Two-Year Certificate Program

Two-Year Certificate Program

Christian Formation and Direction Ministries offers a two-year certificate program in Christian Formation and Spiritual Direction, involving two intensive weeklong classes, four weekend retreats, monthly retreat days, monthly spiritual direction, supervision for individual direction, group spiritual direction, and relation to a network of spiritual directors for peer supervision and support.

Goal
The goal of the Certificate Program in Christian Formation and Spiritual Direction is to help the student

Mature into deeper intimacy and friendship with the Triune God.
Develop a theology of Christian spirituality by drawing on and integrating insights from Scripture, theology, historical traditions, psychology and related fields.
Discover the richness of one's own spiritual tradition, as well as the gifts and blessings of other traditions.
Learn about, and engage in, spiritual habits and practices that facilitate spiritual growth.
Grow in balancing prayer, study and service and in developing practical wisdom based on Scripture, tradition, reason, and experience.
Gain skills in providing individual and group spiritual direction from a Protestant Christian perspective.
Participate in a creative partnership among Christian spiritual directors in the northwest

Costs
Tuition for the two-year program ranges from $3,000-$4,500 depending on region, location, and facilities. Tuition includes instruction, administrative costs, reprints and other materials, overnight accommodations and meals for retreats in the second year, breakfast and lunch for all meetings the first year. Not included are costs for books, transportation, overnight accommodations and evening meals for the first year for those coming from a distance, and fees, if any, for individual spiritual direction and retreat days.

Entry Requirements
Admission is open to individuals [lay or clergy] from any Christian denomination who have a bachelor's degree or its equivalent and have training or demonstrable knowledge of Scripture and theology. Life experience is highly valued as is awareness of a potential call to be a spiritual director. Admission to the program is granted by the Admissions Committee of the Regional program, composed of Faculty and Staff of the Certificate Program, when the following steps have been completed:

A completed application form and application fee.
A statement detailing educational background, work experience, Christian journey, involvement in church and Christian service, and interest in the program.
Two letters of reference [one pastoral and one personal].
An interview with one of the Program Faculty/Staff .

Faculty
Drs. Catherine C. Gregg and Douglas H. Gregg, Co-Directors of CFDM; Karen Calafat, Director of CFDM San Gabriel; Julie Anderton, Director of CFDM Northwest; Rev. Larry Warner, Director of CFDM in San Diego; Debra Asis, Director of CFDM Southwest; along with many other faculty and staff drawn from the regional networks.

Information
For further information and application materials, please contact the Coordinator of the Region closest to you, or email Douglas Gregg, President & Administrative Director for CFDM at dgregg@cfdm.org.