About Lipscomb
What: An 18-month program of study intended to encourage, train, and give experience in one-to-one spiritual direction. The program will offer directed readings, contact with a spiritual mentor, two one-week residential retreats with other participants and staff, integrative response papers, and supervised internship in spiritual direction.
Who: Those who hear a call to spiritual direction, guidance, and friendship, that is, leading others in awareness of God and discernment of His activity in another’s life. Participants in this program should have experience in regular spiritual practices and should already be respected by others for their Christian maturity and companionship. Ideally, they should have a spiritual director or companion themselves.
When: Participants begin in May with reading assignments and phone contacts with a mentor. A five day retreat is held during the summer in Nashville, TN. The second five day retreat will be held during the following summer. Over the course of the program, participants will experience at least 24 monthly sessions as a Spiritual Director with at least two directees. Final reflections on the program are due in the last month. Each program cycle is limited to 16 members.
Leaders in the program include:
Randy Harris
Randy teaches at Abilene Christian University. He has participated in a 40 day contemplative prayer retreat in the Carmelite tradition and a 15 day experience of The Ignatian Exercises. He holds a certificate from the 2 year program in spiritual direction from the Shalem Institute.
Jackie L. Halstead
Jackie L. Halstead is the director of ICS and Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation at Lipscomb. She holds certificates from two programs with the Shalem Institute--Spiritual Guidance and Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats and is a member of the Lay Cistercians of Gethsemani Abbey. Jackie has a Ph.D. in Marriage and Family Therapy and specializes in working with clergy and their families.
Program Components
At Home Activities
- Regular spiritual direction provided by you with at least two directees in your community.
- Readings from an extensive bibliography, focusing on contemplative presence and carrying out a contemplatively grounded spiritual direction ministry.
- Supervision from a spiritual director mentor from ICS. You will send tapes of your spiritual direction sessions to your mentor for accountability, support, and suggestions on improving as a spiritual director.
- Reflective papers that provide an opportunity to integrate your personal spiritual unfolding, the readings, the residencies and your own ministry of spiritual direction; and brief periodic reports to ICS.
- An ICS mentor who will guide you throughout the program.
Residential Retreats
- Instruction and practice in spiritual disciplines, individual interviews with staff, and peer group experiences.
- Areas of instruction including Scripture and spiritual discernment, the distinction between spiritual direction and pastoral counseling, theological basis of spiritual guidance, contemplative prayer, psychology and spiritual direction, settings for spiritual direction (i.e. church, family, work), group spiritual direction, and inviting others into one-to-one spiritual direction.
- Guided silent retreat times.
Ongoing Personal Spiritual Practice
- Commitment to a rule of life that incorporates various spiritual practices and expands your openness to God.
- Personally scheduled silent retreat time at regular intervals throughout the program.
Integrative Phase and Beyond
- Completion of a six to twelve-page paper which will be due near the end of the program.
Program Timeline
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted year round, with groups forming each May. This program is limited to 16 participants per cycle.
Reading Assignments and phone contact with mentors begin in May.
First Residency: Summer
Second Residency: The following summer
24 Spiritual Directions Sessions occur between August and the following July.
Final Reflections are due in the final month.
Program Fees
| Registration and application fee (refundable) | $2000 |
| Remaining tuition (to be paid by December) | $1999 |
| TOTAL: | $3999 |
Tuition covers costs of all meals and lodging for the residencies. It does not cover books or transportation needs. Fees are subject to change.
If you have any questions regarding particulars of this program, please do not hesitate to contact Frank Guertin at 615.966.5352 or e-mail him at frank.guertin@lipscomb.edu.