Introduction to Spiritual Formation
Spring, 2005
Dr. Barbara Worden
713-942-9505
Course Description: Introduction to the theology and practices of Christian spiritual formation with emphasis on classical spiritual disciplines of Christianity. Personal spiritual formation in classic Christian traditions and Friends tradition. Personal growth in spiritual formation for ministry.
Texts:
Gangel, Kenneth O and James C. Wilhouit. The Christian Educator’s Handbook on Spiritual Formation. Baker Books: Grand Rapids, 1994.abbreviated as HSF.
Willard, Dallas. Renovation of the Heart. Navpress: Colorado Springs, 2002.abbreviated as RH
. The Spirit of the Disciplines. Harper San Francisco, 1988. abbreviated as SD
Recommended: Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline, Prayer, Streams of Living Water.
Grading Standards
Spiritual Journal and Class Contributions 100 A=360-400
Final Examination 100 B=320-360
Paper on Personal Spiritual Development 100 C=280-360
Two brief in class presentations 100 D= 240-280
Total 400 F=239 and below
Course Requirements:
1. Spiritual Journal. Students are required to engage in a daily disciplined program of reading and meditating on scripture and prayer. The program of daily offices contained in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer is highly recommended. See
www.dandello.net/bocp/bocp9b.htm
Students should follow the six step Benedictine method, lectio (reading), ruminatio (chewing over, thinking of meaning of text), meditatio(meditate on text considering how text relates to Christian’s relationship with God), contemplatio (contemplation) thinking of text as God’s letter to me, how it applies to to my life, oratio (prayer to God to guide me in putting text to action) and action (openness to God’s leading in what he wants me to do. Students are required to write at least two pages a week on God’s leading in their lives and what has been revealed to them through scripture for a total of 30 pages.
2. Final Examination—instructions later in course.
3. Paper on personal spiritual development: 10 pages charting the ups and downs of your spiritual development, call to ministry, and /or decision to come to a theological seminary, your personality type (See on-line version of Myers Briggs at http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp) and those influences that
have most determined how you relate to God as expressed in the Trinity.
4. Two short oral reports. Students need to make copies of an outline of each report, enough for every member in class. First report will be one of the disciplines on p. 158 in SD. The Foster books listed under recommended will be helpful here.
The second report will deal with one chapter in HSF.
Students are reminded that regular attendance and regular submission of assignments on due dates in syllabus is expected. Students must talk to the instructor about circumstances affecting their ability to attend class, complete assignments and take exams. The instructor is usually flexible, but such flexibility should not be taken for granted. Under normal circumstances, students will be able to delay submission of major papers and taking exams up to two weeks under extraordinary circumstances. After 2 weeks, grade will go down 5 points or one half grade for each week the student delays without talking to the instructor.
Students are permitted to miss up to 6 hours of class. This would be about four classes for twice a week classes, the two-classes-per-week classes. After this number has been reached, grades will be lowered half a grade for each week, three hours, the student misses unless the student has made other arrangements to make up the missed time with the instructor.
School Policy on Incomplete Grades
Any student who, for extenuating circumstances, requests an extension for this course must complete a “Request for Extension/Grade Change” form. The form must be signed by the student, the instructor, and the Registrar, and returned to the Registrar’s Office along with a fee of $25.00 before the deadline for extensions (December 23, 2004). Extensions may not exceed thirty (30) calendar days from the end of the term.
Plagiarism Policy
Plagiarism is presenting the work of another person as your own without giving proper credit for the use of the information. Students must not quote books, articles, essays, or internet sites without giving proper credit to the author(s) of the work. Any student who is found guilty of plagiarism is subject to a range of consequences including failure of this course work and dismissal from HGST.
COURSE OUTLINE
January 21-3 Introduction RH 1-44
January 28-February 6 Theology of Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Disciplines SD 1-74; RH 45-92
February 11-28 Introduction to Classical spiritual disciplines SD 130-91; RH 95-199, brief reports on classical spiritual disciplines will be done during this time, a few each class meeting.
March 15-22. The Psychology of spiritual formation. RH 199-250, also Fowler and Erickson stages.
March 25-April 17 Spiritual Life and the local Congregation. During this time students will give a report on one of chapters in HSF. SD 193-255. RH 233-57
April 22-May 8 Where am I going; where have I been introduction to spiritual direction.
May 8 Journals due
May 15 Final Examination
May 16 Personal spiritual development paper due.