CAN SoulTending: Spiritual Practices for Leaders in a World of Change

COURSE OVERVIEW

Neighborhood Seminary invites you to join us for SoulTending: Spiritual Practices for Leaders in a World of Change.

The purpose of this spiritual formation program. are three-fold: personal renewal, healing and refreshment, cultivation of communities for spiritual formation, and experiencing models of spiritual practices which can be, in turn, implemented as a source of spiritual healing and community building in the communities/neighborhoods/contexts where participants live and serve.

COURSE DETAILS

This invitation is extended only to persons appointed, assigned, serving or retired members of the WNC Conference of UMC as Elders, Deacons, Licensed Pastors, Certified Lay Ministers, persons serving as Lay Pastor, Lay Pulpit Supply, or Extension Ministers.

• The journey begins with an in-person retreat led by Rev. Guy Brewer, Ph.D. and Ivy Parker, certified spiritual director. Guy and Ivy were leaders in the Sabbath Living component of the Clergy Health Initiative, supported through Duke Endowment, offered in WNCCUMC and NCCUMC. The retreat will be held on Friday, March 1, 2024, 10 am to 3 pm, at St. Luke's UMC, 52 16th Ave NW, Hickory, NC.
• Following the retreat, participants will meet virtually in small groups with a trained spiritual director for 7 sessions of 90-minute group spiritual direction between March 4 and May 23 at a time mutually determined by participants and spiritual director.  Participants can expect their souls tended, nourished and nurtured as they engage core spiritual practices in the company of others, who also seek to know and experience God's Spirit in the midst of a world of change. Guy and Ivy will also serve as spiritual directors, along with Rev. Kim Barker-Brugman, and Rev. Jim Melson, D.Min., both Elders in the Virginia Conference.
• Small groups will utilize John Ortberg's book, The Life You've Always Wanted: Spiritual Disciplines for Ordinary People. Participants will secure their own copy of Ortberg's book prior to the opening retreat on March 1.​ An optional second book is recommended, but not required, Henri Nouwen's book Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World.
• The experience concludes with a virtual celebration the end of May.

​​COST

​Participant cost is $150 | 1.5 CEUs: $10 paid at registration

WNCCUMC Board of Ordained Ministry is resourcing this opportunity for spiritual formation so that participants’ costs are for registration only. For additional support for registration fee, contact Kim Ingram at kingram@wnccumc.org.

REGISTRATION

30 spaces available | Minimum 20 participants

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Registration closes February 15, 2024, at 5 p.m.

Cancellations must be made by 5 p.m. on February 5, 2024, at 5 p.m..  Refund will be 50% of paid registration fee.

* Questions, contact Pansy Crumpler, office.manager@neighborhoodseminary.org.