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Spirituality & Leadership
The Center for Lifelong Learning offers several non-degree certificate programs for individuals looking to engage and focus on a specific concentration of study.
Click HERE for more information.
For more than 25 years, Columbia Theological Seminary has offered courses leading to the Certificate in Spiritual Formation (CSF), a journey through which modern-day pilgrims may quench their spiritual thirst.
Participants in the spiritual formation certificate program will gain a broad understanding of the Christian spiritual tradition and the various practices which have emerged from it. They will cultivate spiritual practices and skills to deepen their own relationship with God as they support others in their transformative growth. Persons in this course of study will discover the relationship of Christian Spirituality to compassion, justice and holistic ministry. Participants can take courses to earn credit towards the Certificate in Spiritual Formation or enroll for personal enrichment. These courses are open to everyone.
The Spiritual Formation program is designed to be completed in one to three years, depending on the focus of your concentration and the pace at which you take the required courses. The primary program components include the following:
The Certificate in Contemplative Spiritual Formation, general course plan, includes:
Participants who wish to complete the Certificate in Spiritual Formation will complete a Statement of Intent so we may track your progress toward completion.
In addition to its general course of study, the Certification in Spiritual Formation program offers two concentrations through which participants can deepen their spiritual formation in either Spirituality in the Second Half of Life or Contemplative Living.
The Certificate in Contemplative Spiritual Formation, concentration in Spirituality in the Second Half of Life includes:
The Certificate in Contemplative Spiritual Formation, concentration in Contemplative Living includes:
To learn more details about the Contemplative Living Concentration course, click Contemplative Living I and Contemplative Living II
These spiritual formation courses fulfill the Certificate in Spiritual Formation requirements. They are open to anyone interested in taking classes as an occasional participant. You do not need to be enrolled in the Certificate in Spiritual Formation program to register for a Spiritual Formation course.
Elective Courses
While you may take electives of your choosing, you are encouraged to explore a variety of studies. Contemplative Living I is equivalent to 2 electives.
Contemplative Retreat
A time of reflection usually scheduled near the completion of the certificate. Retreats often are scheduled to be a week long.
Practicum
Independent Study; start and completion dates determined by students and practicum supervisor. Cost is $350 program fee + incidental expenses related to the project
More information HERE
Register HERE
Five-day Dual Track Centering Prayer Retreat
Introduction to Contemplative Spirituality (online)
Contemplative Retreat: Five and Eight Day Centering Prayer Retreat
Contemplative Living I: Contemplative Practices in Daily Life ONLINE
Contemplative Living II: Daily Life as Prayer ONLINE
February 25- March 15, 2026 Mourning Pages: Writing as a Spiritual Practice for Grief and Healing ONLINE
March 4-7, 2026 Kintsugi: Embracing Beauty in Brokenness
April 6-10, 2026 Landscapes of Renewal: Desert Spiritualities of the Southwest at Ghost Ranch
Enhance your ability to serve older adults in your congregation or faith-based organization. This series of four courses addressing the process of aging and implications for leading programs designed for older adults will enable you to support their ongoing spiritual formation more effective.
Aging creates special opportunities to strengthen faith formation. The four Older Adult Ministry (OAM) courses are designed to equip those working in churches and faith-based organizations to address the needs of older adults.
The OAM courses are open to participants from any denomination or faith tradition. There are four core courses, with two courses generally offered online each spring at The Center for Lifelong Learning.While participants may begin with any of the four courses, we recommend beginning with The Process of Aging and Implications for Ministry when possible. Courses may be taken in any order.
A Certificate in Older Adult Ministry I will be awarded to all participants who successfully complete the four core courses, including the final assignment that is part of each course’s design. The OAM I course of study may be completed in 12-24 months if two courses per year are completed.
Funds for financial assistance may be available through POAMN. Please contact Sarah Erickson if additional financial assistance is needed.
For more information about each course or to register, click on the name of the course, below.
OAM Courses 2024 –2025.
Spiritual Formation in Older Adults, September 25- October 30, 2024 with Mary Anona Stoops. This is a hybrid course with weekly live sessions via Zoom. Full details by clicking the link to the registration page.
Teaching for Transformation with Older Adults, January 20- February 28, 2025 with Joyce MacKichan Walker. This is a hybrid course with weekly live sessions on Tuesday mornings. Full details by clicking the link to the registration page.
The program registration fee for each course is $265; register early for the reduced fee of $235.
The OAM Capstone Project –Level II Certificate
For those wishing to go deeper, completion of a Capstone Project will earn those participants a Certificate in Older Adult Ministry II.A Capstone is an independent study project, generally based in a specific ministry context, and is completed after the four core courses.The Capstone entails working with a local project supervisor and the OAM project advisor to design a project addressing an aspect of older adult ministry within a particular context or community and which demonstrate application of the theory and practices learned during the four courses in the OAM Certificate program. Participants may register for the Capstone when they have completed all four OAM courses and had a preliminary discussion with course leaders and the OAM Program Coordinator. The Capstone is $350, with part of the fee going to your project supervisor.
Contacts:
lifelonglearning@ctsnet.edu for general questions
Sarah Erickson for Level II project planning and questions
Older Adult Ministry Certificate Advisor
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