school of
contemplativelistening
Create time & space for God
at the vital intersection of contemplation & justice
As you heal, you will want to help others.
How to join the SOCL:
Please carefully look over this page carefully & watch all the informational videos.
Submit your application and two references, one from some form of pastor or spiritual leader and one from someone other than a family member who can speak to your character.
about your participation in the SOCL.Pay $25 non-refundable application fee.
Then we will setup an in-person or zoom meeting with you!
INtroduction
8-Minutes
WhO SHOULD APPLY?
Anyone is encouraged to apply who has completed one-year of discernment either in the School of Prayer or some other formal spiritual formation program who wants to be more intentional about their own spiritual formation for the sake of others.
*You do not need to be convinced you will practice spiritual direction formally.
CERTIFICATES We OFFER
Two-Year Certification in spiritual direction: complete two years of in-person or online formation plus a mini course, “SD Praxis: Standard and Ethics of Spiritual Direction” that can be completed during your second year.
One-Year Certification in spiritual direction: if you completed extensive formation elsewhere, we are interested in entering into discernment with you to determine if one year of the SOCL including the SD Praxis course will prepare you to offer formal spiritual direction.
Two-Year Certificate in spiritual formation: for those not seeking to practice spiritual direction formally, study with us for two years for your own formation as you integrate contemplation and justice into your life as well as other professions, ministries, activism or advocacy.
One-Certificate in Spiritual Formation: if you are not sure you are called to practice spiritual direction formally, come study with us for one year to discern .
OVERVIEW
All Christians can practice in a variety of formal and informal ways. This practicum serves to create time and space for God with you so that you can discern the unique ways you will create time and space for God on behalf of others.
The SOCL is defined as a “practicum,” a community of practice, because we believe only the Holy Spirit can teach us to pray and form us as spiritual directors. This practicum will allow you to attend to a significant amount of inner soul work in solitary prayer and group listening practice to help you learn to cooperate with the Holy Spirit. The reading and writing component of this practicum will be substantial, yet our discerning focus will consistently ask how our reading and writing inspires and forms our worship and practice.
purpose
We truly believe almost all of the world’s problems can be solved by practices of sacred listening like spiritual direction. We intend to normalize just, contemplative practices within the local church, and we are especially focused on making our formation schools accessible to oppressed, marginalized people groups.
Christian faith is fundamentally confessional. To hear God's voice is first an invitation to repentance, to "truth in the innermost being," to holiness and justice in our deeper being (Psalm 51). As a spiritual director creates time and space for this sacred, just inner truth in our private selves, we trust Spirit-led ripple effects of sacred, just truth will pervade our public selves.
SCOPE
The SOCL is a modular practicum based in nine-month cohorts of worship. A certificate in spiritual direction can be completed in two years but no more than four.
The local cohort will meet, 8:30am-2:30pm EST on the first and third Fridays of each month.
An online cohort will be offered for the first time beginning in the Fall of 2022. The online cohort will meet via zoom 6:30pm-9pm EST on the first and third Thursdays of each month, and also 10:00am-12pm in a Zoom call with the local cohort on the first and Third Fridays of each month.
"Ethics and Standards of Spiritual Direction" will be offered to both local and online participants on the first Friday of each month, 3:30-5pm EST
AREAS OF STUDY & PRactice
Some of our topics will include:
St Ignatius of Loyola
St Theresa of Avila
Howard Thurman
Willie James Jennings
The Desert Mothers & Fathers
St Augustine
Contemplative spirituality in Protestantism
Theological Anthropology
Trauma informed practices
Required
Attend to your own spiritual growth with a rule of life and monthly spiritual direction.
Attend two, 2-night retreats. At least one of the two offered retreats needs to be attended in person. The second retreat can be completed virtually.
Begin intentionally finding directees and practicing spiritual conversations.
Complete all reading and writing assignments.
Attend and actively participate in almost all sessions.
Listen to or watch all assigned teaching materials prior to scheduled, corresponding session.
Instructors
Josh Banner & Cami Mann are co-directors of the SOCL. They will offer the bulk of instruction with two sessions of special instruction from these world-class scholars and practitioners:
Sharon Garlough Brown, cataphatic spiritual direction, lectio divina, lamentation
Chuck DeGroat, cataphatic and apophatic spirituality in St. Teresa of Avila’s Interior Castle.
Jared Ortiz, cataphatic and apophatic spirituality in The Confessions of St Augustine.
Tom Schwanda, cataphatic spirituality in the Puritans, apophatic spirituality in the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
SCHEDULE
LOCAL SESSIONS
Fridays 8:30am-2:30pm
Opening retreat August 10-12
August 25
September 8 & 22
October 13 & 27
November 3 & 17
December 1 & 15
January 12 & 26
February 9 & 23
March 8
Spring Retreat March 21-23
April 12 & 26
Our retreats span the better part of three days, 10am on Thursday through 5pm Saturday. Local and distance learners invited. We ask that distance learners participate in person for one of our two retreats.
Location in W Michigan TBD
Distance Learning
Tentatively: 2.5 hrs Thursdays TBD &
hybrid sessions with Local on Fridays on the above dates 10am-1230pm EST
Opening retreat August 10-12
August 24
September 7 & 21
October 12 & 26
November 2, 16, 30
December 14
January 11 & 25
February 8 & 22
March 7
Spring Retreat March 21-23
April 11 & 25
16 Sessions 6 hour sessions
2 Retreats
*depending on interest and availability, we may choose to meet at a different time/day.
We have good interest from distance learners in time zones across the world! We will discern with those who apply if a Thursday day or evening session is best for a 2.5 hour session for distance learners.
Distance learners will also participate in a zoom session with local learners on the dates above 10am-1230pm EST.
Alternate
Certification
Those who have completed a two-year spiritual formation program that has nurtured a discipline of hearing God’s voice are welcome to enter into discernment with Josh and Cami about attaining certification through the SOCL in one year. Please email us your interest before completing the application.
Spiritual Directors
Continuing Education
Seasoned spiritual directors who have already completed certification are welcome to enter into discernment with Josh and Cami about participate in the SOCL at half the current tuition rates to receive a one-year certificate of spiritual direction of contemplation and justice. Please email us with your interest. Depending on your current ministry you may or may not be asked to complete an application.
COSTS
For the 2022-2023 local cohort, $2400.
For this first year of the SOCL distance cohort, 2022-2023, we are offering an introductory, early-bird rate of $2000/year. Years subsequently will be the same price as the local cohort.
$400 deposit is required upon confirmation of your participation in the SOCL.
The annual fee includes instruction, monthly mentoring with an experienced director, and class materials.
The annual fee does not include retreat lodging, food, books, individual spiritual direction.
We believe our approach to contemplation and justice is especially unique and may be valuable to currently practicing spiritual directors. Directors already certified are invited to join the SOCL at a cost of $1000 per year.
Retreat costs are TBD and determined by the size of our group and location. This cost will likely be $200-$250 per retreat.
Financial assistance. An application form is included at the bottom of the application and reference letter forms.
DOWNLOAD: Application, Recommendation, Financial Assistance Forms
For Your Discernment
These videos will help you write your applications, and they will help you begin the SOCL well.