sc course description final 2017 participant modified€¦ · soul companions: a transformative...

Soul Journey Companions:

a transformative journey in Spiritual Direction Formation

COURSEDOCUMENT

www.spiritualdirectiontrainingact.org.au

Anecumenicalprogramtofacilitatetheministryofspiritualdirection. BarnabasMinistriesInc

Soul Companions: a transformative journey in spiritual direction formation - 2 -

SoulCompanionsCONTENTSIntroduction

• BarnabasMinistries 3• ContemplativeEthos 3• EducationalModel 3

TheProgram 5

• PrerequisitesfortheProgram 5

• ProgramOutcomes 6

• CourseContent 7-12

• Assessment 13

• Accreditation 13

ApplicationProcess 14

ProgramTeam 15


INTRODUCTIONBarnabasMinistriesBarnabasMinistriesisanecumenicalagencythatoffersspiritualcareandnourishmentforthoseonthejourneyoffaithbothasindividualsandgroups.TheprogramsdevelopedandofferedbyBarnabasMinistriesInc.areforpeopleinbothprofessionalandlayministries.Theyprovideopportunitiesforpeopletoexploreanddeepentheirfaith,receivenourishmentandsoulcareaswellastraininginspiritualformationsothattheymaybetterjourneywithothers.ContemplativeEthosTheSoulCompanionsprogramreflectsacontemplativeethosthatfacilitateslearningbeyondtheacquisitionofknowledge.BoththeleadershipteamandparticipantsareopentothetransformingagencyoftheSpiritofGodgivingexpressiontointentionalandcommunalspiritualpracticessothatwhatislearnedisalsolived.ReflectiveengagementwithintheSoulCompanionscommunityprovidesopportunitiestoencounterthemysteriousworkoftransformationandtogrowinourcapacitytocompanionothersintheirspiritualjourney.ThiscontemplativeethosdrawsontheChristianScriptures,themysticandwisdomtraditions.ThecommunitythatformsontheSoulCompanionsprogramprovidestheinvitationalspaceforeachpersontodevelopandembodyacontemplativestanceinallwedo:indevelopingrelationships,conversations,discussions,mealtimes,worship,quadrads,listeningtopresentationsandinengagementincreativeprocesses.ItisaposturethatintentionallylivesunderthelovinggazeofGod,whichinturninformsthewayweseetheworldandthosearoundus.ThecontemplativeethosisfoundedonasurrenderednesstotheunconditionalloveofGod.EducationalModelPractitioner-ApprenticeTheSoulCompanionsprogramhasintentionallyadoptedthepractitioner-apprenticemodelratherthanapurelyacademicmodel.Thevalueofthepractitioner-apprenticemodeofformationtakestheroleofthepractitionertobeoneofimpartingknowledgeandwisdomnotonlywithheadknowledge,butalsosupremelythroughexampleandqualityofpresence.Themeansofassessmentofparticipantsinthepractitioner-apprenticemodeltakesintoaccountthatgrowthisspiral.Thismaymeanthatattimesasuperficialappraisalofaparticipantmayseemtoindicatetheyarenotdemonstratingcertainqualities,butacarefulaccompanyingisrequiredtonoticethemoresubtletransformativeshiftsthatindeedaretakingplace.Thisisincontra-distinctiontothemodelofexpertandstudent,orastandardacademicmodel.Itfollows,then,thatthequalitiesoftheteammemberorpractitionerincludethattheyhavedemonstratedtheyhavethecharismofspiritualaccompaniment.Allontheteamhavecompletedaspiritualdirectioncourse,butthisgoesbeyondsimplyhavingaqualification,tobeingimbuedwithagiftinginthisareawhichhasbeenwitnessedtobyothers.Theirqualityofpresence,insightandtransparencyisseenascentraltotheircapacitytosupervise,guideandassessthoseontheprogram.


