Become a Certified Spiritual Director to guide others in their spiritual journey.
Course Description
The Missional Spiritual Direction Certificate Program Program equips individuals aspiring to become spiritual directors in the 21st century. It offers participants the essential skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience needed to guide others on their spiritual journey and help them integrate mission and calling into their spiritual practices.
What is a Missional Spiritual Director?
Spiritual directors, also known as spiritual companions or friends, guide and support individuals on their spiritual journey, helping them deepen their relationship with the divine. Through attentive listening and thoughtful questioning, they assist individuals in recognizing where they are in their spiritual journey.
Missional spiritual direction embraces this role but goes further by exploring how an individual’s spiritual growth (inward) intersects with God’s mission (outward). This certificate program is founded on the belief that inward and outward spirituality are not separate but form one cohesive journey—known as the Active Contemplative Life. Missional spiritual directors are attuned to God’s timing and, when appropriate, engage in conversations about calling, purpose, and mission. They also welcome individuals from all walks of life.
With a unique focus on inclusivity and diversity, missional spiritual directors are invited to explore and incorporate a variety of spiritual traditions and practices. They are often more aware of issues related to power and privilege and work to ensure equal access to spiritual guidance and resources for all.
Course Outcome
Upon completing the program, participants will receive certification as a Missional Spiritual Director from Bakke Graduate University.
Course Details
The Missional Spiritual Direction Certificate Program is a two year course with six modules and a practicum.
The program includes the following components:
Online Orientation:
Introduction to Missional Spiritual Direction
Module 1:
Individual Direction Part 1 - Developing foundational skills and understanding the core framework of missional spiritual direction.
Module 2:
Individual Direction Part 2 - Offering guidance on becoming a spiritual director and starting the practicum under supervision.
Module 3:
Theory and Practice of Missional Spiritual Direction - Exploring the human condition, the transformational process, and spiritual growth; includes practicum with supervision.
In-Person/Online Retreat:
Personal Formation – Inward, outward, and together journey.
Module 4:
Group Direction - Facilitating group spiritual direction; includes practicum with supervision.
Module 5:
Active/Contemplative Life Part 1 - Integrating missional practices into spiritual direction; includes practicum with supervision.
Module 6:
Active/Contemplative Life Part 2 - Exploring topics related to the active contemplative life in Missional Spiritual Direction; includes practicum with supervision.
Requirements for Completion:
Attend 90% of the classes.
Complete 90% of the readings.
Complete practicum.
Cohort Dates:
Orientation: January 13, 2025.
Start: January 27, 2025 (Tentative).
Meets weekly (via Zoom).
Cost | $3,250 |
Prerequisite Requirements | Received direction from a Spiritual Director Experienced in the contemplative life and prayer practices. |
Time | 6 – 9 week modules over 2 years. |
Instruction Method | Weekly Zoom meetings, readings, discussions, hands-on experiential assignments. |
Level of Instructor Involvement | Small group setting, paired with supervisor. |
Credit | Certified Missional Spiritual Director. No academic credit. |
Facilitators
Dr. Bruce Jackson: Bruce is the director of the Doctor of Ministry Program at BGU. He has experience as an associate pastor, director of community development, spiritual director, and executive pastor. His expertise includes spiritual direction and urban contemplative practices from the US and international settings. You can read HERE an interview with Dr. Jackson.
Rev. Dan Lee: Dan is a spiritual director at ReWire and an ordained Evangelical Covenant Church pastor with church planting experience since 1998. He has extensive pastoral counseling experience and is a trainer for the Transformational Movement with the Exponent Group in Boston while leading a microchurch.
Dr. Page Mallett: Page is a spiritual director, practicum supervisor, and facilitator of Ignatian exercises at BGU and the Ignatian Spirituality Centre of Montreal. A former English teacher, she curates spirituality resources for the Society of Christian Scholars and accompanies transformational women leaders in the global South.
Online Application:
Application Deadline: December 30, 2024.
You can find the application form HERE. Please fill it in and send it to Dr. Bruce Jackson.
If you may have questions, please contact Dr. Bruce Jackson at bruce.jackson@bgu.edu.
Other:
What is special about the MSD certification?
Missional Spiritual Director (MSD) Cohort is a program training and certifying individuals to be Spiritual Directors. The emphasis of the training is practical – an internship through the two-year program. The Participant will serve as a spiritual director and receive supervision.
The program emphasizes the inward (deeper union with God), together (community formation) and outward (formation through living on mission out of one’s call) journey. Simply stated the Inward, Outward, and Together Journey. The program emphasizes spiritual formation for all individuals no matter their life situations. Meaning that often spiritual formation has been formed for those who have the time, access, and means to practice formal spiritual practices. Missional Spiritual Formation is built upon the premise that one is formed in community, on mission, and in prayer.
Who would benefit from this certification (what professions/experiences)?
First of all, church leaders and pastors would benefit from MSD. Next, people who have a calling, life focus to walk and guide others into deeper union with God, finally those who desire to connect with the process of spiritual formation for the purpose of walking with their community.
What does someone gain from completing this certification?
One gains experience in spiritual formation from a practical, personal, and theological perspective of the inward, outward, and together journey. One gains training and supervision on the role and the practice of a Spiritual Director with individual and group formation. One gains the foundational understanding of formation soul cure and soul care.
