The Salvation Army Booth College

The unit will introduce you to the concept and practice of spiritual formation. It will help you to explore biblical sources and the wider Christian tradition as foundations for spiritual growth and maturity. You will also examine aspects of psychosocial and emotional health in Christian ministry. The unit will provide you with a framework that is holistic and relational to help you to identify intentional practices that are necessary for spiritual formation. You will be invited to reflect on your own personal history of formation and to experience selected spiritual disciplines to help you engage in both your personal and vocational formation.

The unit code contains information on the level of study, field, discipline, unit and college. Click here to learn what the unit code for this unit represents.

This unit is running as an online intensive.

Admission closes Friday, 2 June 2023

13 - 23 June 2023 - the assumption is that the student is released from usual work activities to study fulltime for this fortnight.

Students are required to join two 45–60-minute Zoom sessions at 11 am and 2 pm (AEDT) each day via Zoom. During these sessions, we will discuss key concepts and address any questions or issues raised. The content of the gathering will be supplemented with a discussion forum on ARK, reading materials and exercises. Except on Thursday 22 and Friday 23 June when students will share their 'This is my story' presentation.

Nil

Lectures, readings, videos, forums, class discussions and personal reflection

The student is responsible to independently engage with the pre-reading and learning materials on ARK for the scheduled topic before attending scheduled Zoom sessions. Learning materials for each of the days, will be made available on the day.

*This unit is offered at Undergraduate and Postgraduate level. Students may engage with people across both levels when this unit is delivered.

1 x 1,200 word Personal history of formation - 30%

1 x 1,600 word Reflection on formative practices - 40%

1 x 1,200 word Unit learning summary - 30%

Upon successful completion of this unit, it is expected that students will be able to:

1.  Articulate and interpret their spiritual and developmental journey as a personal history of spiritual formation.

2.  Appraise biblical sources and other Christian texts and traditions to discern and critique spiritual formation teaching and practice.

3.  Explore and evaluate personal experiences of engagement with classic spiritual disciplines.

4.  Articulate at a foundational level, psychosocial and emotional markers necessary for healthy Christian leadership.

To undertake this unit, you are required to have access to a copy of:

Calhoun, Adele Ahlberg. Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices that Transform Us. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2015.

Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2017. 

Both available as an eBook.