Overview

If you enjoy meaningful conversation, listening to others (particularly relative to their relationship with God), and desire to journey with people well as they seek to deepen their experience of God, the Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction (SSD) may be for you. 

The SSD is a two-year certification program which trains and forms people in the ministry of spiritual direction. A few distinctives of the school are:

  • The deep level of friendship and community created given the size of cohorts (typically between 8-12 people). We learn to share vulnerably with one another and, in so doing, grow in real connection and love for one another.
  • Its modular format. We meet five times for a total of ten days over the course of nine months. This allows you to maintain your existing rhythms of work and life whilst being a student in the school. 
  • The opportunity to gain practice in offering spiritual direction early on. 
  • Receiving regular peer and formal supervision. 
  • Engaging a version of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius in year two.

Alongside honing the skills of spiritual direction (how to form good questions, etc.), the program offers students a wonderful, significant spiritual formation. We learn about and engage various well-worn Christian contemplative prayer practices together. You will become more attentive to God’s presence, communication, and work in your own life; you will grow in faith, hope, and love. 

School Dates

I teach online and in-person cohorts. Usually, they begin in the fall or in the new year and end in the spring or before the summer, respectively. Here are the upcoming, available cohorts:

  • Year One ONLINE (9:15am – 4pm central time, Fri/Sat)
    • Jan. 9-10, 2026
    • Feb. 20-21, 2026
    • Mar. 27-28, 2026
    • May 8-9, 2026
    • June 19-20, 2026
  • Year Two ONLINE (9:15am – 4pm central time, Wed/Thur)
    • Jan. 21-22, 2026
    • Mar. 4-5, 2026
    • Apr. 15-16, 2026
    • May 20-21, 2026
    • June 24-25, 2026

More Information