Nurturing the Call: Spiritual Guidance Program
In-depth support for the ministry of one-on-one spiritual direction.
Class of 2023 Enrolling Now
Do you companion others on their spiritual journeys?
Do you desire support and enrichment for this ministry?
Early Bird Deadline: November 30, 2021
Regular Deadline: January 15, 2022
Program runs March 2022 – December 2023.
Nurturing the Call: Spiritual Guidance Program offers both academic resources and experiential support for the ministry of spiritual direction or holy listening. At the heart of this program is the radical conviction that spiritual companionship is a form of prayer and that contemplative listening comes from being grounded in one’s relationship with God.
Free Info Sessions
Join us on Zoom to discern about the rightness of this program for you. Talk with the Director and recent grads.
Nurturing the Call Timeline
The program includes at-home work before the first residency, between residencies and after the second residency.
At-Home Work: March-June, 2022
1st Residency: July 26-August 4, 2022
At-Home Work: September 2022-June 2023
2nd Residency: June 20-29, 2023
At-Home Integrative Phase: September-December, 2023
Program Components
Participants do much of the program work in their own communities, coming to the Baltimore/Washington area for in-person residencies during each program.
At-home work includes:
- Receiving and offering one-to-one spiritual guidance;
- Mutual support and accountability with a self-established peer group;
- Reading of selected texts, including classics and specific topical material;
- Several brief theme papers;
- Periodic reports to Shalem;
- Personal journal-keeping;
- A personal spiritual practice;
- Self-scheduled, solitary retreat days;
- A 6-12-page final paper.
The residential retreats will be held at Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville, MD. You will have a private room with bathroom. The center and grounds have walking paths through woods and fields.
PHILLIP STEPHENS
Phillip, Program Director, is an Episcopal lay-person and graduate of the 2006 Spiritual Guidance Class. In addition to being an associate of the Order of the Holy Cross, he serves as a spiritual guide and retreat facilitator. He is interested in cross-cultural studies and inter-spirituality.
Price of Program
Early Bird Price (by November 30, 2021): $8,475
Regular Price (after November 30, 2021): $8,975
Scholarships are available.
Apply Now
Early Bird Deadline: November 30, 2021
Regular Deadline: January 15, 2022
Click here to review the Criteria for Ideal Spiritual Guidance Program Candidates and Application Requirements before filling out the application form.