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                SPIRITUAL GROWTH MINISTRIES TRUST
                                New Zealand (Aotearoa)

          Programme for the Formation
          of Spiritual Directors
 

INTRODUCTION

Established in 1988, SGM’s two year part-time programme offers comprehensive formation and training in both the theory and practice of spiritual direction.

Practical giving of spiritual direction under supervision is supported by reading and written assignments and substantial personal reflection. Attendance at regular workshops (five single days each year, a week-long residential event in the first year and a non-residential weekend in the second year) extends participants’ understanding and experience, offering ample opportunity for practising spiritual direction skills and for deepening participants’ confidence. This programme prepares graduates to apply for associate membership of the Association of Christian Spiritual Directors in Aotearoa New Zealand (ACSD).

Applicants are expected to have:

•           experience of receiving spiritual direction from a trained spiritual director

•           experience of making directed silent retreats

•           a degree of maturity based on life and faith experience

•           a grasp of the spiritual life, scripture and theology

•           some understanding of human developmental psychology

Pre- or co-requisites for the programme include:

•           undertaking a counselling or  skilled listening course

•           gaining familiarity with personality type theory e.g. through Myers-Briggs

            and Enneagram workshops

•           participating  in a workshop on Christian Dreamwork

•           completing a 7-day directed silent retreat
 

CONTENT OF THE PROGRAMME

The Programme's division  into two independent parts - the theory and practice of spiritual direction -  is intended to promote the growth of the participant both as a person and as a spiritual director.

Theory:
This consists of eight modules with reading, study and reflection guides and written assignments (2 essays of approx. 1000 words per module):
bullet An introduction to spiritual direction
bulletThe relationship between director and directee
bulletDiscernment
bulletPrayer
bulletSpiritual growth and its stages
bulletPsychological aspects of spiritual direction
bulletContextual issues in spiritual direction
bulletA special interest project (of up to 3000 - 3500 words)
Practical Work:
bulletReceiving spiritual direction from a trained spiritual director
bullet The giving of spiritual direction throughout the formation programme
bullet 20 individual supervision sessions spread over the two years, including the presentation of verbatim and case studies
bullet Attendance at all 10 workshops - PLEASE NOTE: trainees travel to the nearest of 3 locations - normally Auckland, Palmerston North and a South Island venue decided by the trainees' locations
bullet Attendance at the week long residential programme, usually held in late July in Year 1
bullet Attendance at the non-residential weekend, usually held in November of Year 2


CONCLUSION OF THE PROGRAMME

A letter of completion and a certificate indicating that all course requirements have been met are awarded at the conclusion of the Programme.


COSTS

Application Fee :                        $NZ50.00
 Manual:                                     $NZ45.00
 Programme Fee:  YEAR 1          $NZ1208 + $NZ151 GST                    $NZ  1359
                          YEAR 2          $NZ1208 + $NZ151 GST                    $NZ  1359

Options for payment include paying by monthly automatic payments or in 3 instalments.

Supervision Fee: $50.00 approx. per session, according to supervisor's fee.

 (All costs stated are for applicants for the 2009 intake and may increase in subsequent years).
GST = Goods & Services Tax, 12.5%.
Additional costs include books, travel to workshops, full accommodation for the seven day workshop in Year 1 (approx. $500), personal spiritual direction and a seven day retreat.
 

APPLICATION PROCESS

If you :
· are interested in helping others grow in their relationship with God;
· already have people approaching you to talk about their spiritual life;
· sense God’s invitation to consider this area of ministry;
· demonstrate in your own life and faith journey a commitment to spiritual growth and an awareness of the all-embracing love of God,

then contact the Co-ordinator of the Spiritual Directors' Formation Programme ...

(CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS for the 2009/2010 programme is AUGUST 20th 2008, although late applications may be considered)


Rev. Sue Pickering

83 Vivian Street
New Plymouth
New Zealand

Phone/fax (06) 759 2331 (work)
Phone/fax (06) 758 4952 (home)

Email: sgmtp@xtra.co.nz
 

Sue is an Anglican priest currently working as a spiritual director, supervisor and conductor of retreats and quiet days. Sue has been associated with Spiritual Growth Ministries since 1994 when she trained as a spiritual director before travelling to England for further study, receiving an MA in Applied Theology from the University of Kent at Canterbury in 1997 to complement counselling and teaching qualifications.

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