Becoming ~ Academic Skills Building
  • Sessions are the first Saturday of each month, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. (See specific dates below.)
  • The transition from “Exploring” to “Becoming” includes a time of discernment. It is expected that students will spend personal and group time to determine if they feel led to continue in this work.
  • Students entering “Becoming” will complete an application and personal interview process to determine their readiness to begin the academic portion of the program, year two.
  • It is expected that applicants will have attended “Exploring” in order to gain insight into themselves and the Direction process.  
  • While “Exploring” focused on the students’ own experience of spiritual formation, “Becoming” focuses on understanding and preparing for the work of becoming a Spiritual Director.
  • All students in “Becoming” will continue their relationship with their own Spiritual Director.
  • Sessions will include all students, frequently breaking into smaller groups or dyads to process and practice.
  • Students will be asked to read/view assigned material in between sessions.
  • Each student will complete a monthly reflection paper, tracking their response to their internal processing and learning.
Dates and Topics for Becoming (2018 Cohort)
2019
September 7
  • Introduction to Becoming 
  • Review curriculum for the year, policies & procedures, expectations, 
  • Create agreements & sacred space, 
  • Define individual goals & commitments
  • Your Theological Stance
  • Self Care
 October 5
  • Process and Logistics of Spiritual Direction
  • Ethics & Boundaries
  • Psychotherapy, Pastoral Counseling & Spiritual Direction
November 2 ~ Guest Teacher TBA
Mental/Spiritual Health issues
  • Crisis
  • Trauma
  • Grief and Loss
December 7 ~ Guest Teacher, Rev Dr Stuart Higginbotham
  • Deep Listening
  • Creating sacred space​
2020
January 4 ~ Guest Teacher, Spiritual Director Pam Muller
Discernment
• Prayer / Contemplation / Meditation
• Creative Expression & Dreamwork
February 1 ~ Guest Teacher TBA
• Cultural Competency
• Institutional racism, homophobia, & violence; Implicit bias
• Faith Diversity
March 7 
Integral Theory
April 4 ~ Guest Teacher, Dr Jerome Lubbe
  • Development 
  • Life Transitions
  • Personality
May 2 
  • Review of “Becoming” & Preparation for “Engaging”
  • Ritual and closure