h3. Learning Outcomes

The module helps the learner understand the meaning of biblical Christianity and its relationship to faith and practice within contemporary cultural contexts. Special attention is given to the corporate dimensions of spirituality and spiritual formation as defined in the New Testament. Those historical and cultural factors that have led to the privatization of Christianity are analysed and discussed. A paradigm of spiritual growth and maturity that focuses on the assembly rather than the individual is developed. In this study spiritual direction is identified as a spiritual discipline utilised from the early Christian church to the present. Consideration is given to its relationship to culture, its expression in religious communities, and insights from psychology and for pastoral care.

On completion of the module a learner will be able to:

• Describe the biblical and theological foundations for the practice of Paideia in the local church.
• Articulate how individuals and congregations shape their spirituality and participate in spiritual disciplines today. *Discern when, where, how and for whom spiritual direction may be helpful. *Evaluate the basic concepts and streams of thought that form the Christian tradition of spirituality.
• Articulate an understanding of the role of spiritual disciplines in the process of spiritual formation.
• Appreciate the importance of a regular, disciplined approach to spiritual formation in his or her own life.
• Propose a personal theology of spiritual formation.
• Employ practical theological research methodology to identify a specific pastoral concern.
• Design and implement a practical theological intervention to address a particular pastoral concern.

h3. Module Content

This module helps learners develop a proficiency in their understanding of spiritual formation and the role of spiritual direction in the life of the believer and the community of faith (Pedagogy).

The primary allegiance of their lives should be to Christ as He is revealed in Scripture. The Christian life is a personal response to the personal activity of God in His redemptive self-disclosure. This means that ones commitment to Christ affects the full range of ones values and decisions.

Loyalty to Christ in a personal relationship is set within the framework of the community of the redeemed. The common allegiance of this community is to its head, Christ, who ministers His grace for the spiritual development of His people through the interdependent functions of His body by means of Word and Spirit. Initial reading introduces the learner to issues related to spiritual formation and education and looks at how it edifies. This function of the church is traced back to the Old and New Testaments. We begin by looking at the Hebrew education model and how learning and teaching took place. Learners are guided through a history of Christian education, including the influence of Augustine as well as the Middle Ages, scholasticism, the Reformation and Protestant humanism.

Faith is lived out in every facet of life. Spirituality is the description of the quality of the believer's life whereby the new disposition is expressed in spontaneous reconstructions of God's preceptive will. It includes the character traits that result from the swift and sure use of ones will to will Gods will. Spirituality is that quality in the believer which causes him or her to have a greater desire for and joy in prayer, Bible study, worship, and Christian service than a desire for and joy in wealth, power, sex, fame, or success. The learner will consider the role and function of spiritual disciplines in the formation of the believer.

This module explores the ministry and dynamics of spiritual direction. Topics include the history and scope of spiritual direction, especially within the Christian tradition, theological foundations, and the variety of expressions of spiritual direction within the personal, interpersonal, and social contexts.

h3. Residential Phase: Intensive week

Wednesday 5th September 2007 Venue: Friends First Church, Rondebosch, Cape Town Time: 08h30-16h30 Welcome and devotions - Wynand de Kock "Spirital Formation" - question and answer session 10h30 Tea Break Further input -Reflection on reading and Initial feedback on research findings - Wynand de Kock 12h30 Lunch break Afternoon input -Introduction: What is spiritual formation and direction? Where does it come from? - Wynand de Kock 15h00 Tea break 16h30 Hometime (Each day will follow the same time schedule)

Thursday 6th September 2007 Venue: Church of the Good Shepherd, Kensington (see attached directions) Morning input - The Spiritual Yearning and Presence in Contemporary Culture - Clint le Bruyns Afternoon input - Introduction to community; The church and spiritual formation; Theology of the practice of spiritual formation; Pastoral Care and spiritual direction (Revds Johan and Melanie Klaasen)

Friday 7th September 2007 Venue: Friends First Church Morning input: 08h30 Devotions - Clint le Bruyns Images of Spiritual Formation - Wynand de Kock The Goal of Life in Christ - Clint le Bruyns The Spiritual Aspects of the Disciplines - Wynand de Kock

Saturday 8th September 2007 Venue: Friends First Church 08h30 Devotions - Jodi de Lijster Input, Questions and Answers, 'Closure' - Wynand de Kock 12h00 Communion

h3. Teaching Strategies

Learners will learn through reading, cohort groups, lectures, discussions, personal and group research and assessment comments on their work.

h3. Specialist Facilities/Equipment:

