Renewal Ministries Northwest and Rev. Dr. Susan Skillen are launching a new Spiritual Direction certification program in the Pacific Northwest. If you are a mature committed Christian, who has received or is currently receiving spiritual direction, and believe God might be calling you to spiritual direction ministry, we invite you to consider this training program.
Our purpose is to equip mature and skilled spiritual directors grounded in sacramental theology and the Catholic contemplative tradition. Revs. Denise Easter and Dianna Kunce, co-founders of Renewal Ministries, will be co-facilitating with Rev. Dr. Skillen and facilitating supervisory groups in between the extended residency retreats. Upon completion of the program, certification will be awarded by the Anglican Archdiocese of New England.
The two-year certificate training program promotes:
Spiritual development through:
• Developing a rule of life
• Deepening prayer practice
• Group spiritual direction
• Reflection and mentoring
Skill development through:
• Seminars
• Reading
• Practicum
• Supervision
Ongoing assessment through:
• Peer group supervision
• Mentoring
• Evaluation
• Reading and reflection papers
Long-term connections for:
• Community building
• Mutual support
• Accountability
SCHEDULE
The 22-month program runs from August 2020 to June 2022, including four in person residency intensives. Residencies will be held at a retreat center in the Greater Seattle Area.
Retreat Residency One –
August 27-30, 2020
Spiritual Direction in Church Tradition
• Monastic tradition
• Rule of Life
• Spiritual Direction and Community
Contemplative Prayer Tradition
• Teresa of Avila
• Centering Prayer
Entering one-to-one direction
Group Spiritual Direction
Retreat Residency Three –
September 2021
Spiritual growth and psychological issues
Dark Night of the Soul
Confession and Spiritual Direction
Evaluating direction relationships
Ethical Conduct Guidelines
Retreat Residency Two –
April 2021
Ignatian Spirituality
• Prayer of Examen
• Discernment
Anglican Spiritual Formation
• Anglican Theology of Formation
• Prayer Book Spirituality
• Three streams—Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical, Charismatic
• Holistic Spiritual Development
Spiritual Direction Practicum
• At least two directees
• Monthly peer group supervision
• Assigned reading and reflection papers
• Spiritual assessment papers
June 2022 Closure Retreat Day
FOR APPLICATION
Contact: The Rev. Canon Dr. Susan Skillen or Renewal Ministries Northwest
Email: sjjskillen@gmail.com or office@renewalminnw.org
UPDATED: application deadline is June 15, 2020
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
• Attendance at all course sessions
• Completion of all reading and writing assignments
• Five reflection papers and five spiritual assessment papers
COST
$3900 for two-year program to be paid in three installments:
$1500 due July 1, 2020
$1200 due January 1, 2021
$1200 due July 1, 2021
Contact Renewal Ministries (office@renewalminnw.org) about clergy discounts.
Bio of Rev. Dr. Susan Skillen
Susan is Canon for Spiritual Formation in the Anglican Diocese in New England and is a priest in the Anglican Church. She received her D.Min and M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and trained as a spiritual director at the Shalem Institute. She and her husband John lived in Orvieto, Italy, for a number of years, and She has been bringing pilgrimage groups to Italy since 2000. In 2009 she developed the Holy Conversation spiritual director training course for her diocese. Susan is inspired by the richness of the ways God has worked in the Church in other times and places, and loves sharing that with others. But her greatest passion is helping people discover how much they are loved by God. She and her husband John have four grown daughters and six grandchildren. She loves travel and exploring new places, walking the rail trail near her home, time with family and friends, and quiet time at home reading, gardening and doing needlework.
Co-Facilitators:
Rev. Denise Easter, Co-founder and Executive Director of Renewal Ministries Northwest
Denise is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
She is a Co-founder, Executive Director, and Pastor for Renewal Ministries Northwest. She is gifted and trained in Spiritual Direction and Inner Healing Prayer ministry. Her certification in Spiritual Direction is through the Anglican Diocese of New England (Holy Conversations). She leads guided prayer retreats for individuals, congregations, and other groups. She is also gifted in leading Christian leaders and congregations through group spiritual discernment retreats. She is trained in leading individuals and groups through the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola.
She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Regent College in Vancouver, B.C. She also holds a Master of Social Work from the University of Washington and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the State of Washington. She served in pastoral ministry at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Prior to this, she worked 14 years as a Medical Social Worker in the Seattle area including the University of Washington and Swedish Medical Centers. She currently serves in a pastoral role as a Parish Associate at North Creek Presbyterian Church in Mill Creek, WA. Denise’s interests are hiking, biking, traveling, watching Seattle sports teams, reading, music, theatre, and enjoying the blessing of her friends and family.
Rev. Dianna Kunce, Co-founder of Renewal Ministries Northwest
Dianna is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
She is a Co-founder and Spiritual Director for Renewal Ministries Northwest. She is gifted and trained in Spiritual Direction and Inner Healing Prayer ministry. Her certification in Spiritual Direction is through the Anglican Diocese of New England, Massachusetts, and her certification in Healing Prayer Ministry is through the Institute for Christian Ministries, Seattle. She offers Spiritual Direction for individuals and couples. She also leads guided prayer retreats for individuals, congregations, and other groups. She is gifted in leading Christian leaders and congregations through group spiritual discernment retreats. She is trained and experienced in leading individuals and groups through the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola and other time-honored prayer practices from the monastic tradition.
She holds a Master of Divinity degree from Regent College in Vancouver, B.C., a Master of Social Work (specialized in Counseling) from the University of Washington and a Liberal Arts Degree from Spring Arbor College in Michigan. She served in pastoral ministry at University Presbyterian Church in Seattle for six years. She currently serves in a pastoral role as a Parish Associate at North Creek Presbyterian Church. Early in her vocational life, she worked 15 years in higher education as a counselor on several college campuses and had a private counseling practice for 5 years. Dianna’s interests are music, traveling, hiking, sports, her Yorkshire Terrier, and enjoying time with friends and family.