The main focus of this course is spiritual formation—and the ways that the spiritual disciplines operate within that field of ministry. Students can expect to take some time in defining spiritual formation, affirm the importance of proper theology in spiritual formation, and explore the ways that spiritual temperament and personality inform our engagement of the spiritual disciplines for personal and parish renewal.
We’ll also look at the ways that stages of faith and “true self” discussions inform spiritual formation, explore the necessary tension between human responsibility and divine initiative in our salvation, and affirm the value of a rule for faithful living as a way of formalizing a plan of spiritual formation for individuals and congregations. The course will culminate in participants defining an initial plan for spiritual formation in a congregational setting.
Students are required to have the following books for this class:
- The Critical Journey: Stages in the Life of Faith, by Janet Hagberg & Robert Guelich
- Invitation to a Journey: A Road Map for Spiritual Formation, by Robert Mulholland
- Discover Your Spiritual Type: A Guide to Individual and Congregational Growth, by Corrine Ware
*Timing of optional “mixers” will be determined by a doodle poll.
This is the first course in the Institute for Discipleship certification in Spiritual Formation, and is a pre-requisite for all of the other courses in the Spiritual Formation certification.
This course is eligible for 3.0 CEU.
Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 6
Price: $125
CEUs: 3.0
Required books?: Yes
Live video session?: No
Part of a certification or series of courses?: Yes (IFD Certification in Spiritual Formation)
About the Instructor
After 35 years of active parish ministry in the East Texas area (including several congregations in Houston), the Rev. Dr. James H. “Jim” Reiter took early retirement so that he and his wife, Kathy, could pursue their interest and passions in spiritual formation on a full-time basis.
A 1983 graduate of Texas A&M University, Jim went on to attend Perkins School of Theology where he received his M.Div. in 1987 and his D.Min. in 1992. Prior to his retirement in 2018, Jim coursework at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary pursuant to a Professional Certification in Spiritual Formation through the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church. Most recently, Jim has completed studies with the “FIND School for Spiritual Direction and Formation” (Episcopal Diocese of Texas)—being certified and commissioned as a spiritual director and now serving on their faculty.
Throughout the course of his active years as a United Methodist pastor, spiritual formation has been a keen passion and interest for Jim. It’s an interest/focus emerging from a host of streams, including service as chairperson of the Spiritual Formation Team of the Texas Annual Conference, explorations in the contemplative life, immersion experiences in monastic settings, leadership in a variety of retreat settings, research in stages of faith development, experience with and gleanings from traditional and not-so-traditional spiritual disciplines, and a keen interest in the intersection of Christ and culture – focused especially in the spiritual themes embedded in the movies.
Jim and Kathy (his wife of 35 years and a spiritual formation leader in her own right), founded Zoe-Life Explorations (www.zoe-life.net) in the Spring of 2018. The mission of Zoe-Life is focused through published resources and a series of program offerings designed to facilitate experiences in and conversations about spiritual formation in the lives of individuals and faith communities.