Itisamodelwhichhasthestancethatweareallco-learnersonthejourney,whichenablessomeoftheverygiftedandexperiencedparticipantsontheprogramtobeinvolvedinareciprocitywhichiscentraltoadulteducation.Sothelearningstyleisinterdependent,andrecognisesthatthepractitionerisalwaysalsoastudent,learningfromotherpractitionersandapprenticesinthedaytodayinteractionsinthebodyofthecommunity.Thepractitionerimpartsknowledgebyexamplethroughtransparency,honestyandvulnerability,suchasinthequadraddemonstrations,andcontributingtodiscussions.ThefollowingquotebyAllenderelucidatessomeoftheseprinciples.Paulcallsleadersnotmerelytobehumbleandself-effacingbuttobedesperateandhonest.Itisnotenoughtobeself-revealing,authentic,andtransparent.Ourcallinggoesfarbeyondthat.Wearecalledtobereluctant,limping,chief-sinnerleaders,andevenmore,tobestories.ThewordthatPaulusesisthataleaderistobean“example,”butwhatthatimpliesismorethanafigureonaflannelboard.Hecallsustobealivingportrayaloftheverygospelwebeseechotherstobelieve.Andthatrequiresaleadertoseethemselvesasbeingequallypronetodeceiveastheyaretotellthetruth,tomanipulateastheyaretobless,tocowerastheyaretobebold.Aleaderisbothaheroandafool,asaintandafelon.–DanAllender,“LeadingwithaLimp”.Theassessmentmethodsarenotbasedonacademicmasteryorthecapacitytowritearesearchpaper.Inplaceoftheprimarilylinearframeworkofoutcomesbasedlearning,(WienandDudley–Marling1),learningisseenmoreashavingthenatureofacoil,spiralormobiusstrip.Thepractitioner-apprenticemodelprovidesforthisinhavinglessfocusonacompleted‘outcome’,butrathernoticestheprogressivenatureoftheperson’smovementinskillorunderstanding.Itismoreinterestedinmalleabilityoftheperson,anopennesstogrowthandtoprocessthaninafinishedfixedpoint.Learningisseenasrecursive,continuallyfoldingbackonearlierlayerswithnewmeanings,newresonance,newperspectives.Thiscouldbearoundthelectureinput,thehistoryunitreadings,orquadexperiences.Henceassessmentcentresaroundtheevidenceoftransformationthroughoutthecourseintheparticipant;theiropennesstomovementsofGodwithinthemselvesandinotherstheyareaccompanying;theirabilitytocommunicatebothverballyandinwritinginsightfulreflectionandself-evaluationinthequadrads;thecapacitytoapplytotheirownpracticestheprinciplesandwisdomgleanedfromthehistoryunit,bookreviews,practicalsessions,quadradsandpresentations;thegrowingqualityoftheirdemonstratedabilitiestoaccompanyothersinthesacredministryofspiritualdirection.Thevitalroleofthecommunityinthetransformativeprocessinthismodelisalsotakenintoaccount.Thefeedbackfromparticipantshasshownthatsomeofthemostprofoundlearningsandprocessesofassimilationofnewconceptshascomefromtheinformaldiscussionsthatoccurbetweenparticipants.Thisisnotmeasurable,butitsimpactisundeniable.Itisnotaby-product,butfactoredintotheethosofthecourse.

1 Wien, C.A. and Dudley Marling, C. (1998) Limited Vision: The Ontario Curriculum and Outcomes Based Learning, Canadian Journal of Education, Vol 23,4, pp405-420.


THEPROGRAMSoulCompanionsisathreeyearprogramoftrainingforthosewhosensethatGodiscallingthemtotheworkofspiritualdirection,andarelookingforacommunitywherethisvocationcanbeexploredandnurtured.Duringthefirsttwoyears,participantsengageinmonthlylectures,workshops,quadradsandseminarsovertwosemesterseachyear.ThefocusoftheseinputswillbeonspiritualityandspiritualdirectionplusregularworshipdrawingfromvariousChristiantraditions.Thethirdyearisaninternyearwhichisasupervisedpracticumwithindividualsupervisionandmonthlypeergroupmeetings.Anongoingprocessofdiscernmentoverthreeyears,todiscernacalltotheministryofspiritualdirection,willbeintegraltotheprogram.CurrentlytheprogramisconductedatHolyCovenantAnglicanChurchRainbowCentre89DexterStCookACT.PrerequisitesfortheProgram

