SF667
Summer II, 2007 Dr. Barbara Worden
Techniques and Principles of Spiritual Direction bsworden@hgst.edu
Course Description: A study of the various ways of approaching and conducting one-to-one spiritual direction and spiritual direction in small groups. Consideration will also be given to issues and problems, ethics, triage and referral in spiritual direction
Goals and Objectives:
By the Completion of this Course, the students will learn:
1. The exact nature of spiritual direction and how it differs from other forms of counseling and pastoral care, including what it can and can not do for the directee.
2. How to discern his or her own calling to the ministry of spiritual direction.
3. Principles and practice of how spiritual direction sessions are conducted
4. Psychological and theological issues that may emerge in typical sessions.
Jones, W. Paul. The Art of Spiritual Direction. Nashville: Upper Room Books, 2002. Abbreviated as ASD
Michael, Chester. An Introduction to Spiritual Direction. New York: Paulist Press, 2004. Abbreviated as ISD
Classwork and Presentation 100
Final Paper 100
Midterm and Final 200
A 400-376
B 376-350
C 349-323
Any student who requests an extension for this course must complete a “Request for Extension/Grade Change” form, which can be obtained from the Registrar. The form must be signed by both the student and the instructor and returned to the Registrar’s Office along with a fee of $25.00 before the deadline for extensions. Extensions are granted only for extenuating circumstances and may not exceed thirty calendar days from the end of the semester. All extensions are subject to review by the Dean of the Faculty.
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.
Requirements for Completion of Principles and Practices:
Requirements for Completion of Principles and Practices include participation in class discussion, completion of all assigned readings, presentation on Spiritual Direction in your own denominational or ethnic tradition and case study. For a model of how to do this, see, Moore, Gary W., and David G. Benner, Spiritual Direction and the Care of Souls, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2004, 37-165. The indicated pages are seven essays on spiritual direction in various traditions such as Reformed, Orthodox, and so forth. The Wesleyan-Holiness tradition is particularly good. A copy has been put on reserve for use only in the library. The presentation should deal with the history and traditional structures of guidance and spiritual nurture in the tradition, along with the soteriology of the theological tradition, the tradition’s view of the goal of the Christian life and the picture of the ideal Christian. The Final Paper will be a case study of an individual following the suggestions on the included Xerox handout from Vylmeister.
Requirements for Completion of the Practicum:
Requirements for Completion of the Practicum will be spiritual direction of at least one, preferably two people and the completion of four verbatims of spiritual direction sessions, which will then be handed around the class and presented and critiqued during the practicum session. Instructions for doing verbatims will be presented during class meetings.
Recommended Reading for Principles and Practices:
Atkins, Peter. Soul Care. St. Louis; Chalice Press, 2001.
Barry, William A., and William J. Conneley. The Practice of Spiritual Direction. New York: Paulist Press
Benner, David G. Care of Souls. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998
Brady, Mark. The Wisdom of Listening. Boston : Wisdom, 2003
Edwards, Tilden. Spiritual Director Spiritual Companion. New York: Paulist Press, 2001.
Edwards, Tilden. Spiritual Friend. New York: Paulist Press, 1980.
Empereur, James. The Enneagram and Spiritual Direction. New York: Continuum, 1998.
Fischer, Kathleen. Women at the Well. New York: Paulist, 1988.
Gratton, Carolyn. The Art of Spiritual Guidance. New York: Crossroads, 1993.
Groeschel, Benedict. Spiritual Passages. New York: Crossroads , 1988.
Huddleston, Mary Anne. Springs of Spirituality. Missouri: Triumph Books, 1991.
Kelsey, Morton T. Companions on the Inner Way. New York: Crossroads, 1981.
Kornfeld, Margaret. Cultivating Wholeness. New York: Continuum, 2004.
Leech, Kenneth. Soul Friend. San Francisco: Harper, 1980.
McMinn, Mark R., and Timothy R. Phillips. Care for the Soul. Illinois: InterVarsity, 2001, pp.33-77, 187-202.
Morneau, Robert F. Spiritual Direction. New York: Crossroads, 1992.
Oden, Thomas C. Care of Souls in the Classic Tradition. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1984.
Vest, Norvene. Tending the Holy. Morehouse, 2003.
Wagner, Nick. Spiritual Direction in Context. Morehouse Publishing, 1989.
Youngblut, John R. The Gentle Art of Spiritual Guidance. New York; Continuum, 1988.
July 10-- What is Spiritual Direction and how does it emerge from Christian History and Practice? ASD 1-40,ISD 3-23
July 12-- Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Care, Counseling? What’s the Difference? ASD 41-65
July 17 Spiritual Direction--What It Looks Like, ASD 65-136; ISD 23-52
July 19-24 Process and Individual Development ASD 137-93 ISD 53-67, 98-139, 154-71, Oral Reports on Spiritual Direction and Tradition
July 26 Midterm
July 31 -- Directee Problems, ISD 67-73; ASD 193-219
August 2 -- Relationship Problems, ISD 196-201
August 7-- How Much Can I Do? When and How Should I Refer? ISD 139-54
August 9-- Special Issues Group--Spiritual Direction and Calling, Extraordinary Phenomena, Group Spiritual Direction: ASD 219-35; ISD 171-96, 203-8 Final Examination; Final Papers due
July 10 soul, spirituality, spiritual direction vs. spiritual companionship, mysticism, contemplation vs. intuition, apophatic vs. cataphatic spirituality, spiritual journey, purgation, illumination, union, devotio moderna, desert fathers
July 12 soul hospitality, presence, spiritual intimacy, spiritual direction vs. spiritual companionship vs.counseling
July 17: discipling, shepherding, what spiritual direction is and is not, ethical issues that apply to spiritual directors. Obsession and ephiphany,
July 19-24 Erikson’s developmental stages, Fowlers Stages of Faith, differentiated faith, four forces in human spirituality, biologic manipulation and hallucinogenic drugs. unitive experience, contemplation—acquired and infused, visualization, meditation, extrasensory experiences, charismatic experiences, dreams, possession vs. obsession, discernment.
July 24: examen, lectio divina, narcissism, trust vs. mistrust, self-image, God image,
Carl Jung - animus, anima, Five Theological Worlds: 1. Separation and Reunion 2. Conflict and Vindication 3. Emptiness and Fulfillment 4. Condemnation and Forgiveness 5.Suffering and Endurance
July 26: obstacles to grace, role of spiritual disciplines the deadly three, world, flesh and devil
July 31, transference and counter transference, parataxic distortion, dealing with sexual feelings. defense mechanisms, repression, denial, projection, rationalization, displacement, resistance to spiritual practice, psychodynamic changes in spiritual growth, depression and dark nights of soul and senses, consolation and desolation, difference between psychological depression and dark nights
August 2 discernment and diagnosis, also triage; organic disorders—definition and types of disorders, substance abuse disorders—what are they, schizophrenic, paranoid, affective, anxiety, somatoform, associative disorders, psychosexual disorders, impulse control disorders, adjustment and personality disorders, referral when and how.