Spirituality Program
For 20 years the Spirituality Program at The Center for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Theological Seminary has been proud to offer courses in Christian Spirituality.
We now offer two certificate programs in our Spirituality Program for clergy or laypersons who wish to deepen their life with God and learn to assist others on their faith journeys.
Certificate in Spiritual Formation
The Certificate in Spiritual Formation offers people in the pulpit, in the pew, in all denominations and stages of life, an exploration of community-grounded Christian spirituality that is rooted in scripture, theology, a history of the tradition, reading in the spiritual classics, prayer and meditation, and in skills for assisting others on a spiritual journey.
Click to learn about upcoming classes.
Certificate in Spiritual Direction
Spiritual Direction, often called spiritual companioning or spiritual friendship, is an intentional relationship between a person seeking spiritual guidance and a trained individual (the spiritual director). The Certificate in Spiritual Direction is a 2 1/2 year training program for those seeking to discern and develop their gifts and skills as spiritual directors.
Spiritual Director Supervisor Training
Our Spirituality Program partnered with Together in the Mystery to offer a one-year training program for spiritual director supervisors. The training program, for experienced spiritual directors who seek to serve as supervisors for practicing spiritual directors and spiritual directors in training, was completed in May of 2017.
Upcoming Spirituality Program Courses
Event Feed
Wisdom and Wit of the Desert Fathers and Mothers (online)
09/27/2021
Join Carl McColman for this four-week online course to read, and reflect on, the entertaining and insightful ancient stories of the spiritual sages and religious eccentrics who were the desert mothers and fathers, exploring how their wisdom and wit...
Ensouling our Lives: The Gospel of Love according to Julian of Norwich
10/14/2021
Dr. Mark S. Burrows leads this retreat that will explore passages from Julian’s Showings. Our aim is to make sense of her profoundly Pauline notion of inclusion–that “nothing” can separate us from God’s love in Christ (cf. Rom. 8.38-39),...
Incarnation: Theology, Tradition and Practice of Spiritual Direction
11/07/2021
This seminar will explore biblical and theological underpinnings of spiritual direction and the practice of individual spiritual direction. This is the second residency for the Certificate in Spiritual Direction; enrollment is limited to those accepted into the program through...
Seeking God: An Invitation to a Deeper Spiritual Life (online)
01/10/2022
This four-week online retreat is for anyone seeking to cultivate a more meaningful life with God. It may also be helpful for those exploring new directions and callings. With Carl McColman, Deedra Rich, Debra Weir
The Life of Christ in Art and Poetry (online)
03/07/2022
This five-week course presents the life of Christ in poetry and art. You are invited to read and reflect on contemporary poetic and visual interpretations of Gospel passages. Imaginative and artistic reflections will be encouraged.
