Credentials Available in Spiritual Direction
For nearly twenty years, Dayspring has been offering training for those who feel called towards work as Spiritual Directors. The Dayspring Diploma in Spiritual Direction prepares students to become a knowledgeable, competent and skilled spiritual director. The heart of Dayspring's program is contemplative, emphasizing the importance of spiritual study, discernment, and prayer. Its focus is on the experience of a person's relationship with God, and on fostering this relationship as the foundation of one's life. Spiritual direction is seen as a contemplative ministry through which spiritual directors help others to notice and respond to God's movement in the personal and communal experiences of their everyday lives, and within all of creation. This approach to spiritual direction requires personal, interpersonal and spiritual maturity. It is understood as a significant, dynamic and potentially transformative process undertaken for the sake of the unfolding all of life.
The process includes:
The course takes carefully selected participants who feel called to deepen their understanding of spiritual guidance and to further their spiritual growth. We expect that applicants will have some experience in giving and receiving spiritual guidance, and will have the maturity and life experience necessary to this ministry. We assume graduates will practice in a variety of ministry contexts.
While we will continue to offer the Dayspring Diploma in Spiritual Direction as our basic qualification, the Dayspring Community (WA) Inc. is pleased to announce that a new qualification is available as a credential for practicing as a spiritual director. In association with the Adelaide College of Divinity, Dayspring is now able to offer qualifications in the Australian higher education sector. The qualifications of Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction and Master of Ministry (Spiritual Direction) will be available from February 2022.
Dayspring continues to uphold the standards set by the Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction. In October, 2017, Dayspring completed a renewal of the recognition process for AECSD, keeping this status current for the next five years. This award is in recognition of the standard of excellence maintained by adherence to the AECSD formation guidelines.
Download full details HERE
Closing date for applications – February 1st, 2022
For further information please contact Dr. Beth Roberton, Dean of Studies, Dayspring
Mob: 0411043928 or by email : bethr@iinet.net.au
MORE ABOUT OUR TRAINING
Objectives
By the completion of the training students will:
Requirements
The program provides training in spiritual direction for Christian ministry. Therefore, applicants will need:
Course duration
Dayspring Certificate : 2 years part time.
Graduate Diploma : 2 years part time
Master of Ministry : 2 ½ years part time.
Tuition Components
Distance Mode
Program Structure:
Residential
1 Week in each of Semesters 1-4
Semester 1: February 20-25, 2022
Semester 2: August 7–12, 2022
Semester 3: February 19-25, 2023
Semester 4: November 26-Dec 1, 2023
Monthly Sessions
1 session per month, First Thursday of each month
Semester 1: March, April, May, June
Semester 2: September, October, November, December
Semester 3: February, April, May, June
Semester 4: August, September, October
Individual Supervision and Practicum
Total 50 sessions
External Practicum
Ongoing practice with own directees Semesters 2-4
Thesis
Research project on spiritual direction in a specific context
Fees
Dayspring Diploma - $8,000 (non-accredited) Fees include all tuition and residential costs. ($3,000 at the start of Semesters 1 & 2 and $2,000 at the start of Semester 3.) Fees need to be paid prior to the commencement of the semester according to the Payment Schedule. (Fees do not include textbooks or prescribed reading texts). Withdrawal after commencement will forfeit all fees for that semester.
Enrollment for the Higher Education qualifications is through Adelaide College of Divinity – see website
Fee Help available
Assessment
Advanced Standing
A candidate who holds a Graduate Diploma deemed equivalent to the ACD Graduate Diploma in Ministry (Spiritual Direction) degree may also be granted advanced standing. The required Master of Ministry course components will be determined on an individual basis.
Application Process
Applicants need to:
a) Complete the this Dayspring Application Form
Once all documents have been processed, an Admission Interview will be scheduled.
Forms are now available here and here.
The process includes:
- theology relevant to the ministry of spiritual direction within the Christian tradition;
- an ecumenically based practicum with individual supervision;
- significant academic and experiential background in diverse approaches to prayer;
- a holistic understanding of the human person and community with a breadth of exposure to real-life experiences and skills essential to the ministry of spiritual direction;
- a grounded research project.
The course takes carefully selected participants who feel called to deepen their understanding of spiritual guidance and to further their spiritual growth. We expect that applicants will have some experience in giving and receiving spiritual guidance, and will have the maturity and life experience necessary to this ministry. We assume graduates will practice in a variety of ministry contexts.
