school of


contemplativelistening

A certificate in spiritual direction
at the vital intersection of contemplation & justice

Two-years? We offer a certificate of completion for those who are called to a formal practice.
One year? Join us to stretch, grow, listen, and discern.

  • Discern how spiritual direction and contemplative spirituality are valuable to your profession, activism, leadership, service, your family, organization, or local church

  • Study historical and contemporary models of spiritual direction with special attention to examples of those who have been marginalized and oppressed

  • Define your spiritual theology to nourish and support your practice of spiritual direction

  • More clearly and substantially know and practice your vocation of prayer and service

  • Continue deepening your response to God’s invitation in an ecumenical, worshipping community of committed, inspiring peers and faculty members

  • More readily cooperate with the Holy Spirit in all areas of your life

  • Deepen your spirituality of study to integrate your mind, emotions, and actions with your soul.

  • Discern your own unique way of practicing sacred listening: Formal or more casual? One-on-one or in groups? Who are you called to serve? How will you reach them?

We truly believe sacred listening can heal (almost) all the world’s problems.
In the SOCL we study and practice spiritual direction so that we can more readily
help others hear and respond to God’s voice inviting them deeper.

 

Contemplative Listening

Becoming a Wounded Healer

You are on a path of becoming whole, a human being fully alive, when you find God in and through your wounds.

As you respond to God’s invitation and move deeper, your growing capacity to live, move, and have your being in God—this contemplative, healing presence will heal those around you.

Choosing to intentionally help others create time & space to live into the dignifying, healing presence of God—this is a practice of justice that will transform those around you.

For your practice to be truly contemplative & just, it must be truly yours. There is no “one size fits all” spirituality here. As you become more your whole self, you will in turn better help others become whole.

The School of Contemplative Listening will help you discern your unique posture, the nature and extent of how you can help others hear and respond to God.

 

How to Join the SOCL:

  1. Carefully look over this page, the SOCL overview page, & watch our informational videos.

  2. Engage a prayerful, discerning conversation with a close spiritual friend, a pastor, or a spiritual director.

  3. Fill out and submit the application with a $25 fee.

    Then we will setup an in-person or zoom meeting with you!

 

introduction
VIDEO
2-minutes

 
 

As you move deeper,
you will want to bring others with you.
You are already able to practice spiritual direction
(even if you don’t know it—yet).

 
 

Most of us mistake ridges for the mountain peak, and so we linger at the bottom assuming we are closer to the top than we actually are.

We unknowingly suffer, stuck down below with a small view of God, of each other, and of ourselves.

In the SOCL, we discover “the more” of God and “the more” of our capacity to know and be known by God. As we explore the height, depth, width and breadth of God, we become more actively dependent on God. Hearing God’s voice on behalf of each other becomes essential to the journey.

 

The School of Contemplative Listening offers you the time & space necessary to become more familiar with your own unique way of hearing God’s voice for the sake of others.