Certificate in Spiritual Direction

The Celtic Hound Network through its Iona School of Spiritual Direction is excited about offering a Certificate in Spiritual Direction Program. We are offering this program as a cooperative initiative with congregations and regional judicatories to help promote one of the organizational growing edges we have discovered in our research. We also offer this program as a directed study for church leaders and those who are called to function as spiritual directors of coaches in their ecclesial communities. This program is ecumenical in nature and is rooted in the ancient art of holy listening and helping people hear God's Word to them.

For Directed Study and Mentor Track

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If you are interested in the directed study option, or are a governing body and would like to partner with the Iona School, contact us.

Directed study or mentor track is open enrollment and on matriculation, course work begins.

Program

Certificate in Spiritual Direction is designed for those already serving as spiritual directors or those interested in preparing to serve as spiritual directors. The program builds upon their spiritual and practical gifts. Applicants need to demonstrate experience of a call from others for this ministry, a commitment to discerning this call, and a response to the call by developing proper skills needed for spiritual direction.

The program will better equip directors or prepare candidates in their ability to walk the spiritual journey with those seeking guidance. It is open to other ministers serving in a variety of pastoral settings. The certificate is not a license for practicing spiritual direction, but is evidence of training and formation in this area.

Certificate students will engage in supervised practice of spiritual direction that provides guidance and stimulates growth in their own spirituality and in the ability to provide spiritual direction. They will explore theoretical and practical issues in spiritual direction in the context of an integrative practicum.

What specific skills does the program teach?
Students learn to identify and interpret biblical themes of spirituality as models for Christian maturity; integrate an understanding of Christian life with a holistic vision of spirituality; foster a theological understanding of faith, grace and personal response to God's spirit; ground the ministry in the community's pastoral life; engage in supervised practice of spiritual direction to develop and refine their skills; and identify issues of spiritual direction in integrative practicum with peers.

Program Objectives

• To explore the Christian spiritual tradition rooted in biblical wisdom
• To gain a theological understanding of faith, grace and response to the Spirit
• To explore theoretical and practical issues in spiritual direction in the context of a reflective peer group
• To engage in a supervised practice of spiritual direction which provides guidance and stimulates growth in this ministry
• To help develop a personal theology of spiritual direction
• To help individuals in their discernment of call about becoming a spiritual director

Other Requirements and Information

• Students should have been receiving spiritual direction (which includes pastoral relationships) for a significant period of time.
• Students are expected to complete the certificate program within two years.

Instructional Methodology

Track 1 Option: Cohort. The program as a whole is based in a cohort model and is usually done within a partnership with a judicatory or ecclesial community. Each cohort will be composed of no less than three people, and no more than nine, in order to maintain desired interpersonal relationship and workload. Each cohort will begin in with the first course together and will graduate together after successful completion of the Practicum. All courses with exception of the Practicum are web-based. However, each cohort will be evaluated as a whole based on their capacity to create and foster community above and beyond the required assignments.

Track 2 Option: Mentor. This is the most popular and common track. The program as a whole follows the cohort model with the exception that the cohort consists of the student and the proctor who is provides mentorship feedback. The student will begin and end the program with the same proctor-mentor. All coursework is web-based, with exception of the practicum. Each individual will be evaluated based on their completion of required assignments.

Both tracks contain the same courses, and same sequencing of coursework, which consist of assigned readings and reflection papers. In addition, the cohort members are to respond to each cohort members’ posts on-line. Mentor track will post to their proctor-mentor a mid-term reflection and a final reflection, followed by completing a comprehensive exam. Both tracks end with a thesis or exam which will ask for the student to incorporate the academic with practical life application.

The Practicum is a course in contextual practical theology where each student will be required to complete six hours of spiritual directing with individuals and submit to the cohort three verbatim; to which cohort members provide their responses. The Practicum ends with a face-to-face cohort retreat. For those on the Mentor track, the student will meet with their mentor or the Dean face-to-face prior to graduation.

Cost

Tuition is $150 per course, plus costs for assigned books.