Thereareanumberofdesirableprerequisitesfortheprogram.Itisrecommendedthatthoseapplyingfortheprogramshowevidenceofthefollowing:

Ø theirgiftednessandsenseofcalltotheministryofspiritualdirection;

Ø capacitytolistenempatheticallyandsensitively;

Ø sufficientlifeexperiencetoenablethemtorespondwithwisdomtopeoplefromdifferentwalksoflifeandwithdifferentlevelsofexperience;

Ø anopennesstolearningfromtheirownandothers’experience;

Ø matureChristianfaithandanopennesstootherfaiths;

Ø aloveofandacommitmenttoprayer;

Ø receivingspiritualdirectionthemselvesforaperiodoftime.

Aswellastheseprerequisites,itisexpectedthatduringthethreeyearsoftheprogramparticipantswill:

Ø continueinon-goingspiritualdirectionwithadirectorfromoutsidetheprogram

Ø engageindirectingotherswherepossible.

Ø beinregularsupervisioniftheyaredirectingothers

Itisalsostronglyencouragedthat:

Ø Eachparticipantmakearetreateachyear.


ProgramOutcomesThisprogramisdesignedtoassistbothlayandordainedpeopleintheirspirituallivesandtoformthemintheimportantworkofbeingsoul-friendstoothersintheirjourneyintothemysteryandjusticeofGod.Theelementsoftheprogramseektofosteracontemplativeattitudeintheparticipantsaswellastraininginspecificskillsofspiritualdirection.Bytheendoftheprogram,participantswillhave

Ø Deepenedtheirownfaithjourneythroughlectures,worshipandsharingincommunity

Ø Integratedtheologicalandspiritualinsightswithlisteningskillsinrelationtotheartandpracticeofspiritualdirection

Ø Learntspecificskillsinspiritualdirectionandpracticedtheseskillsinasupervisedsetting

Ø Becomeawareoftheirownstrengthsandgrowingedgesastheyengageintheministryofspiritualdirection

Ø Furtherdevelopedgiftsandexperiencealreadygained,tocreateincreasinglevelsofexpertiseinspiritualdirection

Ø Discernedwhethertheyarecalledtotheministryofspiritualdirection

Ø Becomecriticallyawareoftheinfluencesofculturalidentityandcontextsontheexpressionofthespiritualquestformeaning

Ø Anawarenessoftheethicalissuesinspiritualdirection


COURSECONTENT

Theprogramwillincludeavarietyofinput,lectures,workshopsandguidedprocesses,designedtoinviteparticipantstoengageseriouslyinthepersonaltransformationrequiredofthosecalledtotheministryofspiritualdirection.SPIRITUALDIRECTIONTHEORYANDPRAXISHours: 96hoursMode: Lectures,seminars,groupdiscussions,interactivepresentations,

workshopsAssessment: Reflectionpaperpluscontemplativeevaluativediscussionwith

personalsupervisorFocusesonthespiritualandpsychologicalprocessesoftransformationwhicharethecentre/heartofspiritualdirection.Therewillbeaconcentrationoftheformationoftheself,thehumanpersonwhoisthefocusofspiritualtransformation,andthedevelopmentoftheinnatehumancapacityforspiritualgrowth.ThisspiritualtransformationprocesswillbestudiedthroughthelensoftheChristiantradition,inparticular.Participantswillbeenabledtoacquireskillsthatassistthemindevelopingtheirowntheologyandministryofspiritualdirection.Usinganaction/reflectionmodel,participantswillbeinvitedtonoticeandreflectontheirresponsetothematerialpresentedandthusdeepentheirownspiritualjourney.Topicswillbeselectedfromthefollowing

• SpiritualDirection–Introduction• SpiritualdirectionasStorytelling• ModelsofDirection-functionandinsight • SexualityandSpirituality• PhysicalityandSpirituality • ContemplativeAttitude• DreamsandDreamwork • ScriptureandSpiritualDirection• ArtinSpiritualDirection• Focusing–AWayofGrowth • MovingImages-thespiritualityofCinema • Prayer-theheartofDirection• IgnatianDirection-insightandfunction • Enneagram-insightsfordirection• SpiritualDirectionandGrief• Journeyingwiththosewhohavebeenabused• Processoftransformation


