Program Information: Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction

Transcription

1 (Revised ) Program Information: Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction I. INTRODUCTION The Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction is designed to better equip candidates to companion those seeking to deepen their relationship with God and to live out the implications of the relationship. The program encompasses Benedictine practices and prayer as well as spiritual direction. Candidates serving in a variety of ministries are welcome to apply. II. GOALS 1. To provide a context for understanding the Christian spiritual tradition rooted in biblical wisdom and the Christian monastic tradition. 2. To explore theoretical and practical issues in spiritual direction in the context of a reflective peer group. 3. To engage in the supervised practice of spiritual direction to provide guidance and stimulate growth in the ministry. 4. To help individuals in the discernment of a call to become a spiritual director. III. GENERAL GUIDELINES / PARAMETERS 1. The program is distinctively Benedictine with a focus on listening, integrity, discernment and opportunities for liturgy of the hours, lectio divina and other practices. 2. The certificate is not a license for practicing spiritual direction, but is evidence of training in the area. 3. The certificate program requires 22 credits, some of which could count towards a master s degree. 4. The practicum of approximately 8 months in duration is supervised by trained personnel in the Spirituality Center at Saint Benedict s Monastery. 1

2 5. The discernment process includes the following criteria. If discernment reveals that another program is better for a particular student, the completed coursework could be applied toward a Certificate in Spirituality. A. Personal appropriation of theological learning and the ability to speak of one's own inner movements and personal prayer life. B. Group processing and reflective writing for the four spiritual direction courses: Discernment in Prayer, Dynamics of Spiritual Direction, Practicum in Spiritual Direction and Integrating Spiritual Direction. C. A portfolio of work following the practicum which includes the student s verbatims from sessions with directees and also prayerful reflections on supervision. D. On-going discernment of the charism for spiritual direction. IV. COURSEWORK -- Certificate Total: 22 credits A. Spiritual Direction Courses (10 credits) The Practice of Discernment in Prayer (1 credit) An exploration of how our personal image of God evolves as we discern God's ways of being present to us in prayer and in life. By both studying and practicing discernment of spirits we can become sensitive to inner movements, understanding where they come from and where they lead us. The course includes an introduction to the practice of lectio divina applied to our lived experience. No prerequisites; Grading is satisfactory / unsatisfactory. Dynamics of Spiritual Direction (3 credits) The study of spiritual direction allows students to develop skills in guiding others to identify and articulate their relationship with God through the life of faith, religious experience, discernment, and prayer. Students learn various models of spiritual direction and the purpose and dynamics of peer and individual supervision. (Pre-practicum course) Prerequisites: 1. Course entitled The Practice of Discernment in Prayer 2. Completion of an approved ministry course, one of the required courses in core theology 3. Admission to the spiritual direction program Practicum for Spiritual Direction (3 credits) This course is a eight-month internship in the practice of spiritual direction. Students will see at least three directees each month, write verbatims and receive individual monthly supervision at the Spirituality Center at Saint Benedict s Monastery in Saint Joseph. In addition, students will participate in peer groups that focus on prayerful reflection on the supervision experience. Prerequisite: 1) Dynamics of Spiritual Direction: and 2) approval for supervision by the Spirituality Center at St. Benedict s Monastery. 2

3 Integrating Spiritual Direction (3 credits) Emphasis will be on integrating a theological understanding of spiritual direction with the experiences of the practicum. This course will go more deeply into topics already introduced in the pre-practicum course in addition to covering more advanced issues in spiritual direction. An exploration of Benedictine stability will support the on-going development of contemplative presence. Grading is satisfactory/unsatisfactory. Prerequisites: 1) Practicum in Spiritual Direction; and 2) Recommendation of supervisor(s) from the Spirituality Center at St. Benedict s Monastery B. Core Theology Courses (12 credits) One course from each of the following focus areas: 3 credits in Scripture 3 credits in prayer 3 credits in spirituality 3 credits in ministry Core theology requirements can be met online or on campus with the exception of the requirement in ministry. Rationale: More than one book or one genre of scripture. The only exception is the Psalms, central in the Benedictine tradition. Rationale: Different modes of personal prayer, i.e. not only liturgical worship. Scripture: New Testament (SSNT) Courses (3 credit courses) Recommended: SSNT 400 Reading the New Testament SSNT 420 Synoptic Gospels Other Options: SSOT 416 Psalms SSOT 400 Reading the Old Testament Spiritual Theology (SPIR) Courses (Prayer) SPIR 431 Christian Prayer (3 cr.) SPIR 436 Bible and Prayer (3 cr.) SPIR 468 Topics in Spirituality (1-3) e.g. Hist. of Christian Prayer Rationale: Survey of spirituality over time, and thus covering different modes of spirituality. Spiritual Theology (SPIR) Courses (Spirituality) (3 credit courses) SPIR 430 Theology and Spirituality SPIR 434 Monastic Spiritual Theology Rationale: Due to the content of these classes, only these 3 are possible. Pastoral Theology and Ministry (PTHM) Courses (3 credit courses) (Online course not applicable for this requirement) Recommended: PTHM 408 Introduction to Pastoral Care Options: PTHM 454 Ministry Through the Life Cycle PTHM 405 Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 3

