Course Syllabus
Spiritual Direction as a Model for Ministry
0BV 235
November 30 – December 4, 2015
(Winter Quarter 2016)
Monday – Friday 9:00 - 12:00, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 1:15 – 2:45
Jane E. Vennard (revjev1@aol.com 303-393-7702)
Description:
At the heart of both individual and group spiritual direction are presence, deep listening and discernment. For all of ministry to follow that model church leaders, lay and ordained, need to become people who know how to see and hear with the heart. This class will explore and practice the basic tenets of spiritual direction and then transfer them to other areas of ministry such as pastoral care, preaching, stewardship, and administration. The class is experiential and will include large and small group work, personal reflection, dialogue and a variety of prayer experiences.
Goals:
Students participating fully and completing this course can expect to:
- Grow in understanding of the process and experience of individual and group spiritual direction.
- Develop the skills of listening, questioning, teaching, gentle confrontation, and appropriate encouragement with individuals and groups.
- Become able and willing to transfer these learnings to their place of ministry whether that is pastoral care, preaching, administration, hospital chaplaincy, or other specialized ministries.
Bibliography
Required:
Guenther, Margaret, Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction (Boston MA: Cowley Publications, 1992)
Miller, James E., The Art of Listening in a Healing Way (Fort Wayne IN:
Willowgreen Publishing, 2003)
Peterson, Eugene H., The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction (Dallas TX: Word Publishing, 1989)
Choose one of the following:
Judy, Dwight H., A Quiet Pentecost: Inviting the Spirit into Congregational Life (Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, 2013)
Northcutt, Kay L., Kindling Desire for God: Preaching as Spiritual Direction (Minneapolis MN: Fortress Press, 2009)
Stafford, Gil, When Leadership and Spiritual Direction Meet (Boulder CO: Rowman & Littlefield, 2014)
Stairs, Jean, Listening for the Soul: Pastoral Care and Spiritual Direction (Minneapolis MN: Fortress Press, 2000)
Tran, Catherine C. and Boyd, Sandra Hughes, Spiritual Discovery: A Method for Discernment in Small Groups and Congregations (Boulder CO: Rowman & Littlefield, 2015)
Vennard, Jane E., Teaching – The Sacred Art: The Joy of Opening Minds and Hearts (Woodstock VT: Skylight Paths, 2015)
Wagner, Nick, ed., Spiritual Direction in Context, (Harrisburg PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2006)
Added resources
Bakke, Jeannette A., Holy Invitations: Exploring Spiritual Direction (Grand Rapids MI: Baker Books, 2000)
Dougherty, Rose Mary, Group Spiritual Direction: Community for Discernment (New York NY: Paulist Press, 1995)
Holmes, Barbara A., Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black
Church (Minneapolis MN: Fortress Press, 2004)
Lebacqz, Karen and Driskill, Joseph D., Ethics and Spiritual Care: A Guide for Pastors and Spiritual Directors (Nashville TN: Abingdon Press, 2000)
Paintner, Christine Valters and Beckman, Betsey, Awakening the Creative Spirit: Bringing the Arts to Spiritual Direction (New York NY: Morehouse Publishing, 2010)
Reed, Angela H., Quest for Spiritual Community: Reclaiming Spiritual Guidance for Contemporary Congregations (New York NY: T & T Clark International, 2011)
Rohr, Richard, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer (New York NY: Crossroad Publishing, 2003)
Ruffing, Janet K., Spiritual Direction: Beyond the Beginnings (New York NY: Paulist Press, 2000)
Vest, Norvene, ed., Tending the Holy: Spiritual Direction Across Traditions (Harrisburg PA: Morehouse Publishing, 2003)
Schedule of Topics and Homework
Course Expectations:
Regular attendance, class participation, evening readings, evening reflection not to be written but prepared for the next class. A final reflection paper of no more than 10 pages will be due the end of winter quarter and sent via WORD document to revjev1@aol.com. CLASS WILL BE TAKEN PASS/FAIL.
Degree Learning Goals:
This class contributes to the following degree learning goals for the MDiv:
4. Demonstrate personal and professional self-awareness and emerging competency in characteristic practices of religious leadership
4.2 Describe strategies for their continued spiritual development and self-care
4.6 Establish an effective presence as a leader in the vocational context to which they feel called, and demonstrate adequate self-awareness of their characteristic styles of interaction, commitments, strengths and limitations as they move into new contexts
4.7 To clearly interpret one's beliefs and behavior to the community one serves
Course Summary:
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