Accreditation

The field of spiritual direction, and spiritual direction education, does not have an accrediting certification body in the United States.  However, Celtic Hound values accountability and has sought out processes to ensure that our educational practices are acceptable, typically meaning that we are competent to instruct third parties, behave ethically, and employ suitable quality assurance. Currently, the Celtic Hound Network is exploring the quality standard certification by the United States Distance Learning Association for this program, as well as utilizes the best practices of related programs with membership in the Spiritual Directors International. Celtic Hound is also active in partnering with particular churches and religious judicatories. This program or a version of it may be accredited and under the oversight of a partnering judicatories.

Registry and Continuing Education

Each graduate of this program is invited to register with partner judicatory. As a part of the program, the partnering judicatory has delegated to Celtic Hound Network the maintenance of rolls and to follow up with each certified practitioner every year to assess their continuing education and desire to continue to be a registered Spiritual Director in the judicatory. Registry cost is $5 year. Continuing education may be as simple as belonging to the Spiritual Directors International to taking courses at other institutions in the areas of theology, spirituality, or pastoral ministries.

Courses

Module 1: History of Christian Spirituality

Course Description

This course provides an introduction to the history of Christian Spirituality by examining different periods and perspectives within the tradition. In addition to a general overview of the major movements, concerns and personalities, selected texts and images will be studied to examine experiences of conversion and spiritual growth, mysticism and prayer, community and compassion. The course will also consider the wisdom of the tradition as a resource for contemporary issues.

 Course Goals

• That students will have a general overview of the history of Christian Spirituality with an awareness of its major movements, personalities and issues;

• That different styles of prayer, community, and engagement with the world will be examined in various eras, cultures and religious perspectives;

• That students will have read significant primary texts in Christian Spirituality and make use of secondary source material in exploring the historical/spiritual trend under study;

• That students will explore how the collective wisdom of the tradition continues to offer insights today;

• That students will explore contemporary appropriations (written, experiential and creative expressions) of some of the historical traditions being studied.

Module 2: Foundations of Spirituality and Theological Reflection

Course Description: This course is designed to introduce students to the theological sub-discipline of Spirituality. It will lead students to understand sources of Christian Spirituality and its relationship to Dogmatic, Moral, Sacramental and Biblical Theology, and basic Christian life.

Course Goals: The course is directed toward the development and appropriation of methodological skills to critically evaluate a given spirituality. The course is further designed to enable students to become knowledgeable and familiar with luminaries in the tradition and their contributions to understanding life lived in response to the Spirit of the Triune God. The students will also be directed to reflect upon their own spirituality in light of this rich tradition. In addition, various ascetical practices will be examined.

Module 3: Biblical Interpretation in Spiritual Direction

Course Description:

This course examines the history of Christian biblical interpretation from the New Testament period to the 20^th century.  In no way will we attempt to designate one “true” way of understanding the Bible, but rather we will examine what Christian scholars of different times and places claimed as their canon and the rules they used to ascertain its meaning. We will then take this academic knowledge and intersect it with the art of biblical reflection for everyday life.

Course Objectives: 

As a result of this study, the student will be able to:

• Show a beginning knowledge of the history of biblical interpretation;

• Demonstrate awareness of the main principles, tools, and resources of biblical interpretation;

• Show a developing skill in recognizing different types of biblical literature and in using appropriate hermeneutics for each type;

• Demonstrate facility in using the resources and methodologies of biblical exegesis;

• Student is able to approach scripture academically and spiritually in application.

Module 4: Spiritual Direction and Practicum

Course Description:

This course will explore the ministry and dynamics of the practice of spiritual direction.  Topics will include the history and foundations of spiritual direction as commonly practiced within the Christian Tradition.  Resources and experiences will be drawn from a wide variety of experiences and traditions, which transcend any one time or place.  The context of the spiritual journey which is the focus of spiritual direction will be discussed within the framework of one’s relationships with self, others, the world, the environment and the structures of one’s culture. 

Course Goals:

• Become familiar with the ancient tradition of spiritual direction;

• Explore the contemporary manifestations of this practice;

• Engage in some disciplines and experiences that support and flow from the engagement  in spiritual direction;

• Develop practical possibilities of developing the art of spiritual direction within one’s life and context.

The Practicum is the second part of the course and focuses on contextual practical theology.  Each student will be required to complete six hours of spiritual directing with individuals and submit to the cohort three verbatim; to which cohort members provide their responses. The Practicum ends with a face-to-face cohort retreat. Mentor Track will include on-line face-to-face coaching at mid-term and final through Tok-Box, Skype, or by telephone.

Final Assessment