EXPLORINGSPIRITUALITYHours: 20Mode: Lectures,discussions,prayer/reflectionexperiences.Exploresanoverviewofthehistoryandtraditionoftheministryofspiritualdirection.Itwilllookatsuchareasasthevariousspiritualtraditions,iethedesertmothersandfathers,TeresaofAvila,JohnoftheCross,Franciscanspirituality.Topicswillbeselectedfromthefollowing:

• DefinitionsofSpirituality • OverviewofChristianSpirituality• TheDesertFathersandMothers • EasternOrthodoxSpirituality–JesusPrayer,Icons• CelticSpirituality• JohnCassianSt.BenedictandMonasticism • StFrancisandStClare• EnglishMystics–JulianofNorwich,TheCloudofUnknowing• StTeresaofAvilaandStJohnoftheCross • SpiritualityofProtestantReformation• StIgnatiusofLoyola • Spiritualityof19thCentury• Merton:ImagesofC20thspirituality • TowardsaContemporarySpirituality• Towardsaninterfaithspirituality

WORSHIP/PRAYERHours: 24hoursMode: Participativeworship Offersparticipantstheopportunitytonurturecontemplativeawareness.Courselearningsincludeadeepeningunderstandingoftheinteriordynamicsofhuman/spiritualgrowthaswellasexperienceinvariousformsofprayer.Theskillsofjournaling,art,musicandpoetryastoolsofself-revelationwillbeoffered.Eachworkshopparticipantsareinvolvedinleadingprayers.Diverseformsofworshipareexperiencedoverthethreeyears.Participantsareinvitedtoprepareprayersessionsreflectingtheirparticulartradition.Thisoffersarichtapestryofexperienceandprovidesparticipantswiththeopportunitytoprepare,lead,participateandreflectonworshipbothwithinandbeyondtheirowntradition.Aretreatexperiencemayalsobeoffered.


ARTOFDIRECTIONHours: 20hoursMode: Lectures,seminars,groupdiscussions,interactivepresentations,

demonstrations,practicesessionsAssessment: Reflectionpaperpluscontemplativeevaluativediscussionwith

personalsupervisorIntegratesinsightsfromthetraditionandministryofspiritualdirectionwiththeexperienceofcompanioningadirecteeaswellasexaminingspecificissuesthatcanariseinadirectionsession.Presentationswillprovidespecificinputonpracticalskillsthatarepracticedduringthepeergroupsessionandcanthenbeusedinthequadexperience.Topicswillbeselectedfromthefollowing

• ListeningSkillsI,II,III• Feedback• RoleofDirector,DirecteeandObserver• MovementinaDirectionSession• CodeofEthics• RecognisingResistance• Selfcare• SelfReflection• UsingFocusinginaDirectionsession• HospitalityinSpiritualDirection• BoundaryIssues• RecognisingwhentoRefer• TransferenceandCounter-transferenceinaDirectionSession• MovementandCountermovementinaDirectionSession• Creatingsacredspace


PRACTICUMDuringthefirsttwoyears,participantsareinvolvedinsupervisedquadrads.Inthethirdyear,participantsworkwithoutsidedirecteesandhaveindividualsupervisionpluspeergroupsupervision.a)SupervisedQuadradMode: SupervisedQuadradAssessment: Reflectionpaper,peerandsupervisorfeedbackThepracticalexperienceofdirectionisdonethroughquadrads.Aquadradisagroupwithaprogramteamsupervisorandthreeparticipantsfunctioningasdirector,directeeandobserver.Quadradsprovidetheexperienceofspiritualcompanioningwithanotherparticipantandofdevelopingsupervisoryskillsintheobserver.Everysessioninvolvesapracticalexerciseintheartandskillsofdirectionfollowedbyreflectionandfeedbackontheexperiencebythemembersofthequadrad.Asupervisorispresentineveryquadrad.Thepersonalreflectionmodelisgenerallyusedinquadradshoweverduringthethreeyearsparticipantsareintroducedtootherswaysofprocessingthesessionandofferingfeedback.Theseincludethe“helper/witness”model,imaginativemodelandtheTTAQ(Title,theme,affectandquestion)model.b)InnerWorkPracticeDaysMode: Input,innerworkexperiences,reflection,sharing.Assessment: Reflectionpaper,peerandsupervisorfeedback