4 NOTES: 1. Core theology courses should be taken concurrent with the spiritual direction courses; however, a minimum of one theology course, an approved ministry course, is required prior to registering for Dynamics of Spiritual Direction (pre-practicum course). 2. If previous coursework meets the certificate requirements for the four areas of core theology but the courses are over ten years old, substitute courses can replace the option to repeat coursework. For example, if Synoptic Gospels was taken in 2000, the Gospel of Luke, another scripture course, can meet the requirement in V. COURSE SCHEDULING The program may be completed in three, three-week summer sessions on campus and the practicum can be completed at an approved site in the academic year between the second and third summers. The core theology courses could be a combination of online and on-campus offerings before, during, and following the spiritual direction courses Certificate Total: 22 credits 1 credit can be taken on campus or as hybrid course (pre-requisite to Dynamics of Spiritual Direction; begins online and is completed on campus one weekend in June) Practice of Discernment in Prayer 9 credits may be completed online or on campus: Spirituality Prayer (could be 3 one-credit courses) Scripture 6 credits must be completed on campus (summer or academic year) Dynamics of Spiritual Direction (admission to program is a pre-requisite) Ministry course (one of the following is required): Introduction to Pastoral Care Ministry through the Life Cycle Introduction to Pastoral Ministry 3 credits must be completed on campus in summer sessions Integrating Spiritual Direction 3 credits can be completed at home with distance participation in the seminar Practicum Core theology courses should be taken concurrently with the spiritual direction courses. One three-credit course from each focus area is required: Scripture, Prayer, Spirituality, and Ministry. 4

5 VI. PROGRAM REQUISITES 1. A bachelor s degree or the equivalent. 2. Applicants should be persons of faith, a member of a faith community and at least 30 years of age. 3. Persons under 30 years of age are encouraged to apply for the certificate program and to complete the core theology requirements. Formal acceptance into the program will occur at the time the applicant meets the age requirement. Note: Credits approved prior to formal acceptance are valid for 10 years from the date earned regardless of changes to the certificate program. 4. Applicants are expected to have been in spiritual direction for a significant period of time. A minimum of a full year of monthly spiritual direction is required before the applicant s spiritual director can write a recommendation, a key part in the application process. 5. Applicants are expected to engage in on-going discernment of the charism for spiritual direction. VII. ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE GRADUATE CERTIFICATE IN SPIRITUAL DIRECTION 1. Completed online application for the Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction. Website: Click the tab Academics, then Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction. 2. Two letters of recommendation attesting to spiritual maturity and psychological balance from people who have known you for a significant period of time. Applicants should send the url to recommenders directing them to the online form to be submitted. One recommendation needs to come from your current spiritual director and the other from someone who knows you well within a church or other religious organization. Applicants from religious communities: One recommendation must come from a major superior with a statement of sponsorship, in place of a letter from a church or other religious organization relationship. The form requires that the applicant waive the right of access to the recommendations. 3. Official transcripts and a written request if previous courses are to be considered toward the theology requirements for the certificate in spiritual direction. (If previous work was taken at the Saint John s School of Theology, unofficial transcripts are sufficient.) Upon approval of the Dean or Associate Dean, three graduate credits in theology may be transferred from another accredited institution or up to six credits may be transferred from member schools of the Minnesota Consortium of Theological Schools. 5

6 Applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction whose previous work was done at the School of Theology may apply an additional three credits (for a total of nine credits) to the core theology requirements, provided those credits were taken within the past ten years. Nine credits earned in Web-based classes may be counted toward a graduate certificate. Applicants who are also candidates for a degree at the School of Theology may count credits earned in their master s program towards the core theology requirements of the certificate, provided the credits fit within the four categories outlined above. 4. A brief statement of intent: In 500 words or less, address your interest in the certificate program. Describe your background and incorporate two or three experiences that illustrate why you could be a likely candidate for the program. 5. A nonrefundable application fee of $15. However, this fee is waived if the candidate applies online or makes a campus visit. We encourage online submissions, if possible. However, hard copies of admissions documents can be sent to Mary Beth Banken, Graduate Admissions, Saint John s School of Theology Seminary. P.O. Box 7288, Collegeville, MN Degree-seeking students should also submit the admissions documents required for the respective degree as outlined on the website: Admission to the certificate program in spiritual direction remains valid for up to ten years. Just prior to readmission, the applicant needs to have been in spiritual direction for a significant period of time. VIII. CRITERIA FOR ACCEPTANCE Candidates are interviewed by the Program Director and Admissions Committee. Acceptance is based on the strength of the admissions file and the formal interview to assess the readiness of the candidates for the certificate program. In the interview, the candidates will be expected to address the following: 1. Willingness to enter into a process of discernment regarding the call to ministry of spiritual direction/companionship 2. Willingness and ability to make a commitment to a process for two or more years. 3. Willingness to continue to work with a spiritual director and to participate in ongoing discernment in the program. IX. TUITION The tuition for the certificate program is $360 per credit, the non-degree rate for The tuition for degree seeking students is $800 per credit with scholarships ranging from 50% to 100%. Students who wish to simultaneously earn a certificate and a graduate degree are charged the degree rate and qualify for scholarship funding. 6

7 X. CONTACTS For questions related to the certificate program, contact Becky Van Ness, Director of the Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction: (320) For questions related to admission to a degree program offered by the School of Theology, contact Mary Beth Banken, Director of Graduate Admissions: mbanken@csbsju.edu; (320)