Year One
Becoming a spiritual director is first and foremost about the formation of the director.
The ministry of spiritual direction requires both formation and training; it involves transformation and education. Participants in this program will acquire the skills of asking good questions, listening attentively, and fostering stillness as they facilitate deep and meaningful conversations. Participants will also read and discuss many of the best books about this focused type of pastoral care. Yet, at the heart of this experience is tending to one’s own spiritual formation.
Our design for renewing the ministry of spiritual direction reflects this primary need for formation. Over the course of eight months, participants will participate in five two-day intensives which will meet from 8:00 a.m–5:00 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. These intensives will meet in idyllic homes, providing an atmosphere for deep personal reflection, discussion and growth. Our gatherings will be a place for experimentation with various contemplative exercises and practice in the skills of spiritual direction.
To receive the certificate of completion, there are seven requirements:
- Participate in all five modules
- Experiment with and engage in chosen spiritual disciplines
- Receive regular spiritual direction
- Offer spiritual direction (five sessions to two directees, totaling ten sessions)
- Submit a recording/verbatim for feedback
- Read the required books
- Submit seven monthly general reports via email
The intensives will also prepare participants for where the best training in the ministry of spiritual direction will occur: in offering spiritual direction to a few others in their own contexts. Hence, the intensives are like laboratories along the way as you learn to provide direction for others. Between the intensives, participants will also receive spiritual direction.
Fall 2024- 2025 Year One Cohorts
The cost of this experience in formation and training is $2,950. Payment in full is due before Module One. Payment plans are available upon request and must be approved by the Director of the Institute for Christian Spirituality.
This price covers your training as well as breakfast and lunch during each of the modules. You will be responsible for the cost of your travel, lodging, books, and any other meals.
The deadline to apply for our fall cohorts is July 1st. All applications received after this deadline are automatically archived and a new application is required to be considered for the following year.
If you have any questions about our spiritual direction cohorts or anything pertaining to the Institute for Christian Spirituality, please email us at ics [at] lipscomb.edu (ics[at]lipscomb[dot]edu).
Fall Year One Cohorts
2024- 2025 Fall Locations, Facilitators & Dates
Lebanon, TN: John Grant
John worked in congregational ministry with three churches over 24 years. Since 2018, he has served as Executive Director of Compassionate Hands, a network of 45 Wilson County churches caring for people experiencing homelessness. He completed SD training with ICS – “this training is life-changing. It revitalized my connection with God and it re-shaped how I respond in every conversation.
Dates:
August 23-24, 2024
October 18-19, 2024
January 3-4, 2025
March 21-22, 2025
May 16-17, 2025
Nashville, TN: Kris Miller
Kris joined the faculty of the College of Bible and Ministry in 2015, serving as assistant professor of Christian theology and spirituality. He is also the director of Lipscomb’s Institute for Christian Spirituality. He has over 30 years of ministry experience as a pastor, professor, and administrator. He has been a spiritual director since 2006 and has been training other spiritual directors since 2010. Before joining Lipscomb’s faculty, he taught systematic theology for Fuller Theological Seminary’s regional campuses. Kris holds a B.A. in biblical studies, a M.Div., and a M.A. in history and theology from Abilene Christian University, and a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Durham University (U.K.)
Dates:
August 16-17, 2024
September 27-28, 2024
November 15-16, 2024
January 17-18, 2025
March 28-29, 2025
Tyler, TX: Lance Bolay
Lance and his family live in Tyler, TX, where, after serving in pastoral ministry for 20 years, he is now the Director of Mission Impact for the Mosaic Counseling Centers of East Texas. His formation includes two years of formal training in spiritual direction and an apprenticeship as a spiritual direction cohort facilitator through the Institute for Christian Spirituality at Lipscomb University. He also received formal training in leading contemplative prayer groups and retreats from the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. He is a certified teacher in the Enneagram Spectrum Method and is experienced in inner healing prayer and Ignatian spiritual formation. He completed his Doctor of Ministry degree in Missional and Spiritual Formation, with an emphasis in spiritual direction, from Lipscomb University. Lance has been offering spiritual direction since 2010.
Dates:
Sept 6-7, 2024
Nov 8-9, 2024
Jan 10-11, 2025
Feb 21-22, 2025
April 11-12, 2025