Participantswillbeinvolvedintwoinnerworkpracticedaysperyear,aspartoftheprogram.Thesedaysconsistofprayerandreflectiveactivitieswhichmayinvolvespiritualdirectionpractice,otherinnerworkandsupervisionexperiences.Thedaysaredesignedtoconsolidatelearningsrelatedtoparticularspiritualdirectiontoolsandtopracticetheminasupervisedsetting.Topicsinclude:

• Dreamwork• Activeimagination• Focusing

c)InternshipYearMode: Workwithanoutsidedirecteeandpresentationofverbatim,

supervisionlog,lectures,seminars,groupdiscussions,interactivepresentations


Assessment: Verbatims,supervisionlogs,contemplativepeerreview,

evaluationbypeergroupsupervisor.ThethirdandfinalyearoftheSoulCompanionsProgramisconsideredaninternship(supervisedpracticum)duringwhicheachparticipantisrequiredtofind1-2peopletoguidefor8-10sessionseachofspiritualdirection.Forthisinternshipthereareclearguidelineswhichcover:

• Findingoutsidedirectees(whoarepeoplefromoutsidetheprogram,andwhoarepossiblynewtotheconceptandexperienceofspiritualdirection).

• Findingasuitable,safeplaceinwhichtoconductthesessions,• Settingoutclearlytheexpectationsofthesessions,egscheduling,lengthofsessions,

andthekindofcontentormaterialtobringtospiritualdirection.Thedifferencebetweenspiritualdirectionandcounselling,forexample.

• Informingthedirecteeofthe“intern’s”spiritualdirectorintrainingstatus,andcoveringtheagreementofconfidentialitywithinthelimitsofasupervisedpracticum.(seeseparatenotesonthese).

Alongsidethispracticalexperience,participantswillmeetwiththeirsupervisorfor8individualsessionsofsupervision(1hour),andfor8monthlypeergroupsupervisionsessions(4hourseach).Thesepeergroupsupervisionsessionswillcomprisetheintroductionofpracticeofvariousmodelsofsupervision,aswellaspresentationofverbatimsandtranscriptedsessions,fromtheirpracticewiththeoutsidedirectees.Thelearningprocessforthesesessionsisconductedinasupportiveandaffirmingadulteducationenvironmentwheretheparticipantsworktowardstheirownexpressedgoalsandaddresstheirgrowingedgessothattheygrowaccordingtotheawarenesstheyhaveofthese.Therewillalsobetwodayintensives,oneeachsemester,inwhichtherewillbeopportunitiesforasupervisoryprocessusingtheinnervillagemodel.(6hours)


SUPERVISIONSUMMARY Participantshaveon-goingsupervisionduringtheprograminanumberofways;

Ø PersonalSupervisorEachparticipanthasapersonalsupervisorwhoaccompaniesthemoverthethreeyearsoftheprogram.Thissupervisor,whoisamemberoftheProgramTeam,receivestheparticipant’sreflectionpaperaftereachworkshop,respondstothisbeforeorduringthenextworkshopandhasasupervisorymeetingwiththeparticipantbetweenworkshops.Intheinternshipyear,thissupervisionthenfocusesspecificallyontheirworkwithoutsidedirectees.Thereare8individualsessionsinYear3.

Ø QuadSupervisorEachquadexperienceissupervisedbyoneoftheprogramteamsooverthecourseofthefirsttwoyears,participantsreceivefeedbackfromallthesupervisors.Thisprovidestheparticipantwithvaryingperspectivesandexperience.

Ø PeerGroupSupervisorDuringYear3,participantswillbepartofapeergroup,consistingof4peopleandasupervisor.Herethesupervisorwillbefocusingontheparticipant’sworkwiththeoutsidedirectee.

Ø InnerWorkDays/DayIntensivesDuringthecourseoftheprogram,participantsattend2innerworkpracticedaysandtwodayintensives.


