SGM Spiritual Directors Formation Programme Year One Scholarship 2027
Spiritual Direction is the contemplative ministry of
accompanying people on their journey with God,
SGM Spiritual Directors Formation Programme
Year One Scholarship 2027
Are you feeling drawn to the ministry of spiritual direction?
Are finances a barrier to training?
Spiritual Growth Ministries (SGM) seeks to nurture the health and growth of contemplative spirituality. The SGM Spiritual Directors Formation Programme Year One Scholarship empowers us to resource someone to embark on the life-giving path of being formed as a spiritual director in Aotearoa, New Zealand, who might not otherwise be able to be afford it.
Thanks to the generosity of contributors to the SDFP Alumni Partnership Fund, we are delighted to offer one scholarship covering Year One course fees to a Year One participant in the SGM Spiritual Directors Formation Programme (SDFP) in 2027.
What does the SGM Spiritual Directors Formation Programme Scholarship provide?
The successful scholarship recipient will have their Year One programme fees for the Spiritual Directors Formation Programme covered in full. The scholarship includes accomodation costs for Kohanga Ako, the week long intensive in July of 2027.
The scholarship recipient will be responsible for purchasing required books and for their own travel costs to workshops and Kohanga Ako.
They will also be responsible for paying Year Two programme fees themselves, or seeking support from other funding sources that might be available to them.
Who can apply?
People who meet the following criteria can apply for the SGM Spiritual Directors Formation Programme Scholarship for 2027.
Eligible scholarship candidates will:
Be a New Zealand citizen who lives in Aotearoa, New Zealand.
Have been offered a place on the SGM Spiritual Direction Formation Programme via the standard application and discernment process of the applicant and SDFP programme leaders.
Demonstrate a sense of call and capacity for the unique ministry of spiritual direction.
Have the capacity to fully engage with all programme requirements.
Be experiencing financial hardship that would prohibit them from entering the formation programme.
When is the deadline for applying?
Applications for the scholarship close September 30, 2026. The scholarship recipient will be selected from eligible applicants by SGM Workgroup by October 31, 2026. (SGM Workgroup is the governance body of Spiritual Growth Ministries. The Spiritual Directors Formation Programme is SGM’s key offering.)
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We would love to resource all worthy causes but we have funds at this stage only for one Year One scholarship. The discernment process of applying and being selected for the SDFP may open your mind to other possibilities for funding your study. Alternatively, we may offer you a Foundation Year pathway into the programme (a common preparation practice that some applicants do prior to the full programme).
The cost for this is $400 and would give you the opportunity to begin the process of formation in a gentle way, whilst giving you a year to save for the full programme fees. -
The Year One programme includes travel for a week long intensive (Kohanga Ako) in July. In 2026 this will held in Auckland. There are also five one day workshops spread throughout the year. These are held in Auckland and alternate between Wellington and Christchurch for Southern participants.
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A scholarship application will only be considered for people who have been offered a place on the Spiritual Directors Formation Programme through the standard application and discernment process. However, if you submit both applications at same time we will hold your scholarship application on file until we know the outcome of your programme application. If you are offered a place on the programme, then your scholarship application will be considered for selection by SGM Workgroup amongst other valid candidates. The scholarship recipient will be advised by Oct 31, 2025.
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You can download programme and fee information here.
Apply for 2026 SGM Spiritual Directors Formation Programme Scholarship
Please familiarise yourself with the scholarship selection criteria as outlined in the ‘Who can apply?’ section before submitting an application.
Learn more about the Spiritual Directors Formation Programme.
Apply online for the Spiritual Directors Formation Programme.
