Spiritual Guidance of Children
Spiritual Guidance of Children
Children have a natural, deep spirituality. They know God even before stories and symbols. They need adults who can help them discover a language for their faith. General Seminary's Spiritual Guidance of Children program invites you to become a leader who can nurture children’s relationship with God.
This innovative program provides both academic learning and practical training for the spiritual guidance of children. The program includes academic courses in the major theological disciplines, with a focus on children’s spirituality; scholarly courses addressing the theory and history of children’s spirituality; and practicum courses conducted in learning spaces where children explore their relationship with the holy through story, wonder, silence, prayer, and play.
As someone who cares about children's spirituality, you are welcome to apply for the program or simply take a course to enhance your ministry, spiritual life and relationships with children.
To read the February 2013 email update from the Spiritual Guidance of Children program, click here.
Upcoming Courses
Summer 2013: Weeks of July 8 and 15
Children's Literature and Spiritual Transcendence
Cartoons, Theology and Relationship with God
The Spiritual Guidance of Children with Adults
Pretending Bible Stories: Embodying Texts for Memory and Meaning
Winter 2014
Godly Play for the Spiritual Guidance of Children, Practicum II (in Denver, Colorado)
To learn more about the Summer 2013 courses, visit General Seminary's online registration.
Program Specifics
You must complete 18 credits to earn a Certificate of Study in the Spiritual Guidance of Children. Courses are designed in both traditional six- and 12-week formats and often in intensive weekday and weekend formats, allowing you to pursue the certificate concurrently with other commitments. Courses are taught by seminary faculty and expert scholars and ministers in the field of children's spirituality.
Any course in the certificate program which you successfully completed as a non-matriculated student can count towards the requirements for your certificate, should you later decide to apply for the program. General Seminary will require that you apply for admission after you complete six credits.
Who May Pursue the Program?
Directors of Christian Formation
Sunday School Teachers
School Chaplains
Hospital Chaplains
Child Educators
Spiritual Directors
Parish Clergy
Seminarians
Parents, Grandparents & Godparents
Anyone Who Cares about Children's Spirituality
Wish to Speak with a Real Person?
With inquiries about the Spiritual Guidance of Children program, or to express your interest in enrolling, please contact the Rev. K. Jeanne Person, Director of the Center for Christian Spirituality, either by email or by telephone, toll-free (888) 487-5649, ext. 271, or (646) 717-9786.
General Seminary is grateful for its partneship with Trinity Wall Street, which graciously offers classroom space for practicum courses in Godly Play.
Partial funding for the inaugural year of the program was provided by a generous grant from the William M. Wood Foundation.