ASSESSMENTParticipantswillberequiredtocompletethefollowingpiecesofassessmenteachyear.Year1AssessmentInordertosatisfactorilycompletethefirstyear,itisrequiredthatparticipantssubmittotheirassignedCourseAdviserthefollowingcoursework:

Ø Apersonalreflectiveresponsepaperaftereachworkshop(8intotal)Ø Abookreviewwhichmaybesubmittedatanytimebeforetheendofsemester(1per

semester/2intotal)Ø Areflection/researchpaperfortheExploringSpiritualitycomponentwhichwillbe

handedtothepresenterofthatcomponentattheendoftheyear.Ø AfinalYear1paperdescribingwhatInowunderstandspiritualdirectiontobe,and

howinput,programexperience,worshipandreadinghaveinfluencedmydiscernmenttocontinuewiththeprogram

Year2AssessmentInordertosatisfactorilycompletethesecondyear,itisrequiredthatparticipantssubmittotheirassignedCourseAdviserthefollowingcoursework:

Ø Apersonalreflectiveresponsepaperaftereachworkshop(8intotal)Ø Abookreviewwhichmaybesubmittedatanytimebeforetheendofsemester(1per

semester/2intotal)Ø Apracticumassessmentbasedonavideoedquadsession.

Year3AssessmentInordertosatisfactorilycompletethethirdyear,itisrequiredthatparticipantssubmittotheirassignedCourseAdviserthefollowingcoursework:

Ø 8verbatimsforindividualandgroupprocessingØ SupervisionlogsforallmeetingswithoutsidedirecteesØ FinalIntegrationpaper

Accreditation-CertificateofCompletionUpon satisfactory completion of all components of the program participants receive aCertificateofCompletionatagraduationceremonyat/aftertheFinalSession/Workshop.Upon request, participants can receive a transcript detailing their attendance andassessmentsubmissionsfortheentireprogram.


APPLICATIONFORPROGRAMInordertobeadmittedtotheSoulCompanionsPrograminSpiritualDirection,itisnecessarytofurnishtheProgramCo-Directorswith:1. Abriefspiritualautobiographyindicatingthepatternofdevelopmentinthe

candidate'sspirituallifeandpresentsenseofGod.

2. Abriefstatementindicatingthereasonsforundertakingthecourse.3. Aletterofrecommendationfromthecandidate’sSpiritualDirectorand/or

Minister/Pastor/Priest.

4. Aregistrationfeeof$50thatisnon-refundablebutwillbedeductedfromthetuitionfeeforthecurrentyear.

ApplicationsmustbereceivedbythefirstFridayinDecemberforthoseintendingtoparticipateintheprograminthefollowingyear.

FEESTuition/LecturingFee: $2400/year(in2015-2017)Maybepaidpersemester(orininstalmentswithanadminfeeof$10perinstalment).Paidto:“BarnabasMinistriesInc”ThisfeecoversTuition,Supervision,guest lecturers,handoutsandmaterials,hireofvenue,reflectiondaysetc.CONTACTDETAILSFORPROGRAMDIRECTORSSuzanneDunbar BarnabasMinistriesIncPOBox3177ManukaACT2603P:0262956766E:[email protected]/81BimberiCresPalmerstonACT2913M:0409987401E:[email protected]


PROGRAMTEAMDIRECTORS

MsSuzanneDunbar,B.Sc.Dip.Ed.MASpiritualityMsLizAnneSmithT.C.MAPastoralStudies,GraddipReligionStudies,GradDipCommunityCounselling,GradCertinPastoralSupervisionSUPERVISORS

MrsMandyCox DipMiss;BMInistry;MACounselling;SpiritualDirector(Wellspring)MrsSueDoepelMA

TEACHINGSPECIALISTSVariouslocalandinternationalspecialistswillbeengagedtoteachparticularsubjectsonaregularorspecialitybasis,including:

MrsLucyAbbott-TuckerBScMATheologyRevDrSarahBachelardRevPhilipCarterMsEileenGlassOAMMrsSallyLongley:BA(Hons)MA;DipRel.Studs.;DipTheol;BTh;CertinSpiritualDirection;CertintheArtandPracticeofSupervisionMrsEileenReeksB.Sc(Hons)M.A.P.S.,RegisteredPsychologist.MrsMaryWaterford

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