Christian Spiritual Direction is a ministry of holy listening in which one person helps another notice the Triune God’s active presence and perceive the Holy Spirit’s movement in their ordinary life. Spiritual Directors journey with Directees, assisting as they deepen their lived intimacy with Christ, the One True Director. This program is designed to equip and prepare you to pursue your calling as a Spiritual Director.
The Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction focuses on the historical roots of Christian Spiritual Direction and the role of Spiritual Direction within the Kingdom of God. Topics are explored and experienced in a cohort community (target size of 20) with growing prayerfulness and intentionality. The training focuses on the individual’s lived experience with Christ and practice of course content. Students agree to receive on-going Spiritual Direction, and supervision while simultaneously offering Spiritual Direction for the twenty-two months of training.
The three to four-day residential intensives are designed to be both contemplative and instructional, while held in a beautiful retreat center to foster and enhance the cohort’s community. The program directors remain involved and available throughout the training, combining their care and expertise with outstanding instructors who are also trained Spiritual Directors and active in ministry.
Course content is taught both through residential intensives or online. The program is completed in five-consecutive semesters with the following five 3-credit hour courses:
Perceiving a Holy Invitation
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the foundations of the practice of spiritual direction. Special emphasis will be given in this course to the clarification of terms, spiritual direction’s relationships with both theology and scripture, and discerning one’s call to spiritual direction. This class will also focus on historical roots of spiritual direction and the role of spiritual direction within the Kingdom of God. This course has both residency and online components.
Preparing an Available Self
The purpose of this course is to develop students’ understanding of the nature of spiritual formation and invite them to pursue significant self-reflection. Particular emphasis on the Ignatian Exercises continues the program’s focus on historical roots and the role of spiritual direction within the presently available Kingdom of God. Attention will be given in this course to spiritual formation, the role of personality and psychometric assessment tools. This course is taught in an online format.
Developing a Listening Ear
The purpose of this course is to help students develop the practical listening skills of spiritual direction. Special emphasis will be given in this course to practicing spiritual direction as a director and participation in individual and peer supervision. This class will continue the program’s focus on historical roots of spiritual direction and the role of spiritual direction within the Kingdom of God. This course has both residency and online components.
Discerning and Knowing God
The purpose of this course is to help students know God more intimately and develop their ability to discern God’s communication. Special emphasis will be given in this course to the process of knowing God, methods of prayer, awareness and surrender in the discernment process, and the Ignatian rules of discernment. This class will continue the program’s focus on historical roots of spiritual direction and the role of spiritual direction within the Kingdom of God. This course has both residency and online components.
Arranging a Sacred Space
The purpose of this course is to prepare students to offer the ministry of spiritual direction with integrity. Special emphasis will be given in this course to identifying the needs of various constituencies, ministering within different contexts, and addressing special issues that arise in spiritual direction. This class will continue the program’s focus on historical roots of spiritual direction and the role of spiritual direction within the Kingdom of God.
Outstanding Instructors:
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1. Application Form and Fee
2. Essay – Your essay should be a minimum of 500 words and approximately 2-4 pages. It will be examined to determine your writing ability and will be rated according to clarity of thought, grammar, and readability. It will also be used to learn more about you personally. Please address the following questions within your essay:
3. Résumé of professional/ministerial experience. (can be uploaded with the application form)
4. Official Transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended. Transcripts must be sent directly from the institution. In order to review your file, we must have an official transcript for every institution attended, even if any credits were transferred to another school. These can be submitted electronically to admissions@richmont.edu or mailed to our Atlanta Campus–1900 The Exchange SE, Building 100, Atlanta, GA 30339
5. Ministry Reference – The reference should be completed by a pastor, small group leader, missions leader, etc. Ideally, it should be someone that can address your ministry involvement who you have served with/under or alongside. Please provide this link (https://www.richmont.edu/admissions/reference/ministry-reference/) to your reference as they will submit this reference on your behalf.
888 924 6774
2021-2022 Tuition and Fee:
Students Enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction: $355 per credit hour*
Additional Cost for the student:
Financial Aid is not available for the Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction.
*Tuition and fees are subject to change without notice. For a full list of possible fees, see the academic catalog
To find estimated total cost of the program, view our Estimated Cost of Attendance.
888 924 6774