In addition to the standard lecture and tutorial room requirements needed to deliver this module, a number of specialist facilities and equipment are required. Each learner is required to have ready personal access to audio and video tape equipment, the internet and e-mail services. Tabor College has the production facilities required to reproduce multiple copies of audio and visual tapes, and printed materials. The College also has the computing facilities needed to: maintain the internet site for the transmission of teaching materials; post learner results; provide e-mail contact between learner and teaching and administrative staff; and service the e-mail needs of learner to learner/s contact.

h3. Contact Time

One semester of 40 hours equivalent of lectures and tutorials. As the delivery of this module will involve individual and cohort group study using readers, DVDs, video tapes and audio tapes, the class contact time may be less than 40 hours. It is expected that the equivalent of 200 hours will be spent in private and cohort group study of the specialised teaching materials and class time. The actual class time that would be spent in lectures/tutorials during the residential phase for this module will be no less than 20 hours.

h2. Assessment

h3. In preparation for the Residential Phase

Exam 10% - students are required to read all the required texts (approximately 1000 pages) prior to the first day of class. Students are required to meet in cohort groups fortnightly to discuss the issues raised in the reading. The exam questions will help students to focus on the various readings that are sent out weekly. Each reading will have an exam question related to the content within the reading. The exam question is essentially open book and is prepared at home and should be no longer than four pages in length. Students may choose any question from any of the readings and need only submit one exam.

Reflection report 10% - for one of the required texts, students are required to write a 4-5 page (typed, double spaced) paper summarizing what they believe to be the most important ideas from the readings, why they feel they are significant, and how they relate to the students ministry context.

Research project 30% - Students are required to start a basic empirical research project in the cohort group. The aim of the research project is to identify the pastoral concerns in the areas of doing Practical Theology in context. The preliminary findings should be made available during the residential phase of the module.

h3. Post Residential Phase:

Major assignment/project (7000 words) 40% - In discussion with the module co-ordinator (both in-class and by e-mail), students choose a spiritual formation issue that requires theological reflection. Students are required to research this topic, and reflect on the process of going about formulating theological perspectives on this topic. In this task the student should: engage some of the material read and discussed in class and reflect upon key ideas both methodological and theological related to the issue; report on some of the major literature in the area, and apply theological conclusions in their ministry context.

Intervention report (1500-2000 words) 10% - In order to take the theological method to its logical conclusion, Cohorts are required to plan and implement an intervention to address a pastoral concern identified in the empirical research project. Each student is required to reflect critically and constructively on the process of identifying the pastoral concern, the cohorts plan of action to address the pastoral concern and the overall outcome of the intervention.

h3. Prescribed Texts

Peterson, Eugene H. (1989) The Contemplative Pastor: Returning to the Art of Spiritual Direction. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. Willard, Dallas. (2002) Renovation of the Heart: Putting on the Character of Christ. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress. Willard, Dallas. (1988) The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives San Francisco: Harper & Row.

h3. References

Ackerman, John. (2001) Listening to God: Spiritual Formation in the Congregation. New York: Alban Institute. Ackerman, John. (1994) .Spiritual Awakening: A Guide to Spiritual Life in Congregations. New York: Alban Institute. Foster, Richard J. (1978) Celebration of Discipline. San Francisco: Harper and Row. Fowler, James W. (1981) Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning. York: Harper Collins. Fowler, James W." (1987) Faith Development and Pastoral Care (Philadelphia: Fortress Press. Gerkin, Charles. (1986) Widening the Horizons: Pastoral Responses to a Fragmented Society. Philadelphia: Westminster Press. Gerkin, Charles. (1997) An Introduction to Pastoral Care. Nashville: Abingdon Press. Hart, T. (1994) Hidden spring: The spiritual dimension of therapy. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press. Hurding, Roger. (1998) Pathways to Wholeness: Pastoral Care in a Postmodern Age. London: Hodder & Stoughton. Leech, K. (1977) Soul Friend: The Practice of Christian Spirituality. (San Francisco: Harper & Row. Nouwen, Henri. (1981) Making All Things New: An Invitation to Spiritual Life. San Francisco: Harper and Row. Olsen, Charles. (1995) Transforming Church Boards into Communities of Spiritual Leaders. New York: Alban Institute Publications. Packer, J.I., & Loren Wilkinson (eds.). (1992) Alive to God: Studies in Spirituality. IVP Rice, Howard. (1998) The Pastor as Spiritual Guide. Upper Nashville: Room Books. Thompson, Marjorie.(1995) Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press. Willard, Dallas. (1998) The Divine Conspiracy: Rediscovering Our Hidden Life in God. San Francisco: Harper and Row