversations regarding spiritual direction topics and experiences.

The 5 Modules

  • Module 1 – Our Ongoing Story: Narrative Work

    We reconnect with each other through sharing our ongoing personal journeys and our journeys as directors

  • Module 2 – Soul Making: How Our Lives are Formed

    We emphasize our continued formation into the image of Christ and our companioning of others on that same journey. We explore some of the connections between spiritual direction and psychology.

  • Module 3 – Desire: Our Bus Ticket Home

    Noticing and uncovering desire is one of our main focuses in spiritual direction. Through Curt Thompson’s book, we explore the neuroscience of desire.

  • Module 4 – Contemplative Prayer: The Silence that Transforms

    We take a deeper dive into the invitation and practice of contemplative prayer.

  • Module 5 – Stages of Faith: The Triple Way

    Belden Lane takes us on his very personal journey through the classical stages of formation: Purgative, Illuminative, and Union.

Supervision

Students will have two group supervisions in each module. Each student will offer a direction session for supervision 1-2 times a year, depending on the size of the cohort.

If you're interested in establishing a class in your area, we’re interested in talking with you! Contact us


Online Cohorts

In-Person and Hybrid Cohorts*

Locations


*Hybrid cohorts meet in person for 2 of the 5 gatherings, while the other gatherings are held online

Year 3: Beyond Beginnings Cost Overview

The cost for Year 3 is $1200 with a $100 non-refundable deposit. You can pay the entire cost up front or you can elect to pay the balance of $1100 in 8 consecutive monthly payments of $137.50 at the beginning of each month. The first installment is due before the first module.