While we will continue to offer the Dayspring Diploma in Spiritual Direction as our basic qualification, the Dayspring Community (WA) Inc. is pleased to announce that a new qualification is available as a credential for practicing as a spiritual director. In association with the Adelaide College of Divinity, Dayspring is now able to offer qualifications in the Australian higher education sector. The qualifications of Graduate Diploma in Spiritual Direction and Master of Ministry (Spiritual Direction) will be available from February 2022.
Dayspring continues to uphold the standards set by the Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction. In October, 2017, Dayspring completed a renewal of the recognition process for AECSD, keeping this status current for the next five years. This award is in recognition of the standard of excellence maintained by adherence to the AECSD formation guidelines.
Download full details HERE
Closing date for applications – February 1st, 2022
For further information please contact Dr. Beth Roberton, Dean of Studies, Dayspring
Mob: 0411043928 or by email : bethr@iinet.net.au
MORE ABOUT OUR TRAINING
Objectives
By the completion of the training students will:
- have developed competency in providing spiritual direction from a contemplative stance
- be competent in leading others to integrate the spiritual disciplines into their own contexts
- have a working theology of spiritual direction
- be able to lead others in a variety of prayer and the contemplative traditions
- have the competency to establish a personal practice as a contemplative spiritual director
- comply with Australian national guidelines and code of practice for spiritual direction
Requirements
The program provides training in spiritual direction for Christian ministry. Therefore, applicants will need:
- A commitment to personal and spiritual development in oneself and others.
- Introductory working knowledge of Christian theology. (Prior completion of units in theology or biblical studies relevant to your tradition)
- Significant life experience
- Two professional recommendations.
- Scan of the highest educational qualification received
- Some experience of spiritual accompaniment work.
Course duration
Dayspring Certificate : 2 years part time.
Graduate Diploma : 2 years part time
Master of Ministry : 2 ½ years part time.
Tuition Components
- One residential week in each semester (Guided Study A-D)
- Residentials in Semesters 1-3 will focus on content and supervision
- Residential in Semester 4 will also include oral presentations
- One day per month in each semester - content and practicum work (Guided Study E)
- Online learning and Individual Study
Distance Mode
- Online participation possible for those in rural areas or outside Western Australia
Program Structure:
Residential
1 Week in each of Semesters 1-4
Semester 1: February 20-25, 2022
Semester 2: August 7–12, 2022
Semester 3: February 19-25, 2023
Semester 4: November 26-Dec 1, 2023
Monthly Sessions
1 session per month, First Thursday of each month
Semester 1: March, April, May, June
Semester 2: September, October, November, December
Semester 3: February, April, May, June
Semester 4: August, September, October
Individual Supervision and Practicum
Total 50 sessions
- 30 Individually-focused supervised practicums
- 20 Group experiences of supervisory learning
External Practicum
Ongoing practice with own directees Semesters 2-4
Thesis
Research project on spiritual direction in a specific context
Fees
Dayspring Diploma - $8,000 (non-accredited) Fees include all tuition and residential costs. ($3,000 at the start of Semesters 1 & 2 and $2,000 at the start of Semester 3.) Fees need to be paid prior to the commencement of the semester according to the Payment Schedule. (Fees do not include textbooks or prescribed reading texts). Withdrawal after commencement will forfeit all fees for that semester.
Enrollment for the Higher Education qualifications is through Adelaide College of Divinity – see website
Fee Help available
Assessment
- Assessments include oral participation, practicum reports and observation of the practice of spiritual direction in various contexts during supervision sessions.
- Reflection Journal will be required at the conclusion of each residential in Semesters 1 - 3 focusing on personal experiences and content covered during the residential.
- Thesis at Masters’ level of at least 22,500 words on a research project on spiritual direction in a specific context.
Advanced Standing
A candidate who holds a Graduate Diploma deemed equivalent to the ACD Graduate Diploma in Ministry (Spiritual Direction) degree may also be granted advanced standing. The required Master of Ministry course components will be determined on an individual basis.
Application Process
Applicants need to:
a) Complete the this Dayspring Application Form
- Provide a brief reflection on your spiritual journey as it has led you to consider this application.
- All referee responses will remain confidential and will not be disclosed to the applicant.
- These referees may be contacted by phone.
- Provide a scanned copy of highest educational qualification you have received.
- Return to the Dean of Studies – Dr Beth Roberton using this email link.
Once all documents have been processed, an Admission Interview will be scheduled.
Forms are now available here and here.