Spiritual Directors Formation Programme
Established in 1988, SGM’s two year part-time programme offers comprehensive formation and training in both the theory and practice of spiritual direction. In May 2014 Spiritual Growth Ministries celebrated 30 years of work in New Zealand and 24 years of forming spiritual directors. Our Spiritual Directors' Formation Programme continues to form participants as robust, capable practitioners. We offer a comprehensive exploration of the theory and practice of spiritual direction, supervision for skill development, and significant opportunities for personal spiritual growth .
Our programme is open to mature people and aims to produce informed and competent spiritual directors and spiritual companions who may minister formally or informally in settings such as parishes, schools, chaplaincies, retreat centres, prisons, workplaces, small groups and community centres.
Practical work includes the regular giving of spiritual direction under supervision, and is supported by reading and written assignments and attendance at regular workshops. These events deepen participants’ understanding of spiritual direction and spiritual companionship and offer plenty of opportunities to practice a wide range of relevant skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Our programme is open to mature people and aims to produce informed and competent spiritual directors and spiritual companions who may minister formally or informally in settings such as parishes, schools, chaplaincies, retreat centres, prisons, workplaces, small groups and community centres.
Practical work includes the regular giving of spiritual direction under supervision, and is supported by reading and written assignments and attendance at regular workshops. These events deepen participants’ understanding of spiritual direction and spiritual companionship and offer plenty of opportunities to practice a wide range of relevant skills in a safe and supportive environment.
Conditions of admission
Participants are normally mature people with a grasp of the spiritual life, Scripture and theology, who will have:
Pre- or co-requisites for participation in the programme may include:
For some people a FOUNDATION YEAR will be suggested to enable adequate preparation before entry into the Formation Programme itsel.
Participants are normally mature people with a grasp of the spiritual life, Scripture and theology, who will have:
- experience of receiving spiritual direction and making directed retreats
- a degree of wisdom based on life and faith experience
- some understanding of human developmental psychology
- some experience of being approached by others for help with their spiritual journey
Pre- or co-requisites for participation in the programme may include:
- undertaking a counselling or skilled listening course
- gaining familiarity with personality type theory through a Myers-Briggs workshop
- taking a workshop in Christian Dreamwork
- attending a Treaty of Waitangi workshop (NZ participants)
- attending a five-day silent, directed retreat
For some people a FOUNDATION YEAR will be suggested to enable adequate preparation before entry into the Formation Programme itsel.
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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):
(Click here for more details, including additional costs)
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Interested in training to be a spiritual director? 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; CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE APPLICATION PAGE CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS for the 2018 programme is SEPTEMBER 20th 2017, although late applications may be considered. Click here for a PDF document which has some further details regarding the Spiritual Directors' Formation Programme. If you have further questions, then email fran.francis@sgm.org.nz. A limited number of applications from outside New Zealand may be considered. Attendance at some training events in New Zealand is required. On 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. Application may then be made for membership of the Association of Christian Spiritual Directors in Aotearoa New Zealand (ACSD). See the ACSD website for details. |
Costs (2017 intake)
Application Fee: $NZ50.00. Programme Fee: Each year (2 years) = $NZ2,378.26 + $356.74 GST* = $2735.00.
Subsidies of $250, $500 or $650 may be available from the Spiritual Growth Ministries Trust, made possible by the support of the Christian community in Aotearoa New Zealand.
* GST = Goods and Services Tax, 15% at time of printing.
Options for payment include paying by monthly automatic payments or in 3 instalments.
Additional to the course fees are: (1) Supervision Fee: $65.00 approx. per session, according to supervisor's fee; (2) Year 1 residential training event: $510.00 approx.; (3) Year 2 closing weekend: $200.00 approx. Other costs include books, travel, personal spiritual direction, co-requisite workshops (e.g. Myers-Briggs, Dreams, Treaty of Waitangi) and a five day retreat.
Please note that Year 2 fees are an estimate only. SGM reserves the right to increase them before Year 2 begins.
Subsidies of $250, $500 or $650 may be available from the Spiritual Growth Ministries Trust, made possible by the support of the Christian community in Aotearoa New Zealand.
* GST = Goods and Services Tax, 15% at time of printing.
Options for payment include paying by monthly automatic payments or in 3 instalments.
Additional to the course fees are: (1) Supervision Fee: $65.00 approx. per session, according to supervisor's fee; (2) Year 1 residential training event: $510.00 approx.; (3) Year 2 closing weekend: $200.00 approx. Other costs include books, travel, personal spiritual direction, co-requisite workshops (e.g. Myers-Briggs, Dreams, Treaty of Waitangi) and a five day retreat.
Please note that Year 2 fees are an estimate only. SGM reserves the right to increase them before Year 